At its general meeting on Nov. 19, the Levittown Chamber of Commerce elected its new board of directors for the 2004 year.

Louise Cassano, owner of LuCas Communications, a Levittown-based public relations company, has been elected president. She succeeds Barry S. Room of Promo Plus, who, as immediate past president, remains an officer of the organization.

Supporting Cassano as officers and directors are: First Vice President John Tufarelli of Century 21 American Homes, Second Vice President Kevin Regan of Levittown Island Trees Youth Council; Counsel/Secretary Eric Rosenblum of the Law Offices of Eric Rosenblum; Treasurer Fred Form of Fred Form Accountants; and Directors Michael Bernstein of Long Island Back and Neck Care; Andrew Booth of JB Creations; Lois Cornibert of Astoria Federal Savings; Beth Dalton-Costello of Dalton Funeral Homes; Dr. Jacklyn J. Nogan of Nogan Chiropractic; Frank Mormando of Levittown Lanes, Les Rumel of Mortgage Match and Ed Szala of HSBC Bank.

The installation of officers and directors will take place at the Chamber's Tribute To Business on Friday, Jan. 9, at the Fox Hollow Inn in Woodbury from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Residents and businesses in the community are welcome to attend. Tickets, available by calling Lois Cornibert at 731-3388, are $75 and proceeds from the event and the journal will support the chamber's efforts to maintain a prosperous business environment in the community.

Mario Bucci, chairperson of the Levittown School District's Gerald R. Claps Career & Technical Center, has been named Citizen of the Year by the Levittown Chamber. The title recognizes Bucci's outstanding service to the community and his commitment to Levittown. He will be honored at the Jan. 9 dinner.

Cassano noted her goals for this year include a specific effort to communicate regularly with the community to emphasize to local businesses the importance of chamber membership and to continue to encourage people to patronize local businesses.

"I would like to bring Levittown's large and small businesses together to work for the common good of the community," said Cassano. "We want to attract community minded businesses to Levittown and to encourage residents to use local businesses for all of their needs."

"If the businesses prosper," she added, "the economy of our community remains strong and that means a better place to live and work. A prosperous business environment affects everyone in the community."

Cassano said she will work with the board of directors and other member volunteers to get out the message to non-member businesses about the importance of working collaboratively to boost the economy of the area and to members about the chamber's need for their involvement.

Chamber membership, now at about 125, is a small portion of the area's business community, she said. "Communicating the services and benefits we offer will be key to building our membership and to helping small business, large retailers and corporations understand the importance of participation in the chamber," Cassano said. "The annual membership fee is only $95, but the benefits in meeting and working with other business people is invaluable."