Town Of Bethel Honors 'Sharks' With Formal Proclamation

BETHEL, CT — The Bethel Sharks have finally gotten the formal recognition they deserve.

Before revealing themselves as Bethel residents and brother-sister team Kyle and Laurel Stejskal, the sharks were marine predators of mystery. They surprised Bethelites at sudden "shark sightings" around town at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, battling new lockdowns and mask regulations with their whimsy and generosity. Two years later, it's safe to say the sharks won that battle.

In the wake of their celebrity, and through the sale of shark merchandise such as face masks and car magnets, the Sharks raised over $7,000 for the Bethel Food Pantry.

The Stejskal siblings were honored with a proclamation from the Town of Bethel and the State of Connecticut at a ceremony held Friday at Frank A. Berry Elementary School. In attendance were principal Danielle Legnard, First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker, Superintendent Christine Carver and State Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan.

Laurel is now a student at the University of New Haven studying criminal justice. Kyle is a freshman architecture major at Marywood University in Scranton, PA. Both have long been active in scouting, to the benefit of the town.

"Never in our wildest dreams did we think people would still be talking about the Bethel sharks two years later," Shark Mom Audrey Stejskal told Patch. "What a great honor it was for the Sharks to receive the town and state proclamations!"