ROCKLAND — Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, marked what was supposed to be the first public hearing in the legal process for the homicide of Sunshine Stewart (not counting preliminary technicalities of past weeks), and to recognize this, Stewart’s family and friends continued their court presence after the hearing’s end by taking their signs to the court house front lawn, generating honks and waves from motorists passing along Union and Limerock streets.

The case and today's hearing turned out to be closed to the public.

The “Honk 4 Sunny” gathering was for today, with no thought yet as to whether to make it a regular occurrence, according to Ian Hunt. Hunt, however, imagined that there would be some kind of presence at every hearing or meeting that’s open to the public.

“Myself and some other folks are intending to be here, rain or shine, for any future proceedings,” said Hunt, who is a college friend of Stewart’s and close friend of the family, whom Stewart had encouraged to move to the Midcoast where he fell in love with the place.

A month after the July 2, 2025, death of Stewart, which was declared a homicide, friends and family and strangers held a gathering on Crawford Pond to honor Stewart and to commemorate a plaque for her. A GoFundMe for funeral expenses raised well above $30,000. Scholarships in Stewart’s name are being mentioned. And, during this Aug. 22 sign waving, Hunt distributed bumper stickers for motorists who want to continue to "Honk 4 Sunny."

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com