Howard Beach honors local officer, holds elections

The Howard Beach Civic Forum honored a valued community leader and held its annual elections Tuesday, June 26 at St. Barnabas Lutheran Church, 159-19 98th Street, as part of its final meeting until September.
Maureen Cerati, a longtime member of the New York City Police Department's 106th Precinct, was given a plaque and a hearty applause as she announced her retirement from the force after approximately a decade. Cerati, who was nearly killed when she was run over by a car in the line of duty in 2005, was also awarded a Purple Shield, a rare distinction given to officers critically injured while serving their communities.
The board also held elections, with chairpersons Nick Loprinzi and Peter Marino and Director Frank Bruno, Jr. reaching the ends of their terms. Loprinzi and Bruno resigned, leaving Marino and two other candidates to run unopposed for the three vacated seats. Newcomers Andrea Mercatante and Monica DeVito will join the board, which is run by President Stella DiMatteo.
Councilmember Joseph Addabbo was on hand to explain to locals how the city's new $59 billion budget will affect Howard Beach. Addabbo expressed his hope that teachers will receive a bigger budget for classroom materials, police officers will be given higher salaries, and public schools will receive funding for better maintenance.