In brief: Plum, Oakmont area news, events for the week of Aug. 19, 2024

Plum School District hires special education director

The Plum School Board approved hiring Denise L. Lohr as the district’s new director of special education and student services.

Lohr will replace Amy Baumgart-Eiben, who resigned in June. Her salary was set at $123,600.

Lohr has served as the early childhood services administrator at the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit, early intervention speech-language supervisor and adjunct professor at Seton Hill University in their Division of Education focusing on special education coursework. She started her career as a speech-language pathologist serving students in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties for 10 years.

Lohr will start at Plum once she is released from her current employer.

Plum School Board approves retirements, resignations; makes hires

The Plum School Board accepted some retirements and resignations and made a number of hires at its Aug. 13 meeting.

The board accepted the retirements of Bonnie Bisceglia, a paraprofessional at Plum Middle School, effective July 15 and of assistant Superintendent Denise Sedlacek effective Nov. 1.

The board accepted the resignations of Gina Beyer, paraprofessional at Pivik Elementary, effective July 15; Kaylao Moio, long-term special education substitute teacher at the high school, effective July 29; and Daniel Garrity, van driver, effective Aug. 7.

Among hires, Marissa McClafferty and Kelly Sereda were each hired as long-term substitute special education teachers at the high school beginning Aug. 6 with salaries of $52,500.

Hired as food service workers were Gretchen Cooley and Katarina Martinez, effective Aug. 13 at hourly rates of $15.25.

Plum School Board OKs changes of employment

The Plum School Board at its Aug. 13 meeting approved changing the employment status of four people.

Zane Hinkle was changed from a help desk technician to technology administrative assistant, effective Aug. 14 with a salary of $46,917.

Marilyn Miller and David Daugherty were changed from van drivers to full-time bus drivers, each effective Aug. 13 at $24.27 per hour.

Jeffrey Weber was changed from a full-time custodian to a full-time maintenance position at $24.15 per hour effective Aug. 20.

Oven purchased for O’Block Elementary

The Plum School Board approved paying $22,662 for a combi oven to replace a steamer at O’Block Elementary.

A combi oven is a three-in-one oven which allows cooking with steam, hot air or a combination of both.

The oven is being bought from TriMark SS Kemp, a kitchen equipment supplier for the state’s CoStars program.

Plum School Board approves drone policy

The Plum School Board has approved a new policy governing the use of drones on district property.

Under the policy, the use of drones on school property is prohibited except for school employees and students authorized to use them for educational purposes and community groups with a legitimate purpose that obtain authorization before using them.

Drone operators have to comply with FAA requirements and provide proof of compliance and their experience. Drones have to stay within line of sight of pilots.

Drones are not be allowed to be flown over any interscholastic practice, game, match or other contest.

Students and employees who operate drones on or over district property without authorization could face disciplinary action. Those on school property or operating a drone above school property in violation of the policy will be treated as trespassers.

PALS to resume meetups Sept. 4

The Plum Area Ladies Society will have its first meeting of the new season at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Plum Community Center.

The speaker will be Missy Counahan. She will share a PowerPoint presentation of Twilight Make a Wish, an organization that grants wishes to seniors.

The monthly service project will be to donate money to help the Twilight organization fulfill some of those wishes.

Donations of paper goods and cash for the Plum Food Pantry also will be accepted.

Annual dues of $25 may be paid at the meeting. The theme for the Friendship Basket is “Anything Goes.”

For the Ladies Day Out, PALS members are invited to attend Karaoke Night from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 11 with DJ Jim Barnett at the Plum Community Center. Members are encouraged to bring snacks and drinks.

The women’s club is open to residents of Plum, Penn Hills, Monroeville and the surrounding communities.

Newcomers are welcome to attend a monthly meeting, which are held at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month, September through April, at the Plum Community Center.

For details, call Mary Lou at 724-327-8265.

Volunteers sought to install smoke alarms; devices still available

As part of its Sound the Alarm effort, the American Red Cross is seeking volunteers to help install smoke alarms from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 24 in Plum, Oakmont, Verona and Penn Hills.

Volunteers are invited to start the day at 10 a.m. with state Rep. Joe McAndrew and firefighters at Penn Hills Volunteer Fire Department No. 7, 125 Universal Road, for a free cookout. Participants then will be given the smoke alarms and a small list of pre-registered homes.

No experience is necessary. The American Red Cross will provide training. Participants are advised to wear closed-toe shoes. Tools will be provided or you can bring your own.

To sign up for the event, visit tinyurl.com/n2xeepjp.

Anyone still in need of a smoke alarm is encouraged to call the American Red Cross at 412-263-5278.

Republican attorney general candidate to speak

Dave Sunday, the Republican nominee for state attorney general, will be the featured speaker at the Plum Borough Republican Committee’s meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Plum Senior Community Center, 4999 Center-New Texas Road.

The meeting is open to all registered Republicans.

For information, call 724-787-8673 or email Steve Schlauch at sdschlauch@gmail.com.

School supply drive returns

Penn Hills native Jessica Gentile is bringing back her annual school supplies drive after a two-year hiatus.

The collection will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 23 at Firestone Complete Auto Care, 397 Mall Circle Drive, Monroeville.

Gentile, now of Baldwin, is seeking pencils, crayons, book bags, glue sticks, scissors, markers and notebooks to distribute to students in the Gateway and surrounding school districts, including Plum. Volunteers also are needed.

Donations can be dropped off at the Firestone where the event is being held or the location at 3775 William Penn Highway. Monetary donations can be sent via PayPal to jess_layla@yahoo.com.

Each child gets one book bag stuffed with supplies on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition to supply giveaways, the event will include face painting, food and raffles.

For details, contact Gentile at jess_layla@yahoo.com.

Pooches in the Pool set at Boyce, other county parks

Pooches in the Pool, the annual end-of-summer celebration sponsored by the Allegheny County Parks Department, will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 2 at the pools of Boyce Park, North Park and Settlers Cabin Park.

South Park is not included this year due to the installation of a new pool liner.

Tickets are $20 per dog for Allegheny County residents, and each dog can be accompanied by up to two guardians.

Only one dog per guardian will be permitted.

Additional guardians and guests are $5 per person, payable at the gate for entry.

All dogs must wear current tags displaying up-to-date vaccinations before entrance. Electronic or paper proof of vaccinations also can be presented to staff upon entering the facility.

To purchase tickets, visit alleghenycounty.us/Events-directory/Parks/Pooches-in-the-Pool and click on the respective park under “Buy Tickets.”

Plum High School reunions in works

Three Plum High School groups are planning reunions this year:

• The Plum High School Class of 1974 will celebrate its 50th reunion Sept. 13 at Veltre’s Wedding & Event Center, 324 Coxcomb Hill Road, Plum. Details: 412-366-6689 or email plumalum74@gmail.com.

• The Plum High School Class of 1979 will have its 45th reunion from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Edgewood Country Club, 100 Churchill Road, Wilkins. Cost: $68 per person. There will be a cash bar, dinner stations and beverages, as well as a DJ, photographer and raffle. Tickets: Mail checks made payable to Susan DePalma, Plum High 1979, to 3271 Hawk Drive, North Huntingdon, PA 15642; or send payment via Zelle to Susan DePalma. Details: plumhigh1979@gmail.com.

• The Plum High School Class of 1984 is planning its 40th reunion for 5 to 10 p.m. Oct. 5 at Hill Crest Country Club, 3411 Leechburg Road, Lower Burrell. Cost: $70 per person, includes a taco and fajita station, pasta station, appetizers, Pittsburgh cookie table and cake. There will be a cash bar. Checks made out to PHS 84 Reunion should be sent c/o Diane Fellers, 3240 Dorothy St., Lower Burrell, PA 15068. Deadline: July 31. Details: plumreunion1984@gmail.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.

Verona Farmers Market sets up Thursdays

Verona’s seasonal farmers market has kicked off into full swing. Hosted every Thursday until Nov. 21, each market features a list of local vendors.

For special announcements about the market, visit the Verona Farmers Market Facebook page.

Assistance available for veterans, spouses

State Rep. Joe McAndrew’s office, 77 Universal Road, Suite 1, in Penn Hills provides free assistance to veterans and their spouses from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the last Wednesday of every month.

A veteran service officer from the American Legion will be on hand to help with a variety of needs, including compensation and pension claims, education benefits, enrollment in the VA health care system, burial and survivor benefits, state benefits, and obtaining military personnel and medical records.

There are limited appointments available for August. To make an appointment, call 412-793-2448.

McAndrew’s 32nd District covers Plum, Oakmont, Verona and Penn Hills.