Plum Advance Leader category, Page 115
NAACP calls for Plum school board member’s resignation
The NAACP Allegheny East Branch is calling for the resignation of a Plum school board member after a controversial Facebook share that has been criticized as being anti-Muslim. “The Allegheny East NAACP found (Brian Wisniewski’s) share on Facebook absolutely offensive and unacceptable. His claim that it was an accidental share...
Plum residents not buying school board member post was ‘accidental’
By and large, Plum residents are not buying that a school board member’s Facebook post that has been criticized as being anti-Muslim was an accident. Plum school board member Brian Wisniewski said the Feb. 1 post was accidental after some residents went to social media demanding him to resign and...
Oakmont has a new interim manager, search for more permanent hire continues
Retired Avalon Manager Harry Dilmore was named Oakmont’s new interim manager. He will stay on indefinitely as borough officials continue to seek a more permanent replacement for longtime borough Manager Lisa Cooper Jensen. Dilmore, 67, of Avalon, served his community on council from 1975 through 2001. He was its manager...
Plum school board member says anti-Muslim Facebook share was ‘accidental’
Some residents are calling for the resignation of a Plum Borough School District board member after he shared a social media post that has been criticized as being anti-Muslim. Brian Wisniewski, who is in his second year of his four-year term on the board, shared a Facebook post Feb. 1...
Oakmont Council has a vacancy
Oakmont Councilman Justin Lokay has resigned from his elected post and moved out of the borough. He and his wife, Ryan, are expecting their third child very soon. “We moved back towards family for more support as family watches our kids,” Lokay said via email to the Tribune-Review. “As a...
Plum police: Lock your car doors
Plum Borough police are urging residents to lock their car doors to prevent two suspects from stealing things out of them. “Do not leave anything of value in your vehicle, and don’t leave it unlocked,” said Jeff Armstrong, Plum’s police chief. “If you don’t you’re inviting an opportunist to get...
New Oakmont Bakery grand opening scheduled for next week
The new Oakmont Bakery’s grand opening has been set for Tuesday, Feb. 5. Owners plan to open the doors of the new 19,000-square-foot facility at 9 a.m. pending state inspections. It’s located near the intersection of Third Street and Hulton Road, across Third from Riverview High School. The current bakery,...
Amplify Church’s ‘vision’ includes establishing three new campuses across Pa.
Jan. 27 was “Vision Sunday” at Amplify Church campuses in Plum and Pittsburgh’s Strip District, and that vision seeks to grow the church by leaps and bounds. Church officials announced plans to more than double Amplify’s footprint in Pennsylvania, working toward the establishment of campuses in the North Hills, South...
Murder mystery set at the Oaks Theater
Mystery’s Most Wanted, Pittsburgh’s premier murder mystery dinner theater troupe, returns to the Oaks Theater in Oakmont. The group presents “I Loathe Lucy” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at 310 Allegheny River Blvd. It’s a take on the popular 1950s sitcom “I Love Lucy.” Somebody has some “splainin to do”...
Plum school board members pledge to keep any tax increase in their 2019-20 budget to a minimum
Plum School District officials pledged to keep any tax increase in next year’s budget to a minimum and within state Act 1 guidelines. The board voted 6-2 at a special meeting Tuesday night to adopt a resolution making that commitment. Board President Scott Coulson, Vice President Vicky Roessler and board...
Oakmont to continue borough manager search, hire another interim administrator
Oakmont officials plan to hire another interim borough manager as the search for a permanent replacement continues. Councilwoman Carrie DelRosso said about 60 candidates have submitted resumes. “As a member of council, it is our responsibility to provide the borough with the most qualified professional who can manage the borough...
Two Plum High School seniors receive Air Force scholarships
Two Plum High School Air Force Junior ROTC cadets were awarded the military branch’s Chief of Staff scholarship. Seniors Alexandra Ralph and Carter Campbell both will receive $20,000 for room, board, flight time, flight suits and other related costs as they attend a credited aviation university and go for their...
Plum post office remains closed, reopening date unknown
Work on a Plum post office that has been closed for nearly four months is nearing completion, said Tad Kelley, a U.S. Postal Service spokesman for Western Pennsylvania. “I have been told the office is close to complete,” Kelley said in an email. He did not have a specific reopening...
Hearing rescheduled for man charged in Plum shooting
A Pittsburgh man who allegedly shot another man in his Plum house will have to wait for his day in court. The attorney for Malik Hawkins, 21, requested to postpone a preliminary hearing scheduled for Jan. 23 at Plum’s Magisterial District Court. Police said Malik Hawkins, 21, of Pittsburgh, walked...
Tom Bland out as Oakmont recreation board chairman, vacancy needs to be filled
Oakmont recreation board seeks a new member and leader after borough council voted against reappointing its chairman. Tom Bland was on the recreation board the past 10 years, the last six as chairman. He served on council four years prior to being appointed to the board. A motion to reappoint...
Grant, equipment donations provide Riverview High School students a new game to play
Riverview High School students have a new option when it comes to physical education games. Volunteer pickleball instructors came to the school in Oakmont Jan. 15 and introduced the sport to the children. It is a cross between ping pong, tennis and badminton. One to two players on each side...
Vehicle and school bus with no students collide in Plum
Plum police are investigating a crash between a car and a school bus. Police Chief Jeff Armstrong said the incident occurred Tuesday afternoon along Route 286 between Holiday Park and Presque Isle drives. He said the driver of the car was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The...
Riverview School District to start elementary computer science program through state grant
Riverview School District officials plan to use a state grant to implement a new computer science program at Verner and Tenth Street elementary schools. The district was one of 16 Allegheny County education entities, including charter schools, to be awarded a $35,000 portion of $560,000 targeted grants provided through Gov....
Activities in Plum and Oakmont this week – Jan. 21, 2019
Looking for something to do in Plum or Oakmont? Here are some suggestions: Plum Community Library at 449 Center New Texas Road Blvd. hosts Toddler Tales, a storytime for children ages 2-3 and a caregiver, 11-11:45 a.m. and Story Time Live, a storytime for children ages 4-5, from 1-1:45 p.m....
Plum school board postpones real estate tax-related vote
Plum School District officials postponed a vote on whether the district will limit any tax increase next year to the state’s Act 1 index. Board members were to approve at the Jan. 22 regular meeting a resolution to stay within the Act 1 index — a state formula restricting real...
Plum becomes first busing district in nation to complete TSA training program
Students transported by Plum School District buses are now as safe as those who fly the friendly skies. The district recently became the first busing district in the nation to complete a four-part training and evaluation cycle from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. “I’m really proud that we can make...
Oakmont shop hopes to turn squares into comfort for Tree of Life families
A young girl’s hope of comforting families impacted by the mass shooting at a synagogue in Squirrel Hill last year turned a small yarn shop in Oakmont into a global destination. Yarns by Design at 622 Allegheny River Blvd. launched the Tree of Life Afghan Project shortly after the Oct....
DUI, prostitution cases among those recently handled by Judge Zucco in Plum
District Judge Linda Zucco recently handled the following cases. Charges were filed by Plum police unless otherwise noted. Held for courtRobyn Savko, 38, of New Kensington on charges of promoting prostitution and defiant trespass. Charges were filed Nov. 12. Waived preliminary hearingKevin Hohman, 59, of Plum on charges of driving...
Plum School District’s 2019-20 school year budget talks have begun
Plum School District officials are trying to avoid a tax increase and find additional revenue sources to plug a projected $1.1 million hole in the 2019-20 budget. Several scenarios were presented at the Jan. 15 budget committee meeting by district business manager John Zahorchak. Two included no tax increases while...
Plum council approves more spending for school district safety improvements
More Plum School District security upgrades will be paid for through a borough donation. Borough officials last year approved a $160,000 gift toward cyber security, facility upgrades and other initiatives designed to keep Plum students safe. Council unanimously voted Jan. 14 to increase its contribution by approximately $50,000 to help...
