Alison Camerota surprised her many fans Sunday — first on Instagram, then on the air — by announcing it was her last day with CNN.
After 10 years with the network, the Westport resident signed off with a smile.
Alisyn Camerota’s Instagram post.
She recalled interviewing “presidents and heroes and extraordinary people (in) peak career experiences that I had dreamed of since I was a teenager.”
She thanked her colleagues and her viewers, and encouraged them to follow her on Instagram (@alisyncamerota) for updates on what’s ahead.
In a social media post minutes later, she said: “I’m on to new horizons. I’ll just share this bit of wisdom. New horizons are great when you’re ready for them. There have been times in my life when I was not ready to leave a place that I loved and that was really sad and really hard. But I think am ready to leave this place that I’ve loved.”
Before joining CNN in 2014 — where she was a co-anchor on “New Day,” “CNN Newsroom,” “CNN Tonight” and, most recently, “CNN Newsroom” — Camerota worked at Fox News.
==================================================
The Westport Uniformed Firefighters Charitable Foundation “Santa Run” is one of Westport’s most cherished traditions.
(Spots are limited. IYKYK).
For a donation to the Firefighters Foundation, Santa arrives by fire truck to drop off a present at a (limited number of) children’s houses.
Kids, stop reading here! The gift is dropped off at the firehouse previously, by the parents.
This weekend, for the third year in a row, Staples High School’s Service League of Boys (SLOBs) joined the firefighters.
They helped the little ones spread joy, fend off the Grinch, and make the holidays special.
==================================================
Westport has another NCAA Division I national champion.
Marissa Shorrock is a goalkeeper on the University of North Carolina women’s soccer squad. The Tar Heels won their 23rd championship last night in Cary, North Carolina. They defeated Wake Forest University 1-0.
The 2020 Staples graduate was not in the nets (teammate Clare Gagne was named the tournaments Most Outstanding Defensive Player). But she’s got her championship ring.
At Staples, her 14 shutouts as a senior helped her team to a 19-1-2 season. She also played 4 years of varsity lacrosse and basketball, helping the hoopsters to the state semifinal.
Shorrock walked onto the Bowdoin College soccer, basketball and lacrosse teams, before seasons were canceled due to COVID. She transferred to Yale University, appearing in 22 games over 3 years at Yale after walking-on midseason in 2021. She started 20 matches. Shorrock helped the Bulldogs break the program’s consecutive shutout record, and tie the record for shutouts in a season in 2022.
After graduating with a degree in economics from Yale last spring, Shorrock transfered to UNC with one more year of eligibility. (Hat tip: Don Kubie)
Marisa Shorrock, with the national championship trophy, and her new cap. (Photo courtesy of David Shorrock)
==================================================
WEST boutique hosts a special “Sip & Shop” event this Thursday (December 12, 6 to 8 p.m., 117 Post Road East).
20% of all purchases, and 20% of the proceeds, go to Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County, the great arts non-profit for underserved youngsters.
One Hope Winery and The Granola Bar will be on hand too.
WEST boutique. (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)
==================================================
Yogi Bear stopped by the Westport Police Department/Westport PAL toy drive this past weekend.
He donated to the great cause, and thanked the officers for all they do.
The toy drive continues this coming weekend. New, unopened and unwrapped toys for all ages and genders — along with cash to buy toys — will be collected at Athletic Shoe Factory (1560 Post Road East) Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
You can also drop off unwrapped toys at Police headquarters on Jesup Road (any time), or Awesome Toys & Gifts and The Toy Post, during business hours.
Yogi Bear and friends, at the Police Department’s toy drive collection spot: Athletic Shoe Factory. (Photo/Cathy Malkin)
==================================================
Birchwood County Club is usually about golf, tennis, swimming and dining.
This weekend, they added gingerbread house decorating to the list.
150 youngsters, along with parents and grandparents, gathered for the annual holiday brunch, and creative fun.
Gingerbread house decorators, hard at work. (Photo/John Schmidlin)
==================================================
The Y’s Women had 2 special guests yesterday.
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker talked about issues on many residents’ minds. She reported that while Post Road traffic remains a big problem, many stop signs and sidewalks have been added all around town.
Parking is still a work in progress.
The 1st selectwoman also discussed Longshore improvements (more pickleball courts, an 18-hole golf clubhouse, a pool upgrade), and Long Lots Elementary School construction (expected to begin this spring, with completion in 2027).
After Tooker’s talk, Y’s Women enjoyed a holiday concert by Staples’ elite Orphenians a cappella group, in the acoustically wonderful Green’s Farms Church.
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker (center), with Y’s Women president Vera DeStefano and vice president Catherin Albin.
==================================================
Congratulations to Staples’ December Students of the Month.
Seniors Olivia Berg and William Vanamee, junior Madeline Leventhal, sophomore Nathaniel Maurillo and freshmen Gabriella Juliano and Kai Massicott were nominated by their teachers.
They make Staples a welcoming place for peers and teachers, and are, principal Stafford Thomas says, “the type of kind, cheerful, hard-working, trustworthy students that keep the high school together.”
From left: Kai Massicott, Gabriella Juliano, Olivia Berg, Madeline Leventhal, Nathaniel Maurillo, William Vanamee.
==================================================
Michael Mossman has done it all.
After apprenticing as a youngster with jazz legends Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey and others, the trumpeter forged a brilliant career as a soloist, arranger, music director and educator.
This Thursday he brings his talents to Jazz at the Post (December 12, VFW Post 399; shows at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner service from 7; $20 tickets, $15 for veterans and students).
Mossman willk be joined by pianist Jeb Patton, bassist Phil Bowler, drummer Ryan Sands and saxophonist Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall. Click here for tickets.
==================================================
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature shows what Michele Sorensen says was left untouched after bulldozers renovated Riverside Park:
(Photo/Michele Sorensen)
==================================================
And finally … on this date in 1817, Mississippi became the 20th US state.
(“06880” is your hyper-local source of news you can use. If you appreciate our work, please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
Alison was quite balanced in her reporting. Sad she’s leaving.
Probably afraid Trump will throw in jail?
She quit CNN before they got rid her! Only the few liberal states watch CNN!! That’s why it’s called the communist news network.
Whenever Jeff Arciola posts, I drop my hammer and sickle and gather my comrades around the screen. Keep up the good work (and the totally sick burns).
Not true, sir. CNN has been evaluated and is close to the middle between Fox and MSNBC. Communism exists in four countries in the world now. We are not one of them.
I saw Marisa play at Yale. She is obviously a remarkably talented multi-sport athlete (which goes against the grain of a number of athletes seeking to specialize in a single sport at a young age—so good for Marisa and her parents). I just wonder: how did schools miss out on recruiting her so that she wound up being a walk-on? In any case, congrats on being part of a national champion and such a storied sports program.
The ten people who watch CNN are sure to be upset.
You think it’s that high?
CNN had 725,000 daily viewers during November. All cable outlets are down 38% since the election.
Not so fast Colonel; https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/cable-news-ratings-november-2024/#
Scroll to the bottom for the good news.
Major: To a worm in horseradish, the world is horseradish.