Author to discuss novel ‘Wolves at Night’ at Neumann
Property Tax/Rent rebate amounts expanded for older adults and those with disabilities
ASTON » Wallingford’s Sara McDermott-Jain will discuss “Wolves at Night,” her debut novel, and explain the psychological impact of stories in the horror-thriller genre.
The free presentation is Thursday, March 14 at 1:30 p.m. in the Bruder Life Center at Neumann University. After the presentation, she will sign copies of her novel, which is being adapted into a movie.
“Wolves at Night” tells the story of Eleni, a single mother with a 2-year-old asthmatic child, who arrives at a remote cabin in the Alaskan wilderness to reunite with the child’s father. Ben, the longabsent dad, has been on the run from the law for almost three years. Eleni believes in his innocence and wants him to see their son for the first time.
Two factors make her plan dangerous: The area is filled with voracious timber wolves, and the criminals that Ben double-crossed are tracking him, with revenge in mind.
Jain believes that tense and thrilling stories mimic the way in which people have psychological breakthroughs and guide readers through the process of identifying and overcoming the fears that might be holding them back from their full potential.
“The life you’re living right now was built out of the beliefs and habits you already have,” she writes on her website. “Some portion of those beliefs and habits stem from fear. If you want to get out of the ‘house’ you’ve built for yourself, you’re going to need to face — and overcome — those things that scare you.
I’m here to help you do that.”
In summer, she will do a book tour on a cruise line, delivering talks on six different ships in the Holland America fleet in Alaska over a span of two weeks.
In addition to her best-selling novel, she is an awardwinning screenwriter, who has worked with more than 75 authors in adapting their books to films — “To Kill an Alien,” “Chance,” “The Dawn,” “Foreign Nationals” — and founder of PRINDIE, the Princeton Independent Film Festival, which ran from 2015 to 2022.
While she has been an adjunct professor at Neumann University since 2018 and at Immaculata University, her alma mater, since 2020, she is currently employed by Neumann full-time, creating a documentary on the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia.
Jain is also the director of the Neumann Inspires Film Festival, scheduled for April 19-20.
The festival features screenings of the new film, “Cabrini,” a biopic about Francesca Cabrini, a champion for immigrant orphans, and “Lucky Louie,” a tale about ex-convicts who solve a mysterious bank robbery, as well as a collection of short, original films by students and independent filmmakers.
Jain has won awards in the 2019 Emerging Screenwriters Get it Made Competition and in 2012 at the Williamsburg International Film Festival and the Digital Film Academy’s New Filmmakers Screening in New York City.
The March 14 book discussion is free. Donations are welcome with proceeds supporting the Dr. Margaret Mary Kearney student scholarship fund, which assists nontraditional students at Neumann.
To see the full schedule of 2023-24 Arts Guild events, visit http://www.neumann. edu/arts.
Expanded Property Tax/ Rent rebate available to older residents, adults with disabilities
Hundreds of thousands of older adults and Pennsylvanians with disabilities are now eligible to apply for a rebate up to $1,000 through the expanded Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program. The maximum rebate amount is up from the previous amount of $650.
The expansion of the PTRR program, which provides financial relief to eligible Pennsylvanians by offering rebates on property taxes or rent paid, marks the most significant targeted tax reduction for seniors in almost two decades and extends eligibility to nearly 175,000 additional Pennsylvanians.
In addition to an increase in maximum rebate amounts, for the first time since 2006,
the PTRR program’s income limit has been adjusted to $45,000 for both homeowners and renters, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants.
The program’s recent expansion became effective on Jan. 16, when the new claim season opened. The rebate program is open to eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older, widows and widowers age 50 and older, and individuals with disabilities age 18 and older.
To assist eligible Delaware County residents in accessing this program, the County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) is collaborating with staff from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue to offer in-person support at select COSA-sponsored Senior Centers throughout March.
Six Delaware County Senior Centers will welcome PA Department of Revenue representatives to aid residents with determining their eligibility, completing applications, and filing Pennsylvania personal income tax returns (PA-40s).
COSA-sponsored senior centers offering help are:
• Chester Senior Center, 721 Hayes St., Chester, March 6 from 11a.m. to 4 p.m., 610497-3550.
• Good Neighbor Senior Center, 1085 Hook Road, Sharon Hill, March 13, 20, and 27, April 3, 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 610- 586-8170.
• Upper Darby Senior Center, 326 Watkins Ave., Upper Darby, March 1, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 610-734-7652.
• Friendship Circle Senior Center, 1515 Lansdowne Ave., Darby, March 19, 9 a.m. to noon, 610- 237-6222.
• Schoolhouse Senior Center, 600 Swarthmore Ave., Folsom, March 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 610-237-8100.
• Wayne Senior Center, 108 Station Road, Wayne, March 12, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 610688-6246.
Residents are advised to contact their chosen location in advance to confirm availability and schedule an appointment.
Participants should bring their tax information/income statements, a photo identification card like a driver’s license, and Social Security cards for themselves and their dependents.
“The enhancement of the PTRR program is a welcome development, offering essential relief for our elderly population, and I’m thrilled that our COSA-funded Senior Centers will help ensure that residents can take full advantage of the program,” said COSA Director Barbara Nicolardi. “This collaboration with the Department of Revenue exemplifies our collective commitment to the wellbeing and financial stability of Delaware County’s older adults and residents with disabilities.”
All eligible individuals can now apply for the rebate online via the State’s myPATH application, available at https://mypath.pa.gov.
The deadline to submit applications for the 2023 Property Tax/Rent Rebates is June 30.
Brookhaven Fire Company launches campaign to recruit firefighters
Protecting the borough and surrounding Delaware County area since 1922, the Brookhaven Fire Company recently launched a fouryear recruitment campaign to grow its volunteer base and continue to provide toptier service to the community.
To highlight their ability to manage any call and show pride in their 100-plus year history, the tagline “Bringing Calm to Chaos Since 1922” will be featured throughout the campaign, along with the website www.JoinBrookhavenFire.org.
Visiting the new recruitment website, community members can learn about the Brookhaven Fire Company, ways they can volunteer, and read frequently asked questions and members’ testimonials.
“All of our volunteers are proud to show how they serve their community through this campaign,” said Chief Rob Montella. “We are excited to gain more volunteers, provide them with training and gear, and welcome them into our Brookhaven family.”
The campaign will also feature social media management, video production, face-to-face recruitment, targeted advertising, and much more. All recruitment materials will encourage the community to visit www.JoinBrookhavenFire.
org and express their interest in giving back to their community by volunteering through the completion of an inquiry form.
Brookhaven Fire Company’s recruitment campaign will run for four years and comes at no cost to the taxpayers. The campaign is being funded in its entirety through the Staffing Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The company’s responsibilities have grown. Firefighters and EMTs respond to a wide range of calls, with that number growing each year. Due to the high demand of calls, more volunteers are needed and no prior experience is
necessary to join.
Volunteers train weekly at the fire station in three different membership areas: firefighter, exterior firefighter and contributing member
“Our volunteers come
from many different backgrounds, but we all have a passion for helping others,” said Montella. “As a volunteer, you will not only gain the satisfaction of giving back, but also meet new people and create great friendships.”
To bring attention to the need for more volunteers, Brookhaven Fire Company hired the services of The Communication Solutions Group Inc., a full-service public relations marketing firm based in Jenkintown. The company successfully ran recruitment campaigns for local fire and rescue organizations including Clifton Heights Fire Company, Darby Fire Company and Garden City Fire Company.
To learn more about Brookhaven Fire Company or to fill out an inquiry form, visit www.JoinBrookhavenFire.org.
Vendors needed for Upwper Darby environmental resource fair
Sharell Wilson, CEO of Fruits of the Family Table and Councilwoman Danyelle Blackwell of Upper Darby from District Four have partnered to host recurring community cleanup events for the Upper Darby community.
To make the next event even more significant, they are hosting an environmental resource fair at Observatory Hill Recreation Area, 13 St. Laurence Road., Upper Darby, noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 11. They need the community’s participation and volunteers to make it a success.
Volunteers are needed to host tables and provide resources and promotional information about business and community nonprofits to help residents.
Everyone who attends will be provided with a special giveaway. For more information, or to sign up to participate and get a table, email DBlackwellCouncil@upperdarby.org or call 267-4106188.