Elegant Evening on the Lake will feature the homes of Loon Lake
(Talk of the Town file photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) A fun and relaxing evening was enjoyed by all at last year's Elegant Evening on the Lake, as shown above, at Shriner Lake. This year, guest will visit Loon Lake. Below, guests prepared to board their boats enroute to another lakefront home for dessert last year.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
As soon as the ice is off area lakes, the temperatures warm up and people begin thinking about summertime at Whitley County’s beautiful lakes, thoughts begin to turn toward The Lighthouse’s annual Elegant Evening on the Lake dinner. 
The event, a progressive dinner where guests are shuttled from house to house on local lakes enjoying hors d’ oeuvres, dinner and desserts, is a highly sought-after affair with the limited seating selling out each year. The time between each stop in the evening includes a scenic boat tour of the lake hosting the event.
This year, the community of Loon Lake has graciously welcomed The Lighthouse to host the event at homes surrounding the 222-acre lake in northern Whitley County. The volunteer event coordinator this year is Ann Fahl, who is working with the many families living around the lake to secure interesting homes for guests to visit as well as many boats for guests to ride in. Fahl is being assisted in the coordination efforts by Loon Lake residents Carol Ebbinghouse, Ruby Brower and Louise Hill.
The event will be held on July 19, 2008, with seatings at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Thus far, ten families have enthusiastically volunteered their attractive lakefront homes for the fundraiser. All proceeds from the event support The Lighthouse, Whitley County’s only homeless and transitional living facility. Since opening in 1998, The Lighthouse has served nearly 2,000 men, women and children with life’s basic necessities and much more.
The dinner is approximately three hours in length. Requests can be made to create accommodations that are handicap accessible, if needed.
The main course dinner options include: Creamy Apricot Chicken with garden rice pilaf and green bean bundles wrapped in bacon or Pork Chops with savory sauce, parsley buttered redskin potatoes and green bean bundles.
Tickets for the event are $35 per person and seating is limited. Tickets may be ordered by contacting The Lighthouse and must be paid for when they are picked up. Cash or checks will be accepted. Tickets must be picked up no later than July 1.
For more information, contact The Lighthouse at 244-5266.