Sickinger gets top honors as GOTL citizen of year

By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

August 29, 2008 12:16 am

— GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE — With the muted colors of the Lake Erie horizon behind her, Betty Sickinger tearfully accepted the biggest honor a village resident can hold: citizen of the year.
The award was given Thursday at the Geneva-on-the Lake Visitors Bureau’s annual banquet at Lakefront Restaurant.
Sickinger owns the High Tide, one of the year-round businesses in the village. Geneva-on-the Lake Visitors Bureau Director Marge Milliken said Sickinger works to keep people coming to the lakefront community when the weather turns cold and the lake freezes over.
Milliken said Sickinger works to promote the village as a place to visit when the weather is hot, cold, rainy or sunny.
“I don’t think it is a secret that trying to extend our summer season is excruciating,” Milliken said. “But here at the village, we are not Memorial Day to Labor Day any more. The weekend after Labor Day is packed. Betty has a lot to do with that. We all know the more we can extend our season, the better off we will all be, and Becky is so good at that.”
Jake Hummel, owner of Sportsters Bar and Grill, was named businessperson of the year and the Fagnilli family, owners of Lakehouse Winery, accepted honors for business of the year.
Antiques dealer and owner of the Buckeye Hotel Byron Robison spoke of the village’s speakeasy days and the fun, excitement, sweat and tears of his restoration effort.