Volunteer Work

Rosalea Della, a retired Baltimore Gas and Electric worker who was recognized by President George H.W. Bush for her many hours of volunteer service, died of a pulmonary embolism Tuesday at St. Agnes Hospital. She was 93 and had lived in Pasadena. She was born Rosalea Muriel Streckfus in Baltimore and lived her early years in Canton. Several years ago she wrote a memoir of her life in which she recalled her family's basement kitchen: "The black iron range was always kept burning hot in the winter.

Affordable-housing provider Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake said its new chief executive — who brings a construction and finance background — will come on board this month. Mike Posko, a principal with real estate consulting firm Cross Street Partners in Baltimore, replaces longtime CEO Mike Mitchell at the helm of the nonprofit after Mitchell's resignation in November. Before Cross Street, Posko worked at developer Struever Bros., Eccles & Rouse and at the Federal Reserve.

Carolyn Perry of Glen BurnieVolunteer Work: Ms. Perry has been a volunteer with the Salvation Army for two years, performing an assortment of tasks, including helping the Monday night youth group that meets at the Glen Burnie office and most recently staffing the donation kettle at Harundale Mall.Volunteer's comment: "I've always done volunteer work, even when I was a child. I've done volunteer work for other places like the Marley Glen School, but the most reward has come from doing work for the Salvation Army.

Rupini Shukla is a natural born altruist, dedicated to helping young people in her community become better students. "It's a feeling of satisfaction; it makes me really happy that I volunteer," said Shukla, a senior at Oakland Mills High School. "I've lost track of how many hours I've done because it's not something you think of when you're really doing it from the heart. " Once a week, the 17-year-old can be found at the Howard County Library's East Columbia branch tutoring middle school students in math and science through the Teen Time after-school program.

Volunteer's work: Vy Lynch calls on skills she sharpened as a legal secretary when she volunteers in the office of the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging's Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).Ms. Lynch, a longtime Glen Burnie resident, works in the office about once a week for several hours performing tasks such as record-keeping, filing and letter-writing.In addition to her office duties, she is the treasurer of the RSVP advisory council.The volunteer program provides opportunities for seniors to use skills and experience -- developed throughout their careers -- in volunteer work.

Editor: On Oct. 27, Harford County Government recognized this year's 17 nominees for the 25th annual Harford's Most Beautiful People. Through their volunteer work they have touched the lives of many people living in and around Harford County and their stories should be an inspiration to everyone. We are proud to announce Edna Reeves as Harford's Most Beautiful Person for 2011. Edna's main volunteerism these days is shared between the Darlington Volunteer Fire Company and Harford Memorial Hospital.

It's only natural that J. Scott Wilfong, president and CEO of SunTrust Bank for the Greater Washington/Maryland area, would want to give back to the American Heart Association. After all, heart disease runs in his family. His wife, Susan, suffers from dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart weakens and becomes enlarged. Her brother died at the age of 13 and her father at the age of 61 from the same condition. Their daughter, Sarah, 29, has a defibrillator and his sister-in-law has had a heart transplant.

Name: Viola Parks of Brooklyn.Volunteer work: At 90, Viola Parks is still doing what she has done for the past 30 years at Harbor Hospital -- volunteering.Next month, Ms. Parks will be honored during the hospital's annual volunteer luncheon for having completed more than 20,000 hours of volunteer service.Although she has cut back on the hours she serves each week, she has worked up to 40 hours a week as a volunteer.She's watched the facility expand and the number of volunteers increase, but the nature of her work has never changed -- helping others and trying to make people smile.

At the last minute, her friend couldn't come along. But Sarah Koteen went ahead with her plans - even if the idea of heading off by herself for several weeks to volunteer at a camp for underprivileged children from New York was a little bit intimidating. That experience last summer is just one item on a resume that includes hundreds of hours of volunteer work, participation on her school's track, soccer and softball teams, and a 3.63 grade-point average. Now Koteen, a 16-year-old junior at Owings Mills High School, has been named Baltimore County's Young Woman of the Year.

THE PIPE CREEK Ministerium, a consortium of churches in Northwest Carroll, is bringing the Self-Help and Resource Exchange (SHARE) to the area.SHARE, begun 13 years ago by a nonprofit group committed to ending hunger in the Americas, encourages people to share skills and time with one another for two hours a month. Associated Catholic Charities is a sponsor.As a reward for their volunteer work, participants join a food-buying cooperative that allows them to buy $30 to $50 worth of food for $14 each month.

Editor: On Oct. 27, Harford County Government recognized this year's 17 nominees for the 25th annual Harford's Most Beautiful People. Through their volunteer work they have touched the lives of many people living in and around Harford County and their stories should be an inspiration to everyone. We are proud to announce Edna Reeves as Harford's Most Beautiful Person for 2011. Edna's main volunteerism these days is shared between the Darlington Volunteer Fire Company and Harford Memorial Hospital.

Rachel McCloud, 4, tested her first two-wheeler on the black-topped trail in Catonsville that was once the terminus for a streetcar line. Chase Draper celebrated his third birthday with a stroller ride on the same half-mile trek. "He loves the trail and usually talks to everyone, when we are strolling on it," Chase's mother TraceyDraper, said of the old rail line, reborn three years ago as a path between two major arteries. The trail's popularity has increased community interest in improving other, longer paths in the area.

Listings are accepted on a space-available basis. Deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday prior to date of publication at the latest. To submit volunteer items, mail to Volunteers, Patuxent Publishing Co. Editorial, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278; email hccalendar@patuxent.com ; fax 410-332-6336; or call 410-332-6497. Historic Ellicott City - Seeking volunteers for the 27th annual Decorator Show House for the following positions: hostesses, preview party assistants, office help, parking assistants and individuals with computer skills.

Listings are accepted on a space-available basis. Deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday prior to date of publication at the latest. To submit volunteer items, mail to Volunteers, Patuxent Publishing Co. Editorial, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278; email hccalendar@patuxent.com ; fax 410-332-6336; or call 410-332-6497. Historic Ellicott City - Seeking volunteers for the 27th annual Decorator Show House for the following positions: hostesses, preview party assistants, office help, parking assistants and individuals with computer skills.

Listings are accepted on a space-available basis. Deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday prior to date of publication at the latest. To submit contest items, mail to Contests, Patuxent Publishing Co. Editorial, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278; email hccalendar@patuxent.com ; fax 410-332-6336; or call 410-332-6497. Ninth Annual Hear My Voice Teen Idol Competition — Sponsored by the Columbia Teen Center. Holding three Round One auditions. Regional winners will advance to the semifinals, where 10 finalists will be selected to compete at the Hear My Voice Teen Idol Competition.

Listings are accepted on a space-available basis. Deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday prior to date of publication at the latest. To submit volunteer items, mail to Volunteers, Patuxent Publishing Co. Editorial, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278; email hccalendar@patuxent.com ; fax 410-332-6336; or call 410-332-6497. Howard County Autism Society - Seekings volunteers to help with its horse competition fundraiser to benefit HCAS. Volunteer as riders compete in cross country, show jumping and dressage; help kids make their own stick horsesl; oversee pony rides, hay rides, and other fun games.

It's only natural that J. Scott Wilfong, president and CEO of SunTrust Bank for the Greater Washington/Maryland area, would want to give back to the American Heart Association. After all, heart disease runs in his family. His wife, Susan, suffers from dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart weakens and becomes enlarged. Her brother died at the age of 13 and her father at the age of 61 from the same condition. Their daughter, Sarah, 29, has a defibrillator and his sister-in-law has had a heart transplant.

Listings are accepted on a space-available basis. Deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday prior to date of publication at the latest. To submit contest items, mail to Contests, Patuxent Publishing Co. Editorial, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278; email hccalendar@patuxent.com ; fax 410-332-6336; or call 410-332-6497. Howard County Arts Council Call for Entries - Seeking submissions for its biennial juried exhibit, Art HoCo 2011. Entrants must be 18-years-old or older who live, work or study in Howard County.