By Lucy Dockter

WESTPORT — A late-summer sun setting over waters off Sherwood Island State Park on Friday perfectly framed “Shorefest 2022,” a fundraising event to support Connecticut’s first state park and enhance its features.

Organized by Friends of Sherwood Island State Park, this year’s gathering featured a silent auction, live music and, of course, lobster. 

Funds raised by the Friends group will benefit habitat restoration, education and advocacy for the park.

“The main things we do are provide six nature center interns in the summer, which is our main expense,” said Michele Sorensen, the group’s board president, “and then we have the Friends’ garden team, we have the 100 Trees campaign to replace trees lost.

“We provide wild bird food and nest boxes and platforms, and we give educational talks at the nature center almost every weekend in the summer,” Sorensen said. 

Sherwood Island State Park is a state and local treasure. 

“We’re lucky to have Sherwood Island State Park in this part of the state,” said Craig Patton, director and chairman of the Communications and Marketing Committee. 

“It’s actually the largest piece of undeveloped land between New York City and Hammonasset State Park, which is on the other side of New Haven,” Patton added. “So that’s a long stretch of the coast, and there’s a lot of work to do here.”

As guests mingled and bid on auction items, they had a dinner option of lobster, salmon, steak or a vegetarian dish. 

“I would never miss an opportunity to have a lobster. I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t even need the cracker anymore,” quipped state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport. “For the most part, I just do it with my hands” 

Artists as well as politicians agreed Shorefest is not to be missed. 

“It keeps getting better,” said artist Miggs Burroughs, who has attended the annual gatherings for at least 10 years. “The silent auction prizes — and not just because I’m one of them — keep getting better and so do the music and the food.” 

According to Sorensen, Shorefest ticket sales accounted for approximately $8,000. Friends of Sherwood Island hoped to bring in more funds through the auction, which featured bidding on certificates to many local restaurants and shops. 

Lucy Dockter, a contributor to the Westport Journal, is a member of the Staples High School Class of 2023 and is editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, Inklings.