Lutheran Social Services was recognized by the City Council of Big Bear Lake, in a resolution acknowledging their contributions to make possible the “one-stop shop” for county services, which is available in Big Bear at the LSS offices in Summit Plaza as of April 27 (the same day that they were honored by Council). Tanya Perry, who serves as the Mental Health Commissioner for the County’s Third District, received the proclamation from Mayor Pro Tem Bill Jahn, but asked Eileen Hofer of Lutheran Social Services to join them at the podium, noting, “Without Eileen’s help from the beginning, we wouldn’t be here and the one-stop shop wouldn’t be here.” Fifteen years in the making, the one-stop shop now offers Big Bear families one place where they can go to receive social services and aid, such as food stamps and MediCal benefits. While Tanya Perry was before Council, Councilmember Liz Harris made a point of singling her out for her contributions to the Big Bear Valley, which include overseeing the Healthy Start program for students of the Bear Valley Unified School District. On April 26, Harris had attended a special ceremony for Perry and 14 others from within San Bernardino County, who were honored with the Citizens of Achievement Award from the League of Women Voters. Perry had been nominated by County Supervisor Neil Derry and, as Harris reports, “The people who were honored were just outstanding, and Tanya was ‘the cream’ with all her accomplishments.”
