Longtime resident Irving Sherman, named the 2011 Oakley Citizen of the Year, will be recognized with other honorees at the annual Chamber of Commerce dinner on Friday, May 20.

Sherman became a volunteer firefighter in Oakley in 1964 and still works with the East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. He has called Oakley home since he moved there as an infant in 1940 and continues to live in the same house where he was raised.

Dr. Michael Painter of Oakley Chiropractic will receive the Business Person of the Year award. Jeff Lim is being honored with the Adult Volunteer Service Award and Officer Lance Morrison will be feted as the Police Officer of the Year.

Jeff Lim is being honored with the Adult Volunteer Service Award for his years of work with Oakley Boy Scout Troop 152. Lim and a few other fathers started the Vintage Parkway pack in 1992.

“We started with about six Cub Scouts and have built it up to well over 60 boys,” said Lim, whose own three boys attained Eagle Scout status under their scoutmaster dad. “I am totally surprised to be honored (by the chamber) but very pleased. I’m just an ordinary Oakley citizen trying to do something for the boys in the community and I’m honored to have been involved with such a great organization.”

For Carlos Green, who is receiving the Youth Service Award for his work mentoring children and young adults in wrestling, the honor comes as a surprise. “I wasn’t sure at first why I was being given the award,” said Green, who attends Freedom High School. “But it is very cool and very nice. It feels pretty good.”

This year the chamber’s President’s Recognition Award will be given to the Oakley Youth Commission for its ongoing commitment and support to the community. Commission Advisor Lindsey Bruno is proud of the youth group’s accomplishments. “I think one of the reasons the group is being recognized is for their efforts in partnering with the school district and parents’ groups to bring the It’s a Girl Thing program to Oakley, and for the effort to get more people involved in the community,” she said. “It’s a wonderful honor and very exciting.”

The awards ceremony and banquet will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. at Brownstone Gardens, 91 Brownstone Road in Oakley. The $40 admission includes dinner. Entertainment will be provided by John Biernacki and the Illusion Rock-n-Roll Magic Show. For tickets or additional information, call the chamber at 925-625-1035 or e-mail oakleychamber@comcast.net.