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WINONA LAKE - Those who attend the Winona Lake Community Dinner will take part in a holiday meal, music and view decorated trees and wreaths.
Winona Lake will hold its eighth annual Community Dinner Nov. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Rodeheaver Auditorium.
Seating is limited and reservations are encouraged by the committee. Tickets now are available for $15 per person and can be purchased at the Winona Lake Town Hall office, 1310 Park Avenue.
Winona Lake residents will be mailed invitations to the dinner this week, but anyone is invited to attend, according to dinner committee member Joy Lohse.
Dinner committee members include Lohse, Retha Hicks, Craig Allebach, Judy Mugg, Judy Reneker-Burd, Polly Minear and Beverly Kent.
The dinner will be catered by Classic Catering, Pierceton, and holiday music will be performed.
"The purpose of the dinner is to bring the community together and recognize an individual who has helped make outstanding growth and development in Winona Lake," Lohse said.
The Bill Reneker Memorial Community Service Award will be presented during the dinner.
The award recognizes an individual who is respected by the community, involved in some form of service to the citizens of the town that results in significant impact on the community as a whole, and must have been a resident of the town at some point in the previous year.
The recipient is chosen in January by the Winona Lake Town Council with approval by Bill Reneker's widow, Judy.
Speakers for this year's dinner include Winona Lake Town Council President Rolly Ortega; Brent Wilcoxson, managing director for the Village at Winona; and Tracie Smith Hodson, executive director of the Health Care Foundation.
Those who attend the dinner will see a sneak preview of the Festival of Trees that will be held in Rodeheaver Auditorium Nov. 17-22.
The Festival of Trees includes 53 decorated Christmas trees on display for auction and sale.
A miniature designer Christmas tree will be auctioned during the dinner to benefit the Health Care Foundation.
