Westlake announces Citizen, Youth of the Year

Recipients of the Citizen and Youth Recognition Programs were announced at a Westlake Village City Council meeting. Nominees for both the Citizen and Youth of the Year awards must have been residents of Westlake Village and were recognized for making significant contributions to the city and for displaying volunteerism, civic pride and commitment toward the betterment of the city.

Jeff Friedman was selected as Citizen of the Year. Friedman has been an active member of Westlake Village for the past 22 years. He’s been involved with the Disaster Response Team, of which he was a founding member and is currently director.

Friedman also participated on the city’s 1989 GANN Committee and the 1981 Rent Control Committee. More recently, Friedman assisted former city councilman James Henderson with the recently published City of Westlake Village History Book.

The Youth of the Year award was presented to Sarah Berlin, a senior at Agoura High School. She’s an Agoura High School ambassador, a non-elected voluntary student position whose mission is to help with any and all events sponsored by the student council.

Berlin is also a tutor for the Math Honor Society, an organization that provides free tutoring to all students before school, at lunch and after school. She’s been a resident of Westlake Village for 16 years and is a member of the Conejo Future Foundation’s Youth Congress.

Each recipient received a commemorative plaque from the city and has his or her name displayed on a perpetual plaque that is located in City Hall.

A $500 check will be donated to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in Friedman’s honor, and Sarah Berlin will receive a $500 scholarship.