About Karen Zapf

Karen Zapf 412-856-7400 x8753
Staff Reporter
Plum Advance Leader

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Plum's library is much more than a place to check out books.

Never is that fact more evident than each December during Sugar Plum Days.

The library, located on Center New Texas Road, is a hub for the annual holiday event, hosting a wreath decorating contest, crafts for children and teens, a puppet show and holiday quick bread taste-testing for adults.

This year's events are planned from Dec. 8 to 15.

“It is so wonderful to see so many community members and families come to the library for Sugar Plum Days,” said Suzanne Teti, a library staff member who coordinates the Sugar Plum Days activities. “It is thoroughly enjoyable.”

Features of Sugar Plum Days run the gamut at locales in the borough — from sleigh rides, bonfires, train displays and house decorating and gingerbread house contests to the religious commemoration of the holiday with a living nativity at the Presbyterian Church of Plum Creek.

Preparations for Sugar Plum Days begin about six months in advance of the event.

Charlene Hrivnak, the wife of Mayor Richard Hrivnak, is coordinating her seventh Sugar Plum Days. She said about 10 people start planning the event at the beginning of the summer.

“It is really exciting,” Charlene Hrivnak said. “It's a fun event for all ages.”

Nearly 10,000 people attend the event, she said.

The budget for Sugar Plum Days is about $5,000. Many of the activities are run by volunteers. Most of the activities are free.

A living nativity at the Presbyterian Church of Plum Creek opens the festivities.

The Sugar Plum Days kickoff event will take place at the Plum Senior Community Center from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 12. Events include karaoke and a visit from Santa Claus at 7 p.m.

Activities also will take place at the Renton and Unity volunteer fire departments, the borough building, the Carpenter Log House, the Plum Borough Community Library and the East Suburban YMCA.

Another popular stop on the Sugar Plum Days tour is the Dojonovic Disney Christmas Display.

The members of the Dojonovic family of Fiesta Drive in Holiday Park erect Disney characters and lights, play Christmas and Disney music and open their yard to the community to enjoy the display.

Hrivnak said one of the new features of the event this year is participation by Christ Lutheran Church just over the border from Plum on Route 286 in Murrysville.

The Kiski Area Community Band will perform a holiday concert there at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15.

“It is definitely a community-wide event,” Hrivnak said. “Each year more and more people find us.”

Karen Zapf is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-856-7400, ext. 8753, or kzapf@tribweb.com.

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