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David Amadio publishes debut novel ‘Rug Man’

Drexel Hill resident David Amadio, who teaches at Lincoln University, wrote his first novel, Rug Man. The book delves into the world of local artisans who work incredibly hard, overcome all sorts of obstacles and take immense pride in their craft. (COURTESY OF DEBRA BURKE)

UPPER DARBY – David Amadio of Drexel Hill published his debut novel, Rug Man, earlier this month. The book was published by Paul Dry Books in Philadelphia and is set in Delaware County.

The plot of “Rug Man” revolves around the main character’s carpet shop in Upper Darby and his client’s McMansion in Villanova.

For fans of Richard Russo and Stewart O’Nan comes a frank and funny debut novel about the day-to-day work of a humble carpet fitter.

The editor describes the story as follows: Frank “Ace” Renzetti has been a carpet installer for over 40 years, working in the upscale neighborhoods of Philadelphia’s Main Line. At a time when he should be thinking about retirement, Frank takes on one of the biggest and weirdest jobs of his career.

The house belongs to a volatile and eccentric divorcee, and its rooms are teeming with weary contractors, many of whom have been on the job for months. A spoiled dog regularly sabotages everyone’s work, and the general contractor patrols the site as if it were the border.

In the midst of this week-long circus, Frank’s body begins to give out, and when he loses his two helpers in a drug bust, he’s left to do the job alone with one good leg.

Desperate, he hires a day laborer from his competitor and discovers that the young, undocumented El Salvadorian has a knack for carpets and could possibly be the future of the industry. As the physical challenges of the job increase, the fate of Frank’s business, along with the fate of his working genius, grows more uncertain.

According to a press release accompanying the book, “Rug Man” pays homage to a bygone era of craftsmen whose work was the source of their greatest sorrow but also their greatest pride.

Amadio teaches creative writing and composition at Lincoln University. His work has appeared in Cleaver, Packingtown Review, Adaptation, Talking River, Nerve Cowboy, and the San Francisco Examiner.

Amadio explains: “Rug Man was largely inspired by my experience at Ascot Carpets, the family-owned carpet company. Ascot Carpets was founded by my great uncles in 1952 and has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My father bought the company from my uncles in the early 1990s and I started working for him shortly thereafter, completing an apprenticeship on my school days and bridging the gap between science and the world of work. During this time, my father significantly expanded his mechanical repertoire and developed sophisticated sewing and binding techniques that earned him the interest of high-end designers. I’ve quietly watched him become the most trusted and sought-after carpet fitter in the region.”

During his time at work, the author used a notebook to record the names and attitudes of his ever-growing list of clients: Julius Erving, Will Smith, Jim Gardner, and many, many others.

“The main character of the novel, Frank Renzetti, is modeled after my father,” says Amadio. “And the book is a paean to him and his working-class brothers, including the plumbers, painters and carpenters who, in the words of Eugene O’Neil, ‘make it work’. ”

To order a copy of the book, visit www.pauldrybooks.com or amazon.com.

DCIU presents a free parenting workshop to help kids cope with anxiety

Parents can learn strategies to help their child manage anxiety in a special free workshop over Zoom presented by the Delaware County Intermediate Unit Division of Teaching and Learning, Tuesday, April 11, 6-8 p.m.

Presented by Natalie Bowen, IU’s Teaching and Learning Specialist, the workshop will focus on how parents can help their child develop emotional regulation skills in general, but particularly those useful in dealing with worried or anxious feelings.

Parents can learn how to support and empower their child to process feelings and recognize when it is time to seek support from the school or a therapist outside the school setting.

IU’s workshops are designed to help parents better navigate the often challenging roadmap of their children’s education with disabilities or learning difficulties who may need additional help.

The content of this workshop is aimed at parents but is open to everyone. If a professional chooses to attend this workshop, no Act 48 or continuing education credit will be offered.

Parents must register at https://tinyurl.com/2avy37ce.

Participation is free, but registration is required. The Zoom link will be emailed on the day of the training. Parents must register for this session by April 7th at 4pm to participate.

Our Lady of Peace is hosting Cash Bingo

Our Lady of Peace Congregation in Ridley Township will be hosting bingo on Saturday, April 1 at 7pm in the Notre Dame de Lourdes Nelson Hall.

Entry is at 6:00 p.m. Bingo costs $35 upfront and $40 at the door and offers cash prizes.

Raffles and a 50/50 draw will be available. Participants can bring their own snacks and drinks. The prize amounts are based on the number of players.

For tickets email RoseTimMoran@gmail.com or call Dan Tyson at 610-766-0527. For tickets through Venmo, @OurLadyOfPeaceParish

IceWorks Presents Celebrity Hockey Game

Five-time NHL All-Star Brian Propp invites the community to attend Saturday, Jan.

Admission for all tickets is at 12.00 p.m.

Joining Propp on the ice are former NHL players Riley Cote, Doug Crossman, Mark Howe, Nick Schultz and Chris Therien.

A portion of the proceeds benefit the HEADstrong Foundation, the local non-profit organization focused on providing financial, residential, and emotional support to families affected by cancer.

Tickets are $10 and children under 2 are free.

But there are $20 tickets that include a meet and greet.

For $40, the ticket includes event, meet-and-greet, and happy hour. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis online at http://provantagesolutions.com and, if still available, at the event.

White Horse Village campus renovation will recycle 45,000 pounds of vinyl siding

White Horse Village, an active senior living community in the township of Edgmont, is the site of a sustainability initiative to recycle 45,000 pounds of PVC vinyl siding.

As part of the campus-wide renovation, the pilot project is a collaboration between R. Titter Roofing and CertainTeed Building Products, a division of Saint-Gobain North America.

Renovations at White Horse Village include new siding, brickwork and windows for 186 apartments as part of a larger master plan.

The vinyl recycling program began last year with the exterior renovation of 70 Garden Cottages and will continue in 2023 as work on 116 villas begins this spring.

“We are very excited to be participating in this pilot project with CertainTeed and R. Titter Roofing. It’s a great fit for our green community,” said Len Weiser, CEO and President of White Horse Village. “We are committed to the wise use of resources and recognize that sustainable construction requires partnerships with like-minded organizations.”

When new siding is installed, R. Titter Roofing carefully collects the old demolitions and construction waste and places the vinyl in storage bins.

CertainTeed is piloting a closed loop recycling process.

Bins of vinyl from White Horse Village renovations are shipped to CertainTeed’s regional partner for shredding and baling.

It is then shipped to CertainTeed’s PVC recycling partner where it is reused as a raw material for new siding and other vinyl products. The initiative has a positive impact on the environment by redirecting vinyl waste and avoiding landfill fees.

The CertainTeed vinyl siding recycling program began in 2022 and is still in the pilot phase with projects in Ohio, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

CertainTeed is working with a variety of construction industry stakeholders, including contractors, distributors and fabricators, and is seeking to collaborate with interested partners in other regions of the country to expand the project’s footprint.

Visit http://www.whitehorsevillage.org for more information.

Readers can send community news and photos to Peg DeGrassa at pdegrassa@21st-centurymedia.com.

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