In brief: Plum, Oakmont area news, events for the week of Sept. 23, 2024

Plum schedules annual Fall Fest

Plum will hold its annual Fall Fest from noon to 8 p.m. on Sept. 28 at Plum Creek Park, 1040 Ross Hollow Road.

Parking will be available on the grounds of the former borough building across New Texas Road, borough Manager David Soboslay said. While the borough has awarded a contract for the building’s demolition, work is not expected to start until Sept. 30 at the earliest.

Children’s activities will run from 1 to 5 p.m.

The event will include a farmers market, food trucks, arts and crafts, kids games, craft beers and pony rides.

St.Thomas Memorial Episcopal Church anniversary events

In continuation of its 150th anniversary celebration, St.Thomas Memorial Episcopal Church in Oakmont is hosting a series of events in the coming weeks.

• The church welcomes the Ambrose Romanos Singers, along with St. Thomas Choir, for a Michaelmas Evensong at 4 p.m. on Sept. 29.

• The church’s women’s group will hold a Victorian Tea at the church, in cooperation with the Kerr Museum of Oakmont, at 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 5. Tickets are required. To buy tickets or for more information, call the church at 412-828-9680.

• The public is invited to bring their pets to the church for a Blessing of the Animals in honor of St. Francis of Assisi at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 6.

Teen suicide prevention car show planned

A car show benefitting the Mark Matesic Memorial Foundation will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 28 at Plum High School, 900 Elicker Road.

Matesic was 16 when he died by suicide in March 2022. His mother, Jennifer Martinez, created the foundation, which awards scholarships to junior firefighters and students in the JROTC program.

Registration costs $10 and will start at 10 a.m. the day of the show. Dash plaques will be given to the first 100 cars.

There will be food trucks, a basket raffle and touch-a-truck.

Fire hydrant flushing to start in Plum

The Plum Borough Municipal Authority will be flushing fire hydrants from Oct. 1 to Dec. 13, the authority announced.

No work will be done on weekends.

Flushing is required to check the operation of hydrants and to clean distribution lines, the authority said.

Water may become discolored while hydrants are being flushed. Residents are advised to test water before doing laundry or drawing large amounts of water.

If discolored water does not clear after two hours, contact the authority at 412-793-7331 for help.

PALS to meet Oct. 2, collect items for women’s shelter

The Plum Area Ladies Society (PALS) will hold its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Plum Community Center, 499 Center New Texas Road.

The annual dues of $25 can be paid at the meeting.

The speaker will be Joe Giuffre from Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala’s office. He will address the group about fraud.

The service project will be to provide the Alle-Kiski Area Hope Center, a women’s shelter, with clothing and personal hygiene items.

Items needed include new pajamas, underwear, socks and slippers. Gently used winter clothing also will be accepted, especially coats, leggings and sweatshirts, as well as clothing for school-age children from kindergarten through third grade. Also needed are personal hygiene items, such as bath gel, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant and cleaning products.

The Ladies Day Out will be an Oktoberfest observance at Old Thunder Brewing taproom in Blawnox, with pizza and food trucks nearby. This will take place at noon Oct. 5. Further details and sign-up will be available at the meeting.

PALS is a service and social club open to residents of Plum, Penn Hills, Monroeville and the surrounding communities. Newcomers are welcome at monthly meetings, which are held at the Plum Community Center on the first Wednesday of the month, September through April.

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

Plum High School reunions in works

Two Plum High School groups have upcoming reunions planned:

• 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.

Fall craft festival

Plum Mason Lodge 799 will host its second annual fall craft festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 5 at the lodge, 9521 Saltsburg Road in Plum.

There is no cost to attend. For information about vendor spaces, call 412-916-5835 or email mrdarts@verizon.net.

The event will take place rain or shine.

Meeting to offer update on VOPP trail

Friends of the Riverfront is organizing a public meeting to provide an update on the VOPP trail from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at Oakmont Carnegie Library, 700 Allegheny River Blvd.

The VOPP Trail Connector will stretch from the Allegheny riverfront in Verona and connect Oakmont, Penn Hills along Plum Creek to Boyce Park in Plum — hence the VOPP name.

In 2022, Friends of the Riverfront worked with Penn Hills to raise funding to complete the design and engineering work for the 14-mile trail project. That work is being conducted by TranSystems through December.

According to the Friends of the Riverfront website, the first phase of design and engineering was completed in early 2023 and focused on the section in Verona and Oakmont. Survey and drone work is being completed on the remaining trail corridor to identify logical segments of the trail.

Verona dentist offering free care

Verona Dental Care, 625 Allegheny River Blvd., is hosting a Free Dentistry Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 11.

Patients can choose one of the following services: a free cleaning, filling or extraction.

People of all ages who are in need of dental care will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Appointments also can be scheduled by calling 412-828-1920.

Spooky Night at the Races slated at Oakmont Elks

The Rosedale Civic Association is organizing a Spooky Night at the Races fundraiser for the Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Oakmont Elks, 101 Washington Ave.

The cost is $15 per person and includes a buffet dinner. Costumes are optional, and there will be a $50 prize for the best costume.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 5 and the start of races at 6. There will be a cash bar.

Proceeds will be used to purchase personal protective equipment for Rosedale firefighters.

To purchase a ticket, send an email to rosedalecivicassociation222@gmail.com.

Plum plans fall leaf collection

Plum’s leaf collection program will start on Oct. 15 and will run through the first week of December.

Leaf collection will be the weekday following residents’ normal trash pickup day. There will be no leaf collection on Nov. 11, 28 and 29.

The borough says it could change if winter storm events occur which would cause leaf collecting equipment to be switched over to winter maintenance equipment.

Station seeks firefighters, junior members

The Verona Volunteer Fire Company is accepting applictions for active firefighters as well as junior members 16 and 17 years of age.

Interested individuals can stop by the fire station, 465 Parker St., from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays.

Training is provided through the Allegheny County Fire Academy.

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.