Emergency-response members receive honors

Newport Beach Community Emergency Response Team members help the community when it’s most needed, as they did during the Freeway Complex fire in late 2008, city officials said.

With that in mind, the Fire Department celebrated CERT members contributions over the weekend at an awards banquet where they recognized accomplished instructors and volunteers.

The CERT program trains community members on how to prepare and deal with a natural or man-made disaster.

Fire Department Capt. Bob Masonis and Engineer Brian Fasz were recognized as instructors of the year, and Gary Standard was honored as the program’s Volunteer of the Year. Dale and Suzie Karjala were recognized with the Spirit of CERT Award and the city’s Bayside Village was named the Neighborhood of the Year.

For more information on the city’s CERT program, go to www.nbcert.org or call (949) 644-3112.

— Joseph Serna