FALLBROOK -- Using a Hollywood-style theme, the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce rolled out the red carpet for Saturday's recognition and installation dinner to award the organization's version of the Oscar to community leaders who make a difference.

Approximately 200 people attended the "Red Carpet Spectacular" at Pala Casino Resort. A number of the guests dressed as their favorite actor or actress.

Community resident and philanthropist Arlyne Ingold was awarded Citizen of the Year, the highest recognition the chamber presents. She is the 27th recipient in the chamber's 61-year history.

Stan Neiman, immediate past president of the chamber, told the audience Ingold is so well known that a Google search of her name on the Internet yields eight pages of references, and he praised her dedication to the community.

"It is a great honor to recognize her," he said.

He added that she is renowned for lending her financial support to numerous organizations in the community. She is a founding member of Rally for Children and the Angel Society. Other organizations benefiting from her generosity include Young Life, Country Friends, National Charity League, Assistance League, the Boys & Girls Clubs of North County, the Fallbrook Christmas parade, the Art Center in Fallbrook, the Fallbrook Land Conservancy, Palomar College, Art in Public Places, and Little League

Ingold, a mother of four, grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of four, said her motivation is simply stated.

"I love Fallbrook," she said. "I've been here for almost 50 years."

Ingold also presented an award named in her honor, the Ingold Community Builder Award, which went to Betty Johnston, Fallbrook columnist for the North County Times, and Fifth District County Supervisor and board Chairman Bill Horn, whose district includes Fallbrook.

Johnston was recognized for having written 1 million words about Fallbrook people, places, activities and issues, of which 283 were published in 2005. Her local career started in the 1980s at the Vista Press. From there, she moved to the Enterprise, where she served as editor before joining the North County Times.

In her brief remarks, Johnston paraphrased the words of Eiler Larsen, a man she knew who used to stand on a street corner in Laguna Beach every day at 2 p.m. welcoming people to that community.

"Welcome home to Fallbrook," she said.

Horn was praised for his efforts on behalf of local businesses, farmers and youths. He created the North County Gang Task Force, has helped local fire departments purchase new engines and upgrade equipment, has started work on development of a North County regional park and has promised to get the Highway 76 road-widening completed.

Horn said it was fun to be on the receiving end of the award.

"Usually, I come to give these out," he said. "I love serving the unincorporated area."

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Wallace Tucker of the Fallbrook Land Conservancy and Jackie Heyneman, also a member of the Conservancy and founder of Save Our Forest, which has been incorporated into the conservancy. They spoke on behalf of each other.

"Wallace has worked constantly to protect those very qualities that make Fallbrook such a special place," Heyneman said, adding that efforts of the conservancy mean that nearly 700 acres will be permanently protected.

Wallace also monitors items coming before the Fallbrook Community Planning Group.

"He presents a careful perspective that emulates his motto 'Build what needs to be built and save what needs to be saved,' " she said.

Tucker said, "Everywhere you look you see Jackie's handiwork. She is known for her tree planting and work with the schools."

Heyneman has been the driving force behind local tree-plantings throughout the community and she organized last fall's Community Clean-up Day.

Also honored Saturday were Sourdough Pizza as Small Business of the Year and Major Market as Large Business of the Year.

The following officers and new board members were installed: Budd Sutliff, owner of A Few of Our Favorite Things, president; Stan Neiman, owner of Neiman's Collision, past president; Phil Delaney, DAC Corp., president-elect for 2006 and president for 2007; Jeff Minch, Temecula Valley Bank, treasurer; Bryan Perrin, secretary; and Tom Sarette, Markstein Beverage; Jan McCormick, Pala Mesa Resort; Rebecca Eastom, ABS Copy Center; and Frank Hopkins, Hopkins and Associates, new directors.

Contact staff writer Patti Magee at (760) 731-5797 or pmagee@nctimes.com. To comment, go to www.nctimes.com.