Dan Gross: Tom Hanks to mentor Melrose Park native

TOM HANKS will help mentor aspiring screenwriter Gabriel Posey, a Melrose Park native who recently returned from serving in Afghanistan and who got hooked up with Hanks by ABC News' Bob Woodruff as part of his "Standing Up for Heroes" series.

Posey, 32, who spent nine years in the Army, decided to enlist while studying English literature at Temple. Now that he's home, he told Woodruff, he wanted to pursue his passion of working in movies or television.

Woodruff connected Posey, who achieved the rank of staff sergeant, with Hanks, whose acting/directing career has included a number of military projects such as "Saving Private Ryan," and "The Pacific," and surprised Posey with the news in a video clip aired online Monday on ABCNews.com. Part of the interview was also to be aired Monday night on "World News" and "Nightline." The clip is also available on PhillyGossip. com.

Actress Vivica A. Fox was in town for a few days last week shooting a catalog and promotional materials for Sang, the newest product line in her Vivica A. Fox Hair Collection of weaves and extensions. Fox spent two days shooting at Power Plant Studios in Northern Liberties and took her staff out Thursday to Ruth's Chris (260 S. Broad), where she has dined the past few times she's been in town. On Friday, she hosted a dinner for a large group of clients at McCormick & Schmick's (1 S. Broad), where she showed off some of her new hair products.

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia turned up with a large security detail over the weekend at the Carnegie Club, a cocktail and cigar lounge in midtown Manhattan, where Gov. Corbett was speaking with a group at a party hosted by Consol Energy.

This took place during the annual Pennsylvania Society weekend, when Pa. politicos invade the Big Apple. Scalia and Corbett chatted for a while over cigars and were eventually joined by Mayor Nutter and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

Talk-show host Rachael Ray shopped at Open House (107 S. 13th) and lunched at Pub & Kitchen (20th & Lombard) Saturday while here with her husband, John Cusimano, for a book-signing of her new My Year in Meals, at the Free Library's Main Branch.

* So who was at El Vez (13th & Sansom) Saturday night with a huge security detail outside? Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and his family, who dined there after the Army/Navy game. The family also ate there after the game two years ago.

It's that time of year again, when drinking and ogling strippers at 6 a.m. is not only OK, it's what is expected from you.

That's right, SportsRadio 94 WIP's Wing Bowl 21 returns to the Wells Fargo Center on Feb. 1.

Tickets for the annual celebration of gluttony and Wingettes are on sale at 9 a.m. Tuesday through CBSPhilly.com/WingBowl and ComcastTix.com or in person at the Wells Fargo Center.

WIP invited CBS Radio sports stations in New York, Chicago, Dallas, Washington and Boston to send an eater to compete in Wing Bowl 21. Eaters from these cities will face off with three-time champion Jonathan "Super" Squibb, of South Jersey, for a $20,000 cash prize from Steven Singer Jewelers. Last year's winner, Japanese eating sensation Takeru Kobayashi, will not return to defend his title.

The best local eater will win a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder S-L from Montgomeryville Acura.

This year the contest will be streamed live at CBSPhilly.com.

Congratulations to NBC10 meteorologist Michelle Grossman, who gave birth Monday to Jeremy Elliott Simmons at Doylestown Hospital. Dude weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces.

He is her first child with husband Jamie Simmons, NBC10's digital-assets manager. Grossman has a daughter, Ella, 4, from her first marriage.

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