Many of Winona Lake’s most influential residents gathered for the annual Winona Lake Community Appreciation Dinner Thursday night. The event, hosted by Craig Allebach and Terry White at Westminster Hall, highlighted the people who contributed to the town over the past year. In attendance were town council members Denny Duncan, Robert Swanson, Randy Swanson and Terry Howie; Grace College President Bill Katip and his wife Debbie; and members of the Winona Lake Fire Department, Parks Department and post office staff. While the main intention of the annual dinner is to name the recipient of the Bill Reneker Community Service Award, the Winona Lake Limitless Park was the clear highlight of the evening. The park, which has been in development for over five years, was partially open to the public this sumer. While several aspects of the park are still being developed, the bulk of work is finished and the department, led by Erin Porter of Winona Lake, has already raised one million of their $1.5 million goal. Porter, who leads the Limitless Park committee, shared with those in attendance what her goals for the park were. The park aims to provide limitless fun, even for those in the community who may have disabilities preventing them from participating. There are special areas for sensory therapy for those people with sensory disabilities. For the seemingly endless hours of work this project has consumed, Porter received the 2014 Reneker Award from Judy Reneker Burd. Porter, who said she had no notions that this would happen, was brought to tears at the presentation. She was just as surprised when she saw her husband, Josh, and their three children in attendance as well. “I feel undeserving,” Porter said after receiving the award, “I feel like my family deserves this more than me,” as they were the one who inspired her to be such an active community member. Other items presented at the dinner were an update on the Greenway Extension project, several new businesses in the village and the impact that MasterWorks had on the town. White outlined what MasterWorks had become, and director Patrick Kavanaugh also spoke of its accomplishments. Gert Kumi, a member of MasterWorks, entertained guests with a classical violin performance. The event started with MasterWorks member Arturo Osario singing the National Anthem. Allebach took a moment of silence to commemorate the community members who had passed away in the last year, including past Reneker Award winners Dr. Michael Grill and Bruce Howe. Those responsible for the dinner committee were Allebach, White, Burd, Kaitlin Gruenwald, Holly Hummitch and Joy Lohse.
