One highlight of last Saturday's Alamo Music and Wine Festival was the naming of Deputy Sheriff Elmer Glasser as 2009 Citizen of the Year. The event is sponsored each fall by Alamo Rotary to raise money for music in the schools.

"I was honored, absolutely honored, for the award," said Glasser on Tuesday. "I feel connected to the residents of Alamo and Danville and Contra Costa County and would like to thank them for my years of service."

Glasser has been with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office for 20 years and has been assigned to the Valley Station more than once. His current assignment has been longer than four years.

Besides law enforcement duties, he oversees the Sheriff's All Volunteer Extended Services (SAVES) program in Alamo, and has added extracurricular functions such as tours of county jail and San Quentin State Prison, and visits to firearms ranges.

"In 2009 we were fortunate to have many exceptional nominees who were very deserving of this recognition, and Elmer was the one who stood out among the very best," said festival sponsorship chairman Don Morton.

Glasser serves as a school resource officer at the three Alamo schools and teaches a class on core values to sixth-grade students at Stone Valley Middle School.

"I love working with the schools and residents as well as the business owners," Glasser said.

He also runs a Juvenile Diversion Program for youths who have done a misdeed, working with them and their families rather than sending them to Juvenile Hall.

And Glasser spearheads safety and security for Alamo events.

"He is always there for Alamo," said Morton. One resident who nominated Glasser said that he is "someone who has had a tremendous impact on our community."

Glasser, who lives in Danville with his wife and three children, had family in attendance Saturday when his award was announced. He was also working at the festival.

Morton said that the 27th annual Music and Wine Festival had good attendance.

"I must admit that when I awoke to thunder and lightning and some sizeable rain drops I was a bit concerned about the success of the festival," he said. "However, it all came together and the weather actually during the afternoon couldn't have been better and everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time."

"It is especially gratifying to see the children participating in the music program," he added. "We raised a great deal of moneys for the music programs at our schools and this year it seems that they will need more help than at any other time in the past."

Morton said that based on the sponsorships this year, he is expecting it to be the most successful ever.