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Community leader Scott Heller of Heller Jewelers was named Citizen of the Year on Thursday night at the annual Danville Area Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner.

Heller, whose jewelry store is located in San Ramon, sponsors the immensely popular San Ramon Valley Kiwanis Fourth of July parade each year. Although this is the most visible of his activities, he is incredibly active behind the scenes in other ways, said the people who nominated him for the honor.

"My feeling is this award goes to everyone in the community," Heller said.

The mood was festive at Bridges Golf Club as more than 135 members and fans of the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce gathered to recognize those who give of themselves to the Valley. The event was the Chamber's installation dinner for the new board, with Joe Combs of the Combs Team becoming the new chairman of the board. It was also a chance to thank the officers who are finishing their terms, including outgoing chairwoman Chris Edlund of Christe James Fine Jewelry Works.

The award for Charitable Organization of the Year went to the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation. It was presented by the Danville Express in acknowledgment of the annual Primo's Run and the thousands of dollars the foundation raises for the schools, which is needed more each year as the budget is cut. The foundation has donated close to $3 million to the schools in its history, said Terry Koehne, spokesman for the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.

"This is recognition that good schools and a healthy business community go hand in hand," said Koehne, accepting the award on behalf of the foundation.

Connie Forslind, who has taught second grade at Rancho Romero Elementary School in Alamo for more than 38 years, was named Educator of the Year. She is retiring after this year.

"Teaching has been my life," Forslind said. "It has been a blessing."

Guy A. Greco of Heritage Bank was named 2009 Business Person of the Year. Greco has served as Chamber president and is well respected in the business and Chamber of Commerce community.

Other nominees were as follows:
• Citizen of the Year: Victor Georgiou - Danville Rotary; Greg & Sharon Schuyler - Celebrations on the Bay
• Charitable Organization of the Year: Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area; Kids' Country
• Educator of the Year: Cindy Egan/Andrew Gardner - San Ramon Valley High School; Steve Knapp - Charlotte Wood Middle School
• Business Person of the Year: Joe Buenavista - Merrill Lynch; Judy Mena - Your Town Monthly

The annual awards are presented each year by news organizations in the San Ramon Valley.

For more information about the Chamber, visit www.danvilleareachamber.com.

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