Plum Advance Leader category

Plum School District’s new finance director returns to role he previously occupied

John Zahorchak is set to return to Plum School District as its new director of finance and operations. Zahorchak, a Plum resident, previously served in the same role from 2016-2021 before leaving for neighboring Penn Hills School District. There, he helped oversee Penn Hills’ exit from financial recovery status in...
90-year-old artist paints portraits of caregivers who helped her recover at Plum retirement community

When a broken leg rendered Eva Lu Damianos mostly immobile in June, a whole team of nurses, aides and therapists assembled to get her back on her feet. Months later — now sauntering around with the help of a walker — Damianos, 90, has chosen to express her gratitude by...
Monroeville man will march in Tournament of Roses Parade with a band of band directors

Michael Buckstein might be an assistant band director at the University of Pittsburgh, but it has still been a while since he practiced his heel-toe marching step. He’s been brushing up lately, though, after being chosen to perform with the Band Directors’ Marching Band at the annual Tournament of Roses...
Monroeville man will march in Tournament of Roses Parade with a band of, well, band directors

Michael Buckstein might be an assistant band director at the University of Pittsburgh, but it has still been a while since he practiced his heel-toe marching step. He’s been brushing up lately, though, after being chosen to perform with the Band Directors’ Marching Band at the annual Tournament of Roses...
Plum’s Make-A-Wish telethon cracks $1.25 million all-time total in 25th edition

When Rick Berrott started Plum’s Make-A-Wish telethon in 1999, the event lasted a few hours and was filmed on VHS tapes. But in its 25th edition on Monday and Tuesday, students stayed on the digital airwaves for more than 12 hours to crack an all-time total of $1.25 million. Berrott,...
Penn Hills man accused of fighting Plum police after being revived from drug overdose

A man repeatedly attempted to fight Plum police officers after being revived from an apparent drug overdosed Monday, police say. Frank Russo, 39, of Penn Hills is charged with three counts of felony aggravated assault, obstructing administration of the law and resisting arrest, among other misdemeanors. Officers were dispatched to...
Holy Family Parish offering free brunch on Christmas

Holy Family Parish is trying to make sure nobody in the community is alone on Christmas this year. The parish churches in Oakmont, Penn Hills, Plum and Verona will be offering a free Christmas Brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Christmas Day at two parish locations: • St....
Eastern Pittsburgh suburban real estate transactions for the week of Dec. 14, 2025

ALLEGHENY COUNTY Churchill Diane Davis sold property at 2525 Greensburg Pike Unit 403 to Leon and Jeanetta Blackston for $230,000. Edgewood Jessica Zhu sold property at 513 Allenby Ave. to Kelsey Brazell for $295,000. Harrison Harrell sold property at 132 Beech St. to Lorna Romero Tangara for $531,115. Jessica George...
Some defendants in Plum fatal explosion case ask judge to dismiss negligence claims

Several defendants being sued over a 2023 fatal house explosion in Plum asked a judge Friday to dismiss negligence counts against them during a two-hour hearing heavy on legal citations. Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Philip A. Ignelzi did not rule from the bench. The families of six people killed...
Plum Council passes budget with no tax increase

Plum property owners are looking at a level tax rate next year after council passed its budget Monday. The budget keeps the tax rate for residents at 6.63 mills for the second year in a row. That means the annual borough property tax bill on a home at Plum’s median...
More than 200 people gather to remember loved ones at 30th Light of Love event

Nearly a year after his mother, Rose Pirollo, died on Christmas Day, Chris Pirollo of Penn Hills attended Soxman Funeral Homes’ Light of Love memorial program for the first time. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but he walked away feeling it was a “wonderful, elegant, tasteful celebration of remembrance.”...
Election victors join Plum School Board; new president named

Plum School Board has four new members after a slate of Election Day victors took their seats this month. Jill Klipa, Adam Hill, Tiffany Hyde and Geter Sloan were sworn in to office by District Judge Mike Doyle. Hill served one term from 2019 to 2023, but the other three...
Plum prepares for 25th edition of Make-A-Wish telethon, hopes to crack $1.25M mark

Plum’s annual Make-A-Wish telethon is set to return later this month for its 25th edition. The livestreamed event has raised $1.19 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation since it began in 1999. But organizers are hoping to crack the $1.25 million mark this year, according to Plum High School teacher and...
In brief: Plum, Oakmont area news, events for the week of Dec. 8, 2025

Group offers support for weight loss All are welcome to join the men and women at Oakmont TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) who are learning how to lose weight. With in-person meetings, rewards, support and encouragement, we gain knowledge of healthy eating and exercise. You may visit with no obligation...
Eastern Pittsburgh suburban real estate transactions for the week of Dec. 7, 2025

ALLEGHENY COUNTY Forest Hills Kevin Wilhelm sold property at 714 Cascade Road to Rachel Harriet Corn-Hicks for $195,000. Estate of Florence Mae Beatty sold property at 1987 Centurion Drive to Emily Phillips for $64,600. Monroeville RS Holdings 201 LLC sold property at 431 California Ave. to Cerkat Ventures D LLC...
Substitute teacher shortages leave some districts scrambling to avoid ‘vicious cycle’ in schools

During Allegheny Valley School District’s two-month search for a consistent high school biology teacher, Superintendent Patrick Graczyk said other teachers, outside substitutes and even school principals stepped in to keep the science class going. Eventually, the district found a long-term substitute with an emergency biology certification to fill the role...

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