Sure, it’s short notice.
But you’re going to be spending a very short time in the water, right?
Temple Israel and the Jewish Federation of Greater Fairfield County are sponsoring a Polar Plunge today — Monday, January 1, 11 a.m., at Compo Beach.
It’s a fundraiser for the Israel Emergency Fund.
Donations will help pay for evacuation, transport, housing and support for frontline communities; trauma relief and psychosocial support; emergency medical services and health care, volunteers, and much more, for victims of Hamas’ October 7 attacks.
Click here to register, and more information.
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Whether you’re a football fan or not, Westporters should pay attention to today’s national semifinal game between #1 Michigan and #4 Alabama (January 1, 5 p.m., ESPN).
On the roster for the undefeated Wolverines (that’s Michigan, for you non-football fans): Jake Thaw.
A Staples High School Class of 2020 graduate (and football and basketball star), he’s a punt return specialist and wide receiver.
Jake is a senior, in the Ross School of Business.
Let’s go, Michigan!
Jake Thaw
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If you invited Nile Rodgers to your New Year’s Eve party, and he said he was already taken: He’s telling the truth.
Our Westport neighbor spent last night in Hollywood. He performed with his band Chic, as part of ABC-TV’s awkwardly named say-goodbye-to-’23 show, the awkwardly named “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.”
Here’s a screenshot, in case you really need proof:
(Photo/Matthew Mandell)
Not to be outdone, CBS featured another Westporter: Brad Tursi.
The 1997 Staples High graduate (and former soccer star) is lead guitarist and vocalist with Old Dominion, the multiple award-winning country band.
Brad Tursi. (Photo/Matthew Mandell; hat tips, Neil Brickley and Karen Kramer)
If you know of any other local New Year’s Eve entertainers we missed — José Feliciano? Keith Richards? — click “Comments” below.
ENCORE: CBS featured another Westporter last night too: meteorologist Lonnie Quinn.
Our had a busy night on the tube, for sure. And Matthew Mandell managed to catch all of it.
Lonnie Quinn (left). (Photo courtesy of Matthew Mandell)
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Like many restaurants, La Plage celebrated New Year’s Eve with a special party.
The staff was ready. Here was the scene, a few hours before midnight:
After a brief break starting today, the Longshore restaurant will reopen January 5 for dinner, with a new winter menu.
Speaking of restaurants: Don’t forget “06880”‘s guide. Click here — or click the “Restaurants” tab at the top of our blog (or the bottom of our iPhone or Android app), for a list of local spots, complete with menu and website links.
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Want to ring in the new year with a nice oil painting of Westport?
How about this one by Arnold Knauth. It’s listed on eBay for $595 (or best offer):
Don’t recognize it?
Neither do I.
The listing says “Westport, CT.” It looks more like Westport, VT. (Except there is no such place.)
Mary Gai — who spotted the artwork, and sent the link to “06880” — wonders if it could be the now-flattened hilltop where the Gault development is now.
Seems kind of mountainous for that location.
If readers have any idea where this could be in Westport — or where else it could show — click “Comments” below.
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Tammy Barry checks in with the first “Westport … Naturally” feature of 2024. It shows the last kayak of 2023, for these folks:
(Photo/Tammy Barry)
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And finally … in honor of today’s Polar Bear Plunge (story above):
(If your New Year’s resolution is to support “06880,” you’re in luck. Just click here. Thank you!)
Could it be Westport, Washington?
Thanks, Dan for the Westport connections! Old Dominion was awesome last night – and that was before I knew about Brad. Great for him. Also, will watch all punts today during Michigan game. Happy New Year!
I suggest this might be Westport, New York, in the Adirondack region of Upstate New York.
While Westport NY has the mountains, it lies on Lake Champlain and doesn’t have the desert. Dan featured a picture of the Westport train station in New York once–now used by Amtrak’s appropriately named Adirondak.–originally called the Laurentian. It is one of Amtrak’s most scenic train rides skirting Lake Champlain for much of its journey from Montreal to New York and then going along the Hudson, though you need to change seats from the West (left going south) to the East side of the train at Rensaleer to get the water views.
Think it is Westport island , Maine. The artist painted in that area .
We can rule out Westport, Ontario.
Westport Ireland has a similar mountain ridge
Westport, New Zealand
Just want to come here to give a shout out to Jake Thaw. While it will be easy for people to focus on the mistake he made, his effort to recover the ball and stay out of the end zone that moment, with 110k people screaming and two Alabama players barreling down on him, saved the game and now has Michigan playing for a national championship.
As a Penn State fan that hurts to say, but as a Westporter quite proud.
His coaches and teammates will recognize that and that’s probably all that matters to him, but hopefully everybody else does as well.
Westport Kentucky just NE of Louisville along the Ohio River.