Ray of Light (photos)

Everyone that lives around us,

Says tear that old lighthouse down,

The big ships don't sail this way anymore,

Ain't no use in it standing round.

- Impromptu 1970s performance by Elvis Presley and the Stamps Quartet

************************* Faithful SooToday.com reader Bob Tisdall was on hand today when Ray Stortini's new lighthouse was dedicated in Richards Landing.

The retired judge donated the funds to build the controversial lighthouse, described by Stortini as "the most beautiful on the Great Lakes... dedicated to the people of St. Joseph Island and surrounding area, and to all who supported this project by their encouragement, petitions and attendances at meetings."

Tisdall, whose images of today's event can be found in the photo gallery at the bottom of this article, tells SooToday.com that at least 200 people attended today's ceremony, despite inclement weather.

Speakers included Sault MP Tony Martin and Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Brown.

To get the lighthouse built at his own expense, Stortini had to persevere through years of fighting with local officials.

To read a recent account of his battles in Lighthouse News, please click here. Souvenir buttons were given out today in exchange for donations to the soup kitchen.

View Photo Gallery for this Story

************************* Keeping the lower lights burning since February, 2002

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