PORT TOWNSEND — Friends, admirers and business associates are invited as four community heroes are honored next week with the Jefferson County Heart of Service award for 2010.

The Heart of Service honors the “dedication, sacrifice and accomplishments” of community leaders and volunteers “who have made a difference in Jefferson County, who have made our communities a better place by doing extraordinary things for their neighbors, their community or the environment.”

The four will receive framed award certificates and heart-shaped medals at ceremonies on Tuesday.

The recipients are:

• Shirley Moss, the hands-on assistant manager of the Port Townsend Food Bank.

• Gay Eisenberger of Port Townsend, the driving force behind an innovative kindergarten phonics program at Chimacum Creek Primary School since 2006 and one of the founders of an educational consortium for the county.

• Mike Blair, Chimacum School District superintendent and the leader of a coalition that won a ruling that the state of Washington is not fulfilling its constitutional duty to fully pay for basic public education.

• Margaret Matheson of Port Hadlock, whose vast and tireless contributions — from her wheelchair — to the Chimacum-Irondale-Port Hadlock community stretch over 60 years.

This is the fifth year for this annual award, sponsored by the Peninsula Daily News, Rotary Club of Port Townsend (noon club), Port Townsend Sunrise Rotary Club and the East Jefferson Rotary Club.

A judging committee selected the four Heart of Service recipients from nominations made by individuals, clubs, churches, businesses and other organizations.

“These four are truly local heroes, working to make community life stronger, tighter, happier, richer,” said John Brewer, PDN editor and publisher.

“They represent the backbone of the community — busy people who always seem to be able to make time to offer a hand or a shoulder.

“And they may be people whose names many residents don’t know.

“They don’t give to our communities because they expect either reward or recognition.”

Open to the public, the awards will be presented at a luncheon that begins in the Port Townsend Elks Club, 555 Otto St., at noon on Tuesday.

Lunch costs $12 for a full meal, $9 for soup or salad with dessert and beverage or $5 for dessert-only with beverage.