ReStore to honor late director's contribution with dedication

THIS ‘N' THAT

Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009

He was only 32 when he was killed in a motorcycle accident in Hughesville in July. John Girolamo of Lusby was mourned at that time by many, including members of his large family, his many friends and his coworkers at the Patuxent Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Lexington Park.

He made a particularly big impact at the ReStore, where he had served as the director and jack-of-all-trades since it opened in the fall of 2007. The ReStore sells donated household and construction items to raise funds for Patuxent Habitat for Humanity.

He was a presence at the store, where he fixed everything, networked with donors and set the tone of the office, said Diane Daly, director of administration of Patuxent Habitat for Humanity. "His enthusiasm, his warmth, his openness … We miss him terribly, terribly."

To honor Girolamo's contributions, the ReStore is holding a dedication of the business in his honor on Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the store, located at 21768 South Coral Drive. "Anyone who remembers him fondly and wants to see his work honored" is invited, Daly said.

"John was so instrumental in getting this ReStore operation off the ground and making it the success it is," she said. "When he started here, he found his place. He was the happiest he had been in a long time ... He knew he was doing work that meant something to the community."

The dedication event will include a prayer offered by Girolamo's fiancee's pastor (Girolamo was supposed to be married in September), as well as a chance for participants to share memories of the young man. A bronze plaque will be unveiled, followed by a reception. Those who wish to participate are asked to RSVP for planning purposes by calling 301-863-6227 or 410-326-9050.

In addition to many relatives, Girolamo is survived by his fiancee, Joy Woppert, and a 3-year-old son, L.J., from a previous marriage. A bake sale to raise money for the L.J. Fund will be held at the ReStore on Dec. 5.

For more information on the Patuxent Habitat for Humanity ReStore, visit www.patuxenthabitat.org/restore.

CSM students collecting donations

A communication class at the College of Southern Maryland is involved in a service-learning project to help three local groups through a donation drive.

The collection continues through Nov. 20 for items to benefit a food pantry, military care packages and animal welfare.

The organizations that will benefit are Calvary Gospel Church in Waldorf, which supports deployed soldiers by mailing care packages; Pisgah Seventh Day Adventist Church in Bryans Road, which maintains a food pantry for low-income families; and St. Mary's Animal Welfare League in Leonardtown, which needs food, litter and treats to care for abandoned cats.

Until Nov. 20, collection boxes will be located at CSM's libraries at the La Plata, Leonardtown and Prince Frederick campuses, as well as at CSM's Waldorf Center, 3261 Old Washington Road and CSM's Center for Trades and Energy Training, 17 Irongate Drive in Waldorf.

Additional drop-off locations will include the Charles County Humane Society at 71 Industrial Park Drive, and Calvary Gospel Church at 11150 Berry Road, both in Waldorf; Pisgah Seventh Day Adventist Church at 5830 Bumpy Oak Road in Bryans Road; Burch Oil at 6796 Point Lookout Road in Leonardtown; and Pro Fitness at 23415 Three Notch Road in California.

For information, e-mail service.learn@gmail.com or call 301-934-7868 or view the student video of "A Month of Giving for Three in Need" at www.youtube.com/csmdtube.

‘Turkey burner' workouts planned

The College of Southern Maryland will hold free "turkey burner" workouts both before and after Thanksgiving. On Nov. 19 and Dec. 3 from 12:30 to 3 p.m., the workouts will be held at the Leonardtown campus in B Building.

The community is invited to join CSM students and staff for pre- and post-Thanksgiving Day workouts to get ready for the feast-and then recover after. Three 45-minute workout sessions can be combined to one marathon workout or as a single workout. Sessions are free, participants are asked to bring one nonperishable food item to be donated to a food pantry. Contact Judi Ferrara at 240-725-5371 or judithf@csmd.edu.

scraton@somdnews.com