Rancho Bernardo volunteers to be honored on April 25

Sixty-nine Rancho Bernardo volunteers will be recognized this weekend for their dedication and service to their community during the sixth annual Hats Off to Volunteers recognition ceremony.

The free event from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 25 will be held in the Rancho Bernardo High School Performing Arts Center, 13010 Paseo Lucido. The ceremony will start at 9:30 a.m. Before and after, several participating groups will have informational tables so locals can learn more about them and how to join.

“For people who think they might want to get involved, this is a great time to come find out about (various groups, from) the Lions Club and their seeing-eye dogs to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, all the sports, the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation, Friends of the Library and more,” said Jeff Shea, Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation president.

As for why the ceremony is held, Shea said, “Every year people do behind-the-scenes work and never get recognized. ... These are the unsung heroes of Rancho Bernardo.”

Honorees — nominated by their organizations — will each receive a hat plus proclamations from local political leaders’ respective government entities. The honorees represent a varied group of organizations, including those that serve youth, seniors, schools, military veterans, service clubs, neighborhood associations and more.

This is the first time the ceremony will be held at Rancho Bernardo High, a large indoor venue so attendees do not have to deal with the heat, rain, traffic noise and other distractions that arose when held at Webb Park over the years, Shea said.

He is advising attendees to reach the PAC by entering the high school’s main driveway and using the teacher parking lot. Shea added that Boy Scouts will be there to assist drivers looking for parking spots.

This year’s ceremony is co-hosted by the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation, Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame and Rancho Bernardo High School Foundation.

The 2015 Rancho Bernardo Hats Off to Volunteers are...

City Councilman Mark Kersey will honor the following civic and business organization volunteers: Valerie Brown (Spirit of the Fourth), Mike Gaylord (Rancho Bernardo Recreation Council), Ron Gross (Rancho Bernardo Toastmasters), Sherry Guthrie (Rancho Bernardo Community Planning Board), Patti Hall (Rancho Bernardo Community Council), Debbie Kurth (Rancho Bernardo Business Association and Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation), Carol Prendergast (Conservative Order for Good Government) and Maxine Schimmel (Bernardo Gardeners Club).

Assemblyman Brian Maienschein will honor the following community association volunteers: Chris Berg (Oaks North Community Center), Ron Filson (Eastview RB Community Center), Deborah Fleck (High Country West Property Owners Association), Philip Hills (Rancho Bernardo Swim and Tennis Club), Adrienne Kronenberger (Casa de las Campanas), Harvey Levine (Community Association of Bernardo Heights), Tony Tristan (Westwood Club) and Al Villareal (Seven Oaks Community Center).

Poway Unified School District Board of Education Vice President Michelle O’Conner-Ratcliff will honor the following school volunteers: Heather Camoras (Chaparral Elementary), Liz Campos (Highland Ranch Elementary), Habiba Mabene (Bernardo Heights Middle School), Olivia Noel (Turtleback Elementary), Lorrie Russo (Rancho Bernardo High School Friends of the Library), Jan Stephan (Rancho Bernardo High School PTSA), Patty Tokushige (Westwood Elementary) and Teri Wyness (Rancho Bernardo High School Foundation).

San Diego Police Department Northeastern Division Captain Dawn Summers will honor the following health and safety volunteers: Richard Abel (Rancho Bernardo Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol), Pilly Haight (Pomerado Hospital Volunteer Services), Everett Harris (Rancho Bernardo Emergency Radio Service), Patrick Horgan and Mae Cruz-Horgan (Rancho Bernardo Community Emergency Response Team), Joanne Lane (Fired Up Sisters of Southern California), Ralph Parris (Rancho Bernardo Neighborhood Watch) and Janice Schock (Palomar Health Community Action Council).

Retired Air Force Col. Steve Pisanos will honor the following volunteers from organizations that serve seniors and veterans: Merv Adams (Rancho Bernardo Veterans Memorial Association), Mel Carrillo (Ed Brown Senior Center), Eleanor Ellis (Rancho Bernardo Senior Services), Kathleen Kennedy (Team Red, White and Blue), Eugene Kujawski (Jewish Family Service On the Go), Kay Lettington (Quilts of Valor), Mike Vaughn (Major Abraham J. Baum VFW Post 7766) and Earl Wentworth (Military Order of the World Wars).

Retired professional baseball player Steve Finley will honor the following youth sports volunteers: Liz Campos (Rancho Bernardo Pop Warner Football and Cheer), Brian Lorentz (Rancho Bernardo Little League), Debbie Neyhouse (San Diego Soccer Club), Dave Parrish (Rancho Bernardo Girls Softball League) and Tim Spitser (Rancho Bernardo Youth Basketball League).

County Supervisor Dave Roberts will honor the following service club and organization volunteers: Lynne Aronen (San Diego Love on a Leash), Nasrin Barbee (Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club), Ron Gross (Rancho Bernardo Toastmasters), Pat Hamilton (Soroptimist International of Rancho Bernardo), Phil Johnson (Shrine Club of Rancho Bernardo), Anna Mitchell (Gently Hugged), Shirley Napierala (Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club), Al Rouben (Rancho Bernardo Lions Club), Wanda Roy (Rancho Bernardo Woman’s Club) and Nancy Sargent (Kiwanis Club of Los Rancheros).

KYXY Radio Personality Tommy Sablan will honor the following volunteers from organizations that serve youth: Jane Levin (Seniors Helping Our Kids), Karen McKenzie (Chelsea’s Light Foundation), Sue McLaughlin (Assistance League of Inland North County), Marilynn Nel (Girl Scouts of Rancho Bernardo and 4S Ranch) and Kevin Walsh (Boy Scouts Black Mountain District).

Congressman Scott Peters will honor the following arts, education and faith community volunteers: Cloyd Bedke (RB Chorale), Fred Gahm (Rancho Bernardo Historical Society), Freda Heller (Temple Adat Shalom), Susan Johnson (The Church at Rancho Bernardo), Richard Luehring (Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library) and Greg Nelson (Incarnation Lutheran Church).

Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation President Jeff Shea will present leadership awards to Shirley Black (Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame), Nancy Canfield (Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame) and Al Stein (Glassman Brown Recreational Leadership Award).