Plum Advance Leader category, Page 22
Murrysville dance school will open 2nd location in Plum
Technically, Donna Zerjav of Murrysville runs Donna’s School of Dance in her spare time. In her day job, Zerjav works as a claims adjuster for Erie Insurance. But “Donna the claims adjuster” isn’t how most people know her. It’s “Donna from Donna’s School of Dance.” That’s because the business has...
Plum Boy Scout Troop celebrates 60 years of service
Plum Boy Scout Troop 111 is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Mayor Harry Schlegel delivered a proclamation to the troop and its committee chair Jim Plutto at a council meeting Aug. 12. Schlegel also declared Aug. 24 “Boy Scout Troop 111 Day” in the borough. Troop 111 is based...
Investigation into Plum house explosion could take years, officials sayVideo
It could take years to determine a cause of the deadly house explosion in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood, officials said Tuesday. “These can be very, very lengthy investigative processes,” said Matthew Brown, chief of Allegheny County’s Department of Emergency Services. “The key is to actually, definitively, get to what the...
Plum schools seek $9.9M loan for $30M renovation and expansion project
The Plum School Board on Tuesday will consider borrowing the first one-third of the money needed for a roughly $30 million building project. During its meeting Tuesday, the board is expected to hear a presentation from the district’s financial advisors, PFM Financial Advisors, before voting on proceeding with borrowing nearly...
Plum holds solemn vigil for those lost in house explosion a year ago
At 10:23 a.m. Monday, Plum paused to remember those who died in a house explosion in the borough’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood exactly one year ago. Church bells at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church were among those that began chiming at the precise moment Paul and Heather Oravitz’s home exploded...
In brief: Plum, Oakmont area news, events for the week of Aug. 12, 2024
Plum plans ‘Meet the Teacher’ events at schools Ahead of the start of the 2024-25 school year, the Plum School District will hold new “Meet the Teacher” events at its schools on Aug. 14 and 15. The event replaces the self-guided tours and open house. Teachers and staff will be...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of Aug. 11, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Chalfant Wayne Nagle sold property at 232 North Ave. to Heidi Maribel Dubon Corrales for $55,000. Churchill Joseph Zohr sold property at 13 Churchill Road to Isaac and Kelsey Kumar for $605,000. Sadia Sala sold property at 3758 E Rural Court to GMS Global Invests LLC for $113,500....
Still no answers: 1 year later, Plum community still awaits a cause for fatal Rustic Ridge house explosion
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Plum community to observe Rustic Ridge anniversary 1 year later with no answers
As a Plum community pauses to remember those who died in a fatal house explosion a year ago, questions about the cause remain unresolved, and a mayor is demanding answers. Six residents of the Rustic Ridge neighborhood died as a result of the massive Aug. 12 explosion, which sent shock...
Retirement has Plum School District searching for new assistant superintendent
One of Plum School District’s two assistant superintendents is retiring, so the district is looking for a replacement. Denise Sedlacek will retire on Nov. 1, Superintendent Rick Walsh said. Sedlacek, a resident of Allegheny Township, started her education career in 1984 and has been in administration since 1991. She came...
Parts of former Sheetz in Plum demolished; property for lease
While work is underway at the site of a former Sheetz on Plum’s Golden Mile Highway, the future of the property is unclear. Crews were seen this week dismantling and removing the last pieces of the canopy of the shuttered convenience store and gas station. Sheetz closed the location at...
Plum man, 61, accused of sexually assaulting 14-year-old girl he met outside a borough bar
A 61-year-old Plum man is accused of taking two underage teen girls he met outside a bar to his home and giving them marijuana before having sex with one of them. Plum police say John Dale Vorous admitted to taking the girls, ages 14 and 15, to his Francis Road...
Plum set to begin 2024-25 school year with larger senior, junior classes
Plum’s Class of 2025 is one of two large “bubbles” making its way through the school district. The senior class for the 2024-25 school year numbers 316 students, assistant Superintendent Ashley Boyers said. The junior class behind them is even larger, at 325. Typical class sizes for the district are...
State funding to bolster special educator workforce benefits Western Pa. schools
As the state Department of Education pushes out nearly $1.5 million in grants to help grow the special educator workforce, Western Pennsylvania schools are taking advantage. More than 75 universities and K-12 schools will benefit from the grants — including Bethel Park, Mt. Pleasant Area, Plum and Pittsburgh Public school...
Plum officials seek bids for demolition of former borough building
Plum officials are seeking bids for the demolition of the former borough building as they work on plans for redevelopment of the site. Plum moved its administrative and police offices out of the building on New Texas Road in late 2022 to its new municipal center on Mike Thomas Way,...
Plum football again adjusts to new set of conference opponents
The last three realignment cycles have brought change for the Plum football team. They went from Class 4A in 2020-21, to 5A in 2022-23 and are in 5A again this cycle, but they have an almost brand new slate of conference opponents for which to prepare. After being in the...
In brief: Plum, Oakmont area news, events for the week of Aug. 5, 2024
Basket auction at John Anthony’s to benefit dog rescue A basket auction to benefit Beach Dog Rescue of Costa Maya, Mexico, will be held Aug. 8 to 16 at John Anthony’s Restaurant, 115 Center New Texas Road. The cost is $10 for 25 tickets. Tickets can be purchased during regular...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of Aug. 4, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Churchill Wilmington Savings Fund Soc FSB Tr sold property at 2331 Marbury Road to Ambunga Brigitte Mbembo for $265,000. Forest Hills Corner Lot Homes LLC sold property at 109 Bevington Road to Mary Duffy Rooney for $400,000. Amagu Homes Flips LLC sold property at 125 LeGrande Drive to...
Holiday Park fire department preparing to host 1st Citizens Fire Academy
Plum’s Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department will host its first Citizens Fire Academy for adults beginning in September. The nine-week program, offered free of charge, will run from 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays from Sept. 18 to Nov. 13 at the fire station at 415 Old Abers Creek Road. Anyone...
Boyce Boxing gym hosts, dominates card at Monroeville Mall event
Boyce Boxing in Plum is gearing up for a big night as its fighters will feature prominently in a 12-bout card Saturday at Gloria’s Gym in the Monroeville Mall. “I have some guys with no fights and it will be their debut, and others who are open class with 10...
Oakmont dementia care residents volunteer with Humane Animal Rescue Pittsburgh
Mary Brown doesn’t often participate in the programming offered at Presbyterian SeniorCare’s Woodside Place in Oakmont. She prefers to stay in her living space at the dementia care facility or feed the squirrels outside. She has named them George and Frankie. Something changes, though, when residents go on a field...
Upper Burrell residents hope to see progress on speeding issues along Greensburg Road
Many of Tim Rote’s neighbors along the 2200 block of Greensburg Road in Upper Burrell have a “horror story” about what they say is a lack of safety on the road. Bill Smith recalls getting rear-ended while pulling into his driveway about 15 years ago with his son in the...
Plum graduate Thea Hail chasing pro wrestling dreams, NXT women’s title
Her friends and family in Plum know her as Madison Knisley. The wrestling world that watches World Wrestling Entertainment brand NXT live every Tuesday evening on the USA Network knows her as Thea Hail, one of the company’s fastest-rising stars. This Tuesday, the 2021 Plum graduate will challenge for the...
Credit card skimmer found at Plum Shop ’n Save after almost a month; 2 men charged
Two men suspected of placing credit card skimmers at grocery stores throughout the Pittsburgh area now are accused of doing the same thing in Plum, where a skimmer was in place at a store for nearly a month. Plum police filed charges Sunday against Thomas Fuchs, 34, and Alexandru Dumitrascu,...
In brief: Plum, Oakmont area news, events for the week of July 29, 2024
Plum movie night features ‘Kung Fu Panda’ Plum’s Summer Movie Night will feature “Kung Fu Panda” Aug. 3 at the borough amphitheater, 2000 Mike Thomas Way. The movie will start at dusk. Those attending are advised to bring blankets. There will be free popcorn and pre-show activities including a martial...
