Celebrating Westport No. 1 in Oysters

A sunset oyster tasting event at the newly opened Pearl at Longshore Restaurant at Westport’s Longshore Club Park today turned into a celebration of Westport being the No. 1 oyster-producing community on the East Coast. That assessment was made in brief remarks to the gathering by Norm Bloom, multi-generation owner of Copps Island Oysters of Norwalk, whose Westport oyster beds supply restaurants and retailers throughout the country. The event supported SoundWaters, the Stamford-based charity whose mission is to protect Long Island Sound through education and action, and was held in honor of publication of “The Beautiful Pond” by Westport author and artist Judith Orseck Katz. The book is about the town’s historic Sherwood Mill Pond, also known as Old Mill Pond. Pictured are (l-r): Robin Tauck, event/book sponsor; Steve Trcka, oyster man; Judith Orseck Katz, author; Leigh Shemitz, SoundWaters; Norm Bloom, Copps Island Oysters; Lois Backon, Antonio Ninivaggi, owners of Pearl at Longshore. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com