ITHACA — Dean Briere, executive director of the Sciencenter, has been elected to the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) board of trustees. 

Briere’s three-year term started after his induction during the ASTC annual conference, which was held Sept. 21-24 in Toronto. 

The ASTC says it is a nonprofit, global organization, based in Washington, D.C., that represents and supports science centers, museums, planetariums, aquariums, and related institutions. 

“I am honored to have been elected by the ASTC membership to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees, to help guide the organization in its new strategic direction,” Briere said in a news release.

The Sciencenter is an Ithaca–based, nonprofit hands-on science museum that was founded in 1983. It grew out of a volunteer-run science program at a local elementary school. 

The Sciencenter is a member of the Discovery Trail in Ithaca.

AUBURN — Matthew House — an Auburn nonprofit that operates a two-bed comfort-care home for terminally ill people in their final days of life — recently added three new people to its board of directors. 

Timothy Carr of Pinnacle Investments; Beverly Centers, former Cayuga County director of children and family services; and Mark Locastro, a retired Auburn police officer, have joined the Matthew House board. Carr graduated from Auburn High School. He received an associate degree from Cayuga Community College and holds a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Empire State College. He joined Pinnacle Investments in 2014 as a financial advisor with The Cuddy Group, with a focus on comprehensive financial and retirement planning for individuals, families, and small businesses. He recently received his certified financial planner (or CFP) certificate. Carr has been the treasurer for Cayuga County Habitat for Humanity for the last three years.

Centers grew up in Auburn and graduated from East High. She earned a bachelor’s degree in child development and family relations from Cornell University. Centers worked for the Cayuga County Department of Health and Human Services for more than 30 years, retiring as director of children and family services. She has also served as local president for the Civil Service Employees Association, and is currently the VP of the Syracuse Area Retirees of Onondaga, Cayuga, and Oswego Counties. Centers has served on a number of boards and committees, including Unity House, the United Way, the Family Court Judges’ Placement Committee, Family Court Drug and Alcohol Court, the Office of the Aging Advisory Council as chair, and the Auburn Federal Credit Union Supervisory Committee. She is an active volunteer at Matthew House, and works the local political and school polls.

Locastro is also an Auburn native, one of 12 children. He received an associate degree from Cayuga Community College, and a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oswego. Locastro was a nuclear instrument and control technician for Niagara Mohawk at Nine Mile Point before becoming a police officer. He served on the City of Auburn police force for 24 years, before retiring this past spring. He currently works as a court security officer for the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office. Locastro and his wife, Amy, own the Poppy’s ice-cream truck. 

Melissa Flask, David Tehan, and Marnie Fessenden completed their terms on the Matthew House board. 

Matthew House was founded in 2002. Angela Ryan is the organization’s executive director.