Plum Advance Leader category, Page 22
Plum baseball battling toward playoff berth in Section 1-5A
Carl Vollmer was quick to extol the virtues of baseball games in Section 1-5A, one that is filled with close, natural rivalries. The veteran Plum coach said that with matchups against Franklin Regional, Penn-Trafford, Penn Hills, Fox Chapel, Gateway and Armstrong, there will be the highs of big wins and...
Plum mobile home park owner argues expansion denial deprives residents of flood protection
Plum’s rejection of a mobile home park’s expansion plan, in part because of flooding concerns, denies the people already living there protection from flooding that the expansion would provide, the owner argues in court filings. Following a hearing last September, Plum’s zoning hearing board in November rejected a proposal to...
Plum hires Ashley DeVito as middle school assistant principal
The Plum School Board hired a new assistant principal for the district’s middle school. Ashley DeVito is coming to Plum from Propel Braddock Hills High School, where she was an assistant principal. DeVito, 31, of Penn Hills will start at Plum upon release from her position there. Her salary was...
Plum School Board advances budget, tax hike with board member absent
The Plum School District’s proposed $74.3 million budget for next school year carrying a 6.2% property tax increase is a step closer to approval. The school board voted 8-0 Tuesday to approve the district’s proposed budget for 2024-25. Board member Ronald Sakolsky was present at the start of the meeting,...
Dave Pucka, one of Plum’s own, hired to coach boys basketball team
Dave Pucka put his stamp on Plum athletics more than 25 years ago as a standout running back for the Mustangs, and he also was a member of the boys basketball team. He was Plum’s all-time rushing yards and touchdowns leader from his senior year in 1997 to 2022, when...
125th U.S. Open Championship volunteer registration opens online
Volunteer registrations for the 125th U.S. Open Championship are now available online. The United States Golf Association is hosting the tournament June 9-15, 2025, at Oakmont Country Club and has made the official callout for volunteers. Positions currently are available on nine committees, including access control, corporate hospitality, disability services,...
In brief: Plum, Oakmont area events, week of April 15, 2024
Plum announces graduation date Plum Senior High School’s 2024 graduation will be held May 29, the district announced. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the high school stadium, 900 Elicker Road. There are two rain dates — 7 p.m. on May 30 and 7 p.m. on...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of April 14, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Chalfant Julie Molyneaux sold property at 931 Greensburg Pike to SRK Real Properties L.P. for $160,000. Churchill Marie Hickam sold property at 2321 Forest Drive to Jane Molina for $155,000. Edgewood Kitchen & Bath Experts LLC sold property at 209 Lincoln Ave. to Jordan Sheets and Alaina Leblanc...
Pittsburgh’s Girls of Steel preparing for world robotics event in Houston
Ava Miller may be a member of a robotics team, but she’s learning about a lot more than just robotics. Miller, 16, is a sophomore at Plum High School and one of about 40 girls from 17 schools in the Pittsburgh region who are members of the Girls of Steel...
Anonymous donor, church give $5K toward Plum student lunch debts
A Plum church and an anonymous donor have given more than $5,000 toward paying student lunch debts in the Plum School District. The anonymous donor gave $4,300 to pay off the entire balance owed at Pivik Elementary. Food service director Jessica Griggle said it’s the largest donation toward delinquent lunch...
Plum players learning, improving during inaugural flag football season
Anna Zanchi didn’t know much about American football before coming to Plum as an exchange student from Italy. But she has immersed herself in the game and now is a key member of Plum’s first girls flag football team. “This was all new to me,” said Zanchi, who began her...
Plum residents hear details on plans for biking, walking trail through borough, neighboring towns
Dan Sigg is excited about the possibility of a biking and walking trail running through Plum and three neighboring communities. “Trails are good for our region. They’re good for our community,” said Sigg of Plum. “Once you have it, you realize what a community asset it is.” Sigg was among...
Plum graduate makes 2nd donation of cleats to varsity baseball team
Plum’s varsity baseball team is on firm footing thanks to the continued generosity of a former player. When Nick Frazetta first donated cleats to the team last year, it was something the 2017 Plum graduate said he would be doing every year. He made good on that promise March 30,...
No tax increase 6 of past 10 years contributes to Plum School District’s 6.2% proposed hike
Plum School Board members say they can’t afford to continue putting off raising property taxes. The board has opted not to boost taxes for six of the past 10 years. Some board members say that’s one reason why district property owners are facing a hefty increase now. The board is...
Plum recruits young officer to fill police ranks
Cristina Sargent showed interest in police work from a young age. Her father said she would watch “America’s Most Wanted” when she was 4 years old. But White Oak police Chief Mark Sargent, who has been chief for six years and with his department for more than 30 years, didn’t...
More than a dozen departments respond to house fire in Plum
At least 14 departments responded to a two-alarm house fire Tuesday morning in Plum, authorities said. The fire was reported around 7 a.m. in the 100 block of Elwood Avenue, according to Glenn Kopec Jr., assistant chief of Unity Volunteer Fire Department. It took about 45 minutes to knock down...
In brief: Plum, Oakmont area events, week of April 8, 2024
Old Mine Road becomes Mike Thomas Way The U.S. Postal Service was expected to process address changes for Old Mine Road to Mike Thomas Way on April 9, the borough announced. Plum Council in October approved changing Old Mine Road to Mike Thomas Way in honor of the former borough...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of April 7, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Churchill Susanne Steving sold property at 34 Barton Drive to Elaine Rachelle Wilson for $187,000. Tanner Yocca sold property at 1046 Black Forest Drive to Daniel Festa and Emily Dahlin for $255,000. Edgewood Tiffany GP Inc. sold property at 409 Edgewood Ave. to Trevor and Emily Mauk for...
Plum Junior Olympic wrestlers prove to be among best in the state
A trio of Plum youth wrestlers — Nicholas Pifer, Braeden Watters, and Ethan Schwartz — recently qualified for and participated in the Keystone state tournament in Reading, and the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling state tournament at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center. Schwartz, in the 10U 55-pound division, now is a two-time Keystone...
Led by sprinter Gabrielle Layne, Plum athletes embark on 2024 track and field season
Gabrielle Layne capped her 2023 outdoor track season with some major accomplishments. She found herself on the medals podium twice at the WPIAL Class 3A championships at Slippery Rock with a fifth-place finish in the 100-meter dash and an eighth-pace finish in the 200 dash. She also punched her ticket...
Plum High School preparing for presentation of spring musical, ‘Bye Bye Birdie’
Plum High School students are wrapping up rehearsals for this year’s spring musical, “Bye Bye Birdie.” It’s been close to 20 years since Plum has performed the 1960 musical comedy. Set in 1958, its story is influenced by Elvis Presley being drafted into the Army at the height of his...
Plum School District hires director of facilities
Plum Borough School District has new leadership managing its facilities. Shelley Shaffer was introduced at last month’s school board meeting as the new Director of Facilities and Grounds. Shaffer previously held similar positions at Westmoreland County Community College, Shepherd University, Saint Vincent College and Clarion University of Pennsylvania. “We’re thrilled...
Investigators interview man who visited Rustic Ridge home days ahead of fatal explosion
Allegheny County authorities say they identified a man who was seen on the porch of a home in Plum’s Rustic Ridge neighborhood days before it exploded last year. The man was not suspected of any wrongdoing, but investigators believed he could have information that might help in the ongoing investigation,...
In brief: Plum, Oakmont area events, week of April 1, 2024
Registration open for Plum youth fishing day Plum has opened registrations for the borough’s annual youth trout fishing day, which will be from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. April 13 on Plum Creek at 1040 Ross Hollow Road. The free event is open to Plum residents only. Families are asked...
East suburban real estate transactions, week of April 4, 2024
ALLEGHENY COUNTY Forest Hills Estate of Marilyn O’Connor sold property at 4 Hillcrest Road to TLH TD Properties for $125,000. Katherine Opsitnick sold property at 321 Sharon Drive to Justin Pawlowski and Ashley Baskin for $281,950. Jupiter Financial Services LLC sold property at 231 Woodside Road to Nicholas and Sara...
