Freehold resident honored for college gift

Freehold resident Wendy Harmon Gironda was among the honorees at a ceremony held recently at Cedar Crest College, Allentown, Pa., to mark the official dedication of the college’s Harold and Miriam Oberkotter Center for Health and Wellness.

The event was held in Harmon Hall, named after the evening’s main honoree, Elaine Oberkotter Harmon. Harmon funded the new Oberkotter Center in honor of her parents. Gironda, a trustee, is the Oberkotters’ granddaughter and the Harmons’ daughter, and was honored as a “strong supporter of the college who has continued her family’s history of service and philanthropy.”

A nursing graduate of the college, Gironda has worked as a nurse in schools as well as in various health-care settings. She has served on the alumnae association’s executive board for six years and chaired the alumnae scholarship program. She served on the college’s President’s Council and is a life member of the alumnae association.

Freehold man receives ‘Barbershopper’ honor

The Monmouth Battleground Chorus, a chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, honored William Darmody as its Barbershopper of the Decade at an awards ceremony held Oct. 19.

Darmody, a resident of Freehold for 33 years, was recognized for his dedication to the group, which he has been a member of since the group’s founding in 1981.

Darmody has held the office of president and treasurer, and was honored for his many contributions to the organization, including arranging for accom-modations for members at out-of-area competitions, signing up new members, and finding a venue for the performance of the group’s annual show. In recognition of his efforts, the chorus’ president, Edward Wlazlowski, presented Darmody with a nautical clock during a ceremony held at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, Freehold Township, where the chapter holds its weekly rehearsals.

For more information on the chorus, call (732) 364-9078.

Thanksgiving feast

benefits Open Door

On Nov. 23 the teachers, students and parents of the Applegate School in Freehold Township came together to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday and to help the hungry. About 10 years ago, the school began hosting a grade level Thanksgiving feast; parents cooked the meal — turkey and the works — and students provided donated food to Open Door of Freehold.

Now the tradition has grown to a school-wide event where the entire school and staff eat together in the gym. That meant turkey, stuffing, gravy, etc. for more than 700 people at one time. It was quite a big feast for the students and teachers to enjoy and a lot of food donated to the hungry.

The PTO has hired Sodexho Food Services to do the turkey cooking now, while parents helped serve the children.

So that the children experience the service aspect of the holiday, they were asked to bring in a non-perishable food item to donate to Open Door. After the feast more than 1000 items were brought to the local food pantry. All kindergarten classes provided entertainment to begin the feast. According to Principal Barbara Longo, everyone had a great time building school spirit and community spirit.