Plum fire departments, EMS receive grants
Plum Emergency Medical Services and the borough’s four fire departments are receiving grants through the Office of the State fire Commissioner.
Of the fire departments, Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department received about $16,322; Unity Volunteer Fire Department received $15,246; Logans Ferry Heights Volunteer Fire Department received $12,879; and Renton Volunteer Fire Department received $12,449. Plum EMS received $15,000.
The money can be used for facility upgrades, equipment, debt reduction, training and certification.
Plum to work on comprehensive plan
Plum will pay consulting firm Pashek MTR about $92,000 to update the borough’s comprehensive plan.
Plum’s plan has not been updated since 2012, borough Manager David Soboslay said. Doing so is expected to take about 18 months.
The project was tentatively scheduled to start in April and be finished by September 2026. A project website, including a public survey and engagement activities, would start between May and June. Public engagement, outreach and interviews would take place from June through August, with the first of two community workshops in October.
Half of the cost will be paid from the borough’s 2025 budget, while half will come from its 2026 budget, Soboslay said.
Saltsburg Road house to be demolished
Plum has hired a contractor to demolish a vacant house on Saltsburg Road at Pierson Run Road.
Lutterman Excavating submitted the lowest bid, $13,500, for the work. A grant is paying for it, borough Manager David Soboslay said.
When the house will be torn down depends on the contractor’s availability, but it will be done as soon as possible, Soboslay said. A lien will be filed against the parcel.
Plum students participate in Honors Band
Twenty-one students from Plum Senior High School participated in the Alle-Kiski Honors Band, a local honors band made up of 11 schools in the Alle-Kiski Valley area.
These students qualified by audition: Cash Anderegg, Lila Bajus, Cullen Bajus, Davin Bauer, Kendall Beighley, Michael Callaghan, Naomi Casey, Damian Collier, Massimo Collier, Tyson Consuegra, Dawson Cummings, Addison Ferguson, Bryce Hanscom, Marshall Lauffer, Julius Mendenhall, Caleb Nagy, Max Peters, Caedmon Powell, Andrew Schamber, Addison Shearer and Allison Sullivan.
Festival of Praise open to community
Holy Family Parish is sponsoring a Festival of Praise at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at St. John the Baptist Church, 444 Holy Family Way, Plum.
The festival will include worship and praise of the Lord in song, prayer and fellowship. The evening will be filled with Scripture readings, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, time for prayer and reflection, as well as inspiring music and jubilant singing led by Kids of His Kingdom. A social will be held afterward in the annex hall.
Everyone from the Plum community and surrounding areas is welcome to attend.
Comedy fundraiser on tap for Verona brewery
Riverside Women’s Association will sponsor a comedy night fundraiser at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 at Acclamation Brewing at 314 Arch St. in Verona.
The doors open at 6 p.m., and tickets cost $30. There will be a cash bar, raffles, 50-50 and auctions. Snacks will be available for purchase.
Those attending must be 18 or older. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
For tickets and sponsorship information, visit funny4funds.com/events. For details, call Sue Portera at 412-956-7416.
County Republican committee chair candidate to speak in Plum
The Plum Borough Republican Committee will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Plum Senior Community Center, 499 Center-New Texas Road.
Jason Richey, a former candidate for governor who is running for chairman of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County, will be the featured guest speaker.
The meeting is open to all registered Republicans. For information, call 724-787-8673 or email sdschlauch@gmail.com.
Plum Republican petition signing set
A Republican petition signing for Plum residents is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 20 at Shooti’s Bar and Grille.
Petitions available to sign will include those for school director, borough council, county council, mayor, tax collector, statewide judicial seats and others.
Free pizza and soft drinks will be served. Shooti’s Bar and Grille is at 100 Boyce Park Drive in Plum.
For more information, call 724 787 8673 or email sdschlauch@gmail.com.
Church events open to eastern communities
Monroeville Church of the Brethen, 481 Center Road in Monroeville, under the leadership of new Pastor Oyango Burney is inviting members of the community and surrounding areas to join a variety of events:
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• The church operates a prayer hotline and welcomes requests. If you need prayer and don’t know where to turn, the congregation wants to help and will pray for you. To submit a request, call the church at 412-372-4165.
• A weekly Bible study class meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday.
• Free coffee and doughnuts are served from 10 to 11 a.m. every Sunday.
• A blood drive conducted by the American Red Cross is planned from noon to 5 p.m. April 11 at the church. To make an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-Red-Cross (800-733-2767).
For details about any of the events, visit monroevillecob.com, email monroeville.brethern@gmail.com or call 412-372-4165.
Rotary offering need-based scholarships
The Bob Williams Rotary Memorial Scholarship Program is accepting applications from current high school seniors and GED students for 2024-25.
This year, eight need-based scholarships at $5,000 each will be awarded.
The scholarships are open to students in Allegheny and Beaver counties, as well as those attending New Kensington- Arnold, Kiski Area and Burrell Area high schools and The Kiski School in Westmoreland County. Vocational students, GED students and those attending parochial, charter and private schools also are eligible.
Students must have a 2.5 or higher grade-point average and must complete an essay highlighting their community/school service.
Complete application and criteria materials are available on the website of Rotary District 7305 at rotarydistrict7305.org/scholarships.php or from area high school counselors.
The deadline to apply is Feb. 28. Applications postmarked after that date will not be accepted.
For details, email Dr. Robert Arbuckle, chairperson of the scholarship committee, at rarbuckl@yahoo.com.
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 Tuesdays at 5:45 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1261 Pennsylvania Ave. in Oakmont. Weigh-in is private followed by a brief business meeting, sharing time, and educational program all ending by 7:15.
There is well-lit parking, wheelchair accessibility and security. For details, call 412-828-3854 or e-mail jmjkwj@gmail.com.