Stephen Schroering

Dr. Stephen Schroering received the Heart of Lehigh Award Saturday night at the Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Gala held at the Gateway Country Club. The Heart of Lehigh Award goes to someone in the community who has devoted his or her life to the betterment of Lehigh and for the betterment of life of others.

Schroering is chairman of the board forming the new Volunteers in Medicine Clinic in Lehigh. Several in Lehigh serve on the board which plans an opening within the next few months of the new medical clinic which will be free to the needy, the working poor, the un-insured and the under insured.

The clinic already has around 42 medical professionals who have signed up to volunteer their time. He also goes to Haiti for several days every month or so or when needed to treat children in a large orphanage. He has brought children from Haiti to Lehigh Regional Medical Center to received treatment not available in Haiti.

Also, Jim Phebus, a long-time volunteer at the Chamber and at Lehigh Community Services was named Volunteer of the Year. He once owned and operated a florist in Lehigh. After he sold the florist, he went into the travel industry business and opened a travel agency.

Both men were given standing ovations at the gala which began at 7 p.m. and concluded at 11 p.m. Several other awards were given and the new Chamber board and new directors were sworn in by Capt. Ed Tamayo who stood in for Sheriff Mike Scott, who was scheduled to be the keynote speaker, but was ill.

Deputies of the Year: Two Lee County Sheriff’s officers were honored as Deputies of the Year by the Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce Saturday night. They are Sgt. Pat McDonald, left, and Deputy Ryan Justham.

The new chairman of the Lehigh Board of Directors is Joe Pearson who replaces David Deetscreek.

Tamayo spoke briefly, explaining how crime has been cut in half in Lehigh Acres and noted that once deputies from Lehigh covered a much larger area of eastern Lee County. He said today deputies serve only Lehigh Acres and the office has become the Bravo District.

“The Brava District Office is Lehigh’s police department,” Tamayo said.

The Lehigh Chamber held a casino style gaming night during the evening and made several thousand dollars. Somewhere between 160 and 180 people attended the gala, said Inke Baker, the Chamber’s assistant executive director.

Chamber President and CEO Joe Whalen presented awards along with the help of David Deetscreek, the outgoing chairman of the board. The master of ceremonies was NBC-2 Morning Anchor Clay Miller, who is also a Lehigh resident.

Employees of the Year: Three people were presented Employees of the Year Award by the Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce. They are shown here with Joe Whalen and David Deetscreek. The winners were Inke Baker, Aida Hernandez, Julie Hollingsworth and Inke Baker.

In addition to Schroering and Phebus, others honored included:

* Law Enforcement Officers of the Year awards were presented to Sgt. Pat McDonald and Deputy Rusty Justham. Capt. Ed Tamayo and Lt. J.D. Loethen, second in command at Bravo District were on hand for the presentations.

* The Employee of the Year award went to three people, Aida Hernandez, Julie Hollingsworth and Inke Baker.

* The Member of the Year Award went to Vicki Hay.

* The new executive board of the Chamber includes Joe Pearson, Vicki Hay, Cindy Dodd, and Chris Rakunas.

New executive board: New officers of the Lehigh Chamber Executive Board are Chris Rakunas, Cindy Dodd, Vicki Hay and Joe Pearson, the new president. At right is Capt. Ed Tamayo who swore them into office.

* Directors for 2011 include Daryn Patterson, Dr. Karen C. Smith, Vickie A. Hay, Chuck Hoddie, Toni Roy, J. Nathan Stout, Cheryl McConahy, Edd Weiner, David Deetscreek, Laurie Jerriey, Mike Arcentales, and Celeste Buhl. They, along with the executive board were sworn into office by Capt. Tamayo.

Member of the Year: Vicki Hay was named the Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce’s Member of the year on Saturday night. Photos by Mel Toadvine