Honorary Chair Sheldon Stewart
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Kevin Shanley, AFCC’s Director of Operations and Events and Sheldon Stewart of Stewart Painting
he 32nd Annual Citizens Bank Pops by the Sea doesn’t happen overnight. It requires months of planning and preparation and the dedication of countless individuals who do the sometimes small, thankless tasks that can get overlooked by audiences. This year’s Honorary Chair, Sheldon Stewart of Centerville, is a perfect example. Without him and his dedicated staff at Stewart Painting, the Pops would not be possible. Over the past seven years, Stewart and his crew have developed a routine the day before the event. It starts with an early morning breakfast before they depart to the Hyannis Village Green where the work begins. They split up into small crews, each tackling a section of the Green where they set up the chairs, tents, tables, gates, and walkways that provide a sense of comfort and order to the Pops backdrop. It’s a behind-the-scenes moment that is not glamorous, but is necessary for the show to go on. “We honestly could not do the event without his help,” AFCC Executive Director Julie Wake said. “Sheldon deserves this recognition. He makes the enormous job that he
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takes on look easy. His team brings enthusiasm and thoughtfulness to the task.” As the Honorary Chair, Sheldon, who will be accompanied by his wife Salijane and their two daughters, Shayla and Shelby, will be led out to his table by the Cape Youth Orchestra. The orchestra will be filling in for last year’s Honorary Chair Lt. David Cameron, a bagpiper who traditionally joins the Colum Cille Pipes & Drums in leading out the guest of honor. (Cameron will be out of town this year.) Sheldon’s commitment to the arts and the community goes well beyond the one day he devotes to the Pops. He currently sits on the Pops by the Sea Steering Committee; has regularly donated a week of painting that has been auctioned off at the AFCC’s Spring Soiree; helps maintain the appearance of the Cotuit Center for the Arts; and donates $10 from each power wash his company does to the Cape & Islands United Way. As a lifelong Cape Codder, he understands the importance of giving back to this place where he grew up, where he started his own company, and where he raised a family. “We live in this community, we should give back to it,” he said.
Pops by the Sea 2017
