Daily Five: Plunge Take Two, Louisiana Purchase, Coit Journal

1. Daylight Savings Time brings back the late sunrise, which happens at 7:08 a.m. today, but also rewards us with a late sunset of 6:50 p.m. It's a clear sunny day to boot, with a high temperature of 45 degrees. The overnight low falls to 34 degrees.

2. After getting snowed out in February and nearly having the same thing happen again this month, the Penguin Plunge is taking place today. Whether you’re taking part or just want to see a bunch of kooky residents jumping into Long Island Sound in late winter, this benefit for Special Olympics Connecticut starts with registration at 10 a.m. at Ocean Beach Park. The plunge itself begins at noon. If you’re making a late entry, bring $75 to take part; bring a Patch shirt and I could even bring you in as part of the Patch Plungers.

3. The New London County Historical Society today welcomes author Michelle Coughlin to speak about her book, based on the colonial era journal of Mehetable Chandler Coit. This event starts at 2 p.m. at the Shaw Mansion.

4. Did you know that the FBI foiled a conspiracy to nuke New London in 1978? That’s only the start of the strangeness. Find out more in this week’s The Skrimshander Articles, posting this and every Sunday at noon.

5. A formal ceremony was held on this day in 1804 in New Orleans to finalize the Louisiana Purchase. In the agreement, the United States purchased 530 million acres of North American territory from France for the bargain price of $15 million—about three cents an acre.

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