Westminster Hall

WINONA LAKE — An appreciation banquet for the citizens and friends of the Town of Winona Lake is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, in Westminster Hall at 105 Ninth St. The featured program will be “Thanks for the Memories — Parade of Champions,” honoring each of the winners of the Bill Reneker Community Appreciation Award for the past 24 years. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

The banquet, which has been held annually for each of the past 24 years, will be the final one in the series. Each year recognition is given to citizens who have improved their properties, updates are given from the Town of Winona Lake and from the Village at Winona, there are drawings for valuable door prizes, and the winner of the Bill Reneker Community Appreciation Award is announced.

The Bill Reneker Award, sponsored and provided by Judy Reneker Burd, is in honor of her late husband, who was president of the town council at the time of his death in 1993. Past award winners have been honored for their contributions to Winona Lake life including creating the Village at Winona, improvements to the Limitless Splashpad Park, creating tourist attractions such as the bicycle trails, and much more. Last year’s recipient was Dr. Nate Bosch, founder and director of the Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams at Grace College, which focuses on education and improvement of freshwater quality in the area’s lakes and streams.

Musical entertainment for the Nov. 16 program will be by Lakeland Christian Academy student musicians. David Haney will provide pre-event keyboard music in the lobby. Emcees for the evening will be Grace College’s Dr. Terry White and Winona Lake town coordinator Craig Allebach. Members of the committee planning the event include Judy Burd (chair), Holly Hummitch, Craig Allebach, Terry White, Judith Mugg and Joy Lohse.

Tickets, at $15 each, are available at the town hall, located at 1310 Park Ave., Winona Lake.