Westport
in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Monday,
December 29, 2014
photos/EverythingWestport.com except as noted
Quick
Article Index . . .
Take
heart Fall River polar bears and penguins.
R. Michael Sullivan announces bid for
reelection to the Westport Board of Selectman.
|
Take heart Fall River
polar bears and penguins. Fall River polar bear plunge postponed! A freezing Fall
River tradition, enjoyed by many, is being cancelled for this year. EverythingWestport.com Monday,
December 29, 2014 Take heart Fall River polar bears and
penguins. There are three
other local, New Year’s day cold water dashes and dives available to satisfy
your hankering for chills and icy thrills!
Back
Eddy Polar Bear Plunge – Restaurant owner Sal Liotta announced the 16th plunge into the Westport River
in return for free brunch. 11:00 a.m. start time. This is the number one
plunge in the area! Click here to read about January 2014’s Back Eddy Polar Bear
Plunge.
“Absolutely,
we’re doing it,” Liotta said. “The rules are the
same as all the others: no wet suits, and you have to jump in all the way,
over your head. It doesn’t matter how long you stay in.” Projected weather
in Westport Harbor this New Year’s midmorning is 30 degrees under sunny
skies, with water temperature about 41 degrees. Those conditions will
separate the men from the boys, and the women from the girls!
"They
have to totally submerge their body," Back Eddy manager Sal Liotta, said. "Every hair has to be wet to get a
free brunch!" Jumping will take
place between 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. with a free brunch for anyone who jumps in
over their head! Everyone entering the restaurant will have to pay $20 for the brunch, and
those who jump get theirs for free. So, this new year take a plunge for brunch
in the Westport River at the Back Eddy Restaurant. The restaurant
will close at 2:00 p.m. for the year; there is no New Year’s dining at the
Back Eddy past 2:00 p.m. Non-jumpers can
buy the brunch for $20; they will receive a bracelet for the brunch. The 177 jumpers in
January of this year didn’t threaten 2012’s record of 318 (the 58 degree air
temperatures brought out polar bears and watchers from all over the area.) Click here to see 71 high-resolution photos
from the 2014 plunge. Need Adobe Flash
to view album? Click here!
Click here to view photos of 10 jump category
winners with the grand prize winner. New Year’s Day Westport
Penguin Plunge at Children's Beach,
Westport at 12 noon - Since 1975 the Westport Penguin Plunge has
sponsored a New Year’s Day swimming event in Westport Harbor. The
noon-time “run and splash” will be next to the town beach, at the Westport
Yacht Club, on the river side of Cherry and Webb Lane. The sound of a
hunter’s horn will launch the wave of hardy swimmers. The young and not so young are all invited
to take a chilly dip in Westport Harbor. Originally organized by Jonathon Paull, Fred
Johnson, and Jack Dolan, the New Year’s Day activity event has been an annual
event ever since, raising money for charitable events. Read about a previous Westport Penguin Plunge and view
photos!
Third annual Tiverton Penguin Plunge to raise
more money for Public Library. Hey
all you resident penguins, you can dash into the cold waters of Grinnell’s
Beach at noon on New Year’s Day
for the annual Penguin Plunge, if you dare.
The Penguin Plunge will help raise
money for the new Tiverton Public Library. The first annual Polar Plunge in
2012 raised over $1,000 in funds to help build a new
town library. Hot coffee will be at the beach to
warm up all participating penguins, and a reception will be held after the
plunge at Lil’ Bear Sports Pub, 983 Main Road, Tiverton. Those interested in taking the
dive can download this Penguin Plunge sponsors
form to gather pledges and collected donations. The Penguin Plunge is sponsored by
the Tiverton Yacht Club. Contact Greg Jones at jonesgb@cox.net
for more information. R.
Michael Sullivan announces bid for reelection to the Westport Board of
Selectman. Sullivan,
if successful in his reelection bid, said he would continue the board’s work
to improve the fiscal health of the town through the implementation of sound
policies and practices. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, January
4, 2015 Kicking off the town’s April election season
early, R. Michael Sullivan has announced his bid for reelection to the Westport
Board of Selectman. The one-term
selectman is the first to announce his bid for one of the two seats up for grabs,
saying that “injecting civility into the board’s frequently contentious
meetings” has been a priority. He has also
focused on process and policy improvements that impact the way in which the
board does business. One such change that he sponsored in 2012 requires that
all boards and committees allow members a minimum of one week to review and
consider contracts prior to taking action or making recommendations. The race for the
selectmen’s seats seems to be shaping up and may include five to six
candidates preparing to announce; rumor has it that two-term Selectman Craig
Dutra will not seek reelection, but it has not been confirmed. Mr. Sullivan was
elected in 2012 and currently serves as the board’s clerk. His duties
also include acting at the board’s liaison to the Mr. Sullivan said
that “injecting civility into the board’s frequently contentious meetings”
has been a priority. He has also focused on process and policy
improvements that impact the way in which the board does business. One such
change that he sponsored in 2012 requires that all boards and committees
allow members a minimum of one week to review and consider contracts prior to
taking action or making recommendations. “It is simply bad
business to read and act upon a contract in a single meeting.” He is
working to have the BOS adopt long-term financial goals and practices.
Mr. Sullivan has also worked on initiatives to expand beach access for all
residents and address coastal erosion issues. He and his wife Martha
are active supporters of the Westport Education Foundation. If Mr. Sullivan
is successful in his reelection bid, he
would: ·
Continue the board’s work to improve the fiscal health of the town
through the implementation of sound policies and practices. This
includes pursuing realistic goals with respect to reorganizing town
government, improving educational opportunities for our children and
addressing the Town’s capital needs and long term unfunded obligations for
pensions and health care. ·
Appoint independently minded volunteers to the almost 200 board and
committee positions. It is important that people bring not only
expertise but a sense of cooperation to their respective boards and exhibit a
willingness to disagree amicably. ·
Continue to represent the interests of the town in a manner that is
fair, civil and transparent … I think all citizens deserve to see the
decision process unfold in our meetings in an honest and transparent manner
and that all board members act without undue influence from outside interests ·
Commit to be respectful of the voter’s right to be presented with an
opportunity to weigh in on the larger questions … This should be done in the
form of clear and unambiguous ballot questions and Town Meeting Articles”. ·
Continue to be available and responsive. ·
Work at promoting civil discourse in our proceedings and
discussions. Westport is a small place and I do not believe we have
problems that are so big that we cannot solve them together, as one town.” As with his
previous run, Mr. Sullivan said he will not accept monetary
contributions. Instead, interested supporters can sign up to help by visiting
www.VoteSullivanForWestport.com. Mr. Sullivan
obtained a bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the
University of New Hampshire. He worked in Detroit for 10 years as an
automotive account manager. He returned to Massachusetts in 1989 when
he founded Rotating Measurement Systems, Inc., an automotive test equipment
company. He has worked for
Teledyne Technologies in Marion for the past 15 years where he is director of
operations and business development. Mr. Sullivan and
his wife Martha have two children and one grandchild. He and his family
enjoy boating, fishing and scuba diving. Mr. Sullivan is also a
motorcycle enthusiast. © 2014 Community Events of Westport. All rights
reserved. EverythingWestport.com |
