The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Lighthouse chosen ‘Best on Lake Erie’
Lighthouse nets sixth honor as ‘Best on Lake Erie’
The Lorain Lighthouse netted its sixth top honor as the best lighthouse on Lake Erie, according to the Lighthouse Foundation.
The Jewel of the Port scored the win through the annual public vote tallied by Lake Erie Living magazine.
The official notification will be published in the magazine’s September issue, said Carolyn Sipkovsky, The Lorain Lighthouse Foundation Inc. trustee.
Sipkovsky’s husband, Frank, is the lighthouse board president and a local historian.
“The honor is great because it includes lakefront areas in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Ontario, Michigan,” Carolyn Sipkovsky said. “Thank you to all those who took the time to vote for Lorain Lighthouse.”
The honor also is special because the Lorain Lighthouse, accessible by boat, is more difficult to get to than other lighthouses, she said.
By comparison, drivers can park just a few yards away from the Marblehead Lighthouse and that structure attracts thousands of visitors a year.
The Lorain Lighthouse has a number of summer events with tours, weekly Sunset Wind Dinners and the July 4 Fireworks Picnic.
There is a gift shop at Dock A of Lakeside Landing.
In April, the Lighthouse Foundation hosts the annual Brunch for the Beacon to raise funds.
Lorain Lighthouse photos show up in advertising and social media posts from local residents and businesses. Applying to become a Friend of the Lighthouse starts at just $25 and Sipkovsky encouraged area lighthouse lovers to join the organization as a pledge of support.
Meanwhile, Lorain Port Authority Executive Director Tom Brown said Black River Landing has won Lake Erie Living’s annual people’s vote award as best outdoor music venue.
The magazine also named Lorain as one of its “10 New Escapes,” regional “lesser-known treasures” that don’t get the public recognition of places like PutIn-Bay, Cedar Point or Niagara Falls.
Authors Colleen Smitek and Laura Watilo Blake said Lorain has a “Downtown on the Rebound.”
“In the last decade, Lorain has taken great strides toward reinvention,” the article said.
“Nowhere is that more evident than on Broadway Avenue, which is on the mend with a makeover under way and a new generation of retailers and cafes moving into once-empty buildings.”