Banquet honors communities’ best

By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY

Staff Writer  

The Mountain Communities Awards Banquet, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Crestline-Lake Gregory, recognizes and honors the valuable volunteers of the mountain communities from various groups, organizations and clubs. Each honors their own special members so the community can learn of their impact on the town.

Assemblyman Tom Lackey summarized the reasons he flew from Sacramento that morning and drove 2 ½ hours from LAX to be at the ceremony to honor these special 15 residents. “Until redistricting that led to my representing these small towns, I was less aware of how impactful volunteerism is in a small community. In these mountain towns I have found real value when meeting the volunteers and seeing how their service that brings the people together impacts the entire community. I thank you for these fine examples of true selflessness for others.”

San Bernardino County Fire Department honored Cody Schaufner and David Fratus, two Rim High graduates who first served the Crest Forest Fire District and now County Fire. They both went above and beyond their regular duties during their off-work hours with their own funds to help a co-worker with a health issue to create wheelchair access to his residence.

The Women’s Club of Lake Arrowhead recognized their “Dynamic Duo” – Martha Bush and Marilou Sherwood. Both joined the Women’s Club in 2002 after each completing significant careers in education and health care. They have since been active in almost every facet of the club, dedicating two decades of volunteer service to the club and its many good works. The insight and wise counsel of these two women has helped increase the club’s membership, which is now up to 81 members strong, the greatest number of members since the founding of the club in 1926.

The Rim of the World Unified School District choose to honor seven of their district employees for their individual actions that have positively impacted the education of Rim students.

As a custodian at Charles Hoffman Elementary, Antonio Vega Aguilera is responsible for maintaining the facility and has made strong connections with the students, especially the special ed students, and staff. He is known to have assisted his neighbors during the winter of 2023, taking them food, getting their mail, shoveling his neighborhood, helping all those in need that he could. “It is so amazing working at the school and with the wonderful children and we enjoy living here in the mountains. I thank you,” he said after accepting his award.

Lisa Mills, who grew up in the mountains and graduated from Mountain High, now serves those students as a counselor. While her own children attended Rim schools, she was active in PTA and was an organizer for the Meet the Masters program.

Kathy Flores is a kindergarten teacher at Lake Arrowhead Elementary School, where she spearheads the community service events and has her students complete one service project per trimester, trying to create compassionate students, impacting them at a young age. She then works on transitioning them into responsible adults, teaching them to give back to their community.

Rim High graduate Jessica Mazakas now teaches fourth grade at Valley of Enchantment Elementary School, where she is also an advisor to the EarlyAct Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Crestline-Lake Gregory. She formed the nonprofit HAFDRA with Shellie Boydston (who was recognized as the 2024 Mountain Hero) through which they offer dental screenings and sealants to elementary school students free of charge.

Stephanie Phillips, a 31-year Rim High employee, is the Career Technical Education program, coordinator. These classes have impacted thousands of students, helping them achieve their potential after high school. She developed Scots Lodge, which provides clothing, food and other necessities to those in need.

When there is an IT issue anywhere in the Rim school district, it is Mark Malone, a 1994 Rim High grad, who provides the solution. He and his family suffered a major disaster at the beginning of this school year when their home burned down; the community response reflected the impact he and his family have had on the community.

Tracey Hager, the Child Nutrition lead at Mary Putman Henck Intermediate School, serves over 450 meals each day with love. She knows all the students’ names and makes them feel special through her kind and polite manner, being a good example for them. It makes her happy to see the students happy and watch them succeed on their own.

The Mountain Homeless Coalition recognized the Reverend Canon Gary Bradley, the supply priest at St. Richard’s Episcopal Church in Skyforest and the secretary for the Homeless Coalition.  He plans and coordinates several fundraisers a year for the Coalition. The recent piano concert he organized raised over $7,000. “I am in an endless effort to uplift those in need,” he commented.

The Mountain Sunrise Rotary Club honored Elizabeth O’Neil who moved to the mountain after a successful career in the entertainment industry. She is an avid supporter of several dog rescue organization. Since joining Rotary, she has developed several successful fundraising programs, volunteered at the community Thanksgiving dinner and is president-elect of the Mountain Sunrise club.

The Rotary Club of Lake Arrowhead honored Dr. Patrick Rains, who joined the club in 1991. In 2009 he created the PolaRotary Bear Plunge as a winter fundraiser, which benefits not only his Rotary Club but many other nonprofits on the mountain. He has led the jumpers into Lake Arrowhead every February. This fundraising idea has benefited the community for over 15 years, raising over $600,000.

This year’s Mountain Hero is Shellie Mundall Boydston. She and her twin sister were adopted into a family of 17 and grew up Belize. She was taught from an early age that helping others is a privilege and that gratitude is everything. She moved to the mountains in 1991 after graduating from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. She and Jessica Mazakas formed the nonprofit HAFDRA two years ago to help the local community through dental health care for elementary students.

Each honoree received a certificate from the Rotary Club of Crestline-Lake Gregory; a resolution from County Supervisor Dawn Rowe, presented by Steve Garcia; a certificate from Assemblyman Tom Lackey; a certificate from Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, presented by Sidney Sonck; and a certificate from Congressman Jay Obernolte.