“06880” Turns 7. Let’s Celebrate!

This week, “06880” turns 7 years old. My, how our little blog has grown!

365 days a year — often multiple times a day — “06880” (aka “yours truly”) posts stories. They appear on your phone, on your laptop, in your inbox — without fail. Like wacky weather, entitled drivers and the Minuteman in your driveway, “06880” is a part of Westport life.

In those 7 years I have written more than 5,300 stories. Whew!

Just as impressively — because “06880” is not really a blog, but a community — you all have posted nearly 60,000 comments. Holy ****!

“06880” covers the waterfront. And by that I don’t just mean Compo, Longshore, Old Mill, Sherwood Mill Pond, Burying Hill, Saugatuck Shores, Nash’s Pond, the Saugatuck and Aspetuck Rivers, and Muddy Brook.

I mean everything that goes on in this town.

The good — no, the incredibly amazing — things that Westporters do. Raising money for Bridgeport fire victims, local organizations and African villagers. Starting businesses and raising families. Living life fully every day, while nurturing the town that nurtures them.

The bad. Enough said.

And everything in between. Schools, the Town Farm, cops, the library, real estate, religion, commuting, the Y — if there’s a Westport connection, I’ll find out about it.

Then I’ll write about it.

I do that 365 days a year. But once a year, on the 365th day — my anniversary — I put out my tin cup.

Because I do a lot more than write what I hope are moderately interesting stories.

I also do research. I interview. I moderate and respond to comments — and to every private email. I scour the interwebs for photos, and take my own. I also size and frame them.

I answer all kinds of questions. Like “What was the name of the restaurant that used to be where…?” And “Can  you forward my email to…?” As well as “Will you fix the typo in my comment?” Plus (OMG) “My daughter is selling Girl Scout cookies. Can you let everyone know?”

I even spend money on “06880.” I pay to keep it ad-free. I pay for domain mapping. I pay for photo-editing software.

If you like what you read, please consider supporting “06880.” Scroll down — details at the bottom!

Am I worth $1 a month? $1 a week? Perhaps (my choice!) $1 a day.

If my 5,300 stories are worth a penny each, that’s $53. If half of them are worth a dime each, that’s $265. I’ll leave other calculations to you.

I hope that if “06880” has ever

• made you laugh, cry, think or wonder
• spurred you to go to an event, read a book, try a restaurant or patronize a store
• kept you up to date in a blizzard, hurricane, windstorm or power outage
• alerted you to a new housing or zoning development in town
• delivered news about a favorite person or store
• galvanized you to support a cause
• helped publicize your event, book, appearance or concert
• published your photo
• paid tribute to someone you loved or admired
• connected you to your hometown from many miles away
• saved you time or money
• opened a window on Westport’s history, helped you think about its future, introduced you to someone in town you never knew, or helped you look at someone or someplace in a new way
• given you a voice in the “Comments” section
• inspired you
• made you sit up and say “Wow!” (or “holy f—!”)

— you will consider tossing something my way.

Thanks for 7 great years. I’ll keep doing what I’m doing, whether anyone sends an anniversary gift or not.

We’ll still have our annual summer “06880” party at the beach. Plus the weekly photo challenge.

But hey. You tip a taxi driver you don’t even know for a 5-minute ride, right?

You can donate by PayPal: click here. It’s easy (and safe)! You don’t even need a PayPal account. If you get an error message, try www.paypal.com; then log in, create an account, or send money from the drop-down menu by entering this email address: dwoog@optonline.net. Or click the “Donate” button on the home page of “06880.”

Checks may be mailed to:  Dan Woog, 301 Post Road East, Westport, CT 06880.  Put “06880″ on the memo line.  It won’t do anything for the IRS, but it may help you remember at tax time why you sent me something.