On a perfect summer day on Saturday, dozens of families gathered on Penfield Beach to build sandcastles and enjoy a fun day together. The 11th annual sandcastle contest, sponsored by the Police Athletic League, was held the same weekend as the Fairfield Beach Residents Association's sand sculpting festival, featuring professional sculptor Sean Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick built an enormous "pleasure craft," boat made out of sand. "People really enjoy it," said Jill Walker of the residents association. "It's nice to see a thing of beauty on the beach for a change. It also inspires children to build their own sandcastles."
The athletic league's secretary and event coordinator, Bob Seirup, said about 75 teams competed in the sandcastle contest. Each team has to have at least one member under 18. "It's a wonderful event. They build anything they want and it is just a great free Saturday on the beach for families."
The amateur sand sculptures filled the shoreline along the water. Three friends, Chris Huzil, Kyle Lesko and Patrick O'Donovan, all 12, joined together to create a shark sculpture, in honor of Discovery Channel's Shark Week.
A few feet away, the Debek family competed in their sixth contest. Cindy Debek and her husband Todd normally split the family up in teams, boys versus girls, but decided to combine their efforts this year, making a large Oreo cookie. Their daughter Jeanette, 10, came up with the idea and their 13-year-old son Jack, approved. "It's worked really well doing it all together, it's a lot better this year."
The residents association's event began on Thursday and finishes Sunday. The sculptures, sponsored mainly by Subway and Giglotti and Walsh Fine Properties, as well as The Daily Fairfield, will remain on display for the next few weeks. Walker said the association plans on continuing the three-year-old event.
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