Media man publishes fictional book about NYC during 1950s
MEDIA » Author Frank Dressler,
92, past president of the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Pennsylvania, recently released “Mr. K and The Super,” a somewhat autobiographical fictionalized account of a student-super in New York City during the early
1950s. The work of fiction, which is Dressler’s third book to date, highlights the life of a newly married veteran enrolled at Columbia University while working at an apartment building as a superintendent. The book gives a vivid picture of what city life was like in the 1950s, through a story told with humor and emotion.
Now living in Media, Dressler uses fictionalized characters to chronicle his time in New York City as a graduate student, as well as the colorful cast of characters who also lived in the building, including John Morris who went on to be the composer for most of Mel Brooks’ films.
Currently retired from a career as an association director, Dressler has volunteered since
1995 with two international organizations in Russia, the Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Romania and Bosnia and The Republic of Georgia, and through his church, in Zimbabwe, Nepal and the Republic of Georgia.
For more information, or to get a copy of the book, visit Frankdresslerbooks.com.
Local colleges receive It’s On US PA grants to help combat sexual assault
State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-165 of Springfield, announced this week that three higher education institutions received It’s On Us PA state grants for from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, which aim to reduce instances of sexual violence on university campuses.
Grants will be distributed as follows: Cabrini University, $30,000; Eastern University, $30,000; and Delaware County Community College, up to $15,350.
Delaware County Community College is one of five applicants that received It’s on Us carryover dollars. PDE is able to offer additional grant awards totaling
$76,753 to the next five highestscoring applicants as part of the
2020-2021 It’s on Us grant competition.
The grants announced yesterday may be used through May
2022 to address goals of the It’s On Us PA campaign, including: Improve awareness, prevention, reporting and response systems regarding sexual violence in college; remove or reduce barriers that prevent survivors of sexual violence from reporting or accessing resources; and demonstrate leadership to change campus culture by challenging Pennsylvania’s education leaders to improve an institution’s climate around sexual assault.
For more information, residents may call O’Mara’s office at 610-544-9878.
$8.4M grant awarded to increase rail mobility for Port of Philadelphia
State Rep. Dave Delloso, D-162 of Ridley Park, announced the approval of an $8.4 million rail freight improvement project that will enhance rail mobility for the
Port of Philadelphia.
CSX Transportation has been approved for the $8.4 million Bayview North Clearance Project in Delaware County to replace a tunnel. The project will permit the routing of double-stack container and multi-level auto rack traffic to and from the Port of Philadelphia.
“Delaware County is ideally located and primed to continue the important work needed in our region to make this area the hub for the entire Northeast,” Delloso said. “It’s my hope projects like this not only sustain jobs but ultimately create jobs, not just in Delaware County, but for the entire southeast region and greater Philadelphia area.”
The project is one of 26 totaling $31.3 million the State Transportation Commission voted to approve through the Rail Transportation Assistance Program and the Rail Freight Assistance Program. The projects announced this week will sustain more than 200 jobs, according to the Wolf Administration.
For more information on Pennsylvania Department of Transportation rail grant programs, residents may visit the PennDOT website, then click on the “Doing Business” tab for Rail Freight and Ports.
CareLink appoints Woomer as interim CEO
CareLink Community Support Services in Media announced that Gary Woomer has been appointed Interim CEO of the nonprofit agency. Woomer, an experienced leader and mental healthcare professional, succeeded Eileen Joseph and assumed responsibilities on Dec. 10. Joseph retired from CareLink after leading the agency for nearly 40 years.
Woomer joined CareLink as a program director in 1999, and has since served as a regional director, vice president of program operations, and chief operating officer. Prior to his tenure at CareLink, Woomer was employed at Prime Care Inc. in West Chester.
Woomer received an Executive Leadership Certificate from the Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute at Bryn Mawr College in 2019, a master’s degree in health services administration from the University of St. Francis in 1998, and a bachelor’s in psychology from Shippensburg University in 1989. He is currently a member of the Philadelphia Alliance of MH/MR/SA Agencies, the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association, the Montgomery County Association for Excellence, and the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association.
NEW YORK » The Ryan Coogler-produced Fred Hampton film “Judas and the Black Messiah” will have its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival before heading to HBO Max and theaters, programmers announced Tuesday.
Daniel Kaluuya plays the Black Panther Party chairman and his “Get Out” co-star Lakeith Stanfield plays FBI informant William O’Neill, who agrees to infiltrate the group in the late 1960s.
Martin Sheen co-stars as J. Edgar Hoover, who headed the FBI during that time.
“Judas and the Black Messiah” will premiere Feb. 1 on the Festival’s digital platforms and at various drive-ins in locations like Birmingham, Ala.; Columbia, S.C.; and Atlanta.
The 2021 Sundance Film Festival, which kicks off Jan. 28, is going largely virtual this year due to the pandemic. Tickets are currently on sale. Coogler, who directed “Black Panther,” has a long history with Sundance.
His first film, “Fruitvale Station,” premiered at the festival in 2013, winning the top audience and jury awards.
“Judas ...” is among the 2021 Warner Bros. films that are debuting simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max.
It’ll be available for HBO Max subscribers in the U.S. starting Feb. 12.