Plum Advance Leader category, Page 99
Plum elementary students learn teamwork, other skills fixing classmates’ computers
The next time a Chromebook malfunctions, it may be worth getting fixed by a Plum School District fifth or sixth grader. Holiday Park Elementary students are learning how to troubleshoot and make several hardware repairs to the devices this school year. “We check in Chromebooks (that are not correct) for...
DUI, theft cases among those 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 court • Russell Martell, 37, of New Kensington on charges of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property. Charges were filed Sept. 15. Waived preliminary hearings • David Barr,...
Plum School District to offer online kindergarten, first grade registration
A Plum School District online registration effort has been expanded. Parents of kindergartners and first-graders can sign their children up for school via the district’s website starting Feb. 10. “The district piloted an online kindergarten registration last year,” Assistant Superintendent Rick Walsh said. “Approximately 78% of our kindergarten families registered...
Plum’s 80-year-old Meals on Wheel volunteer will ‘keep going up until I can’t go anymore’
Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series that features Alle-Kiski Valley residents and the notable things they do. Anna Betti plans to start this year the same way she closed out the last one: making meals for fellow Plum residents. “I’m going to keep going up until I...
Plum-area real estate transactions for the week of Jan. 5
Edgewood Joseph Zohr sold property at 206 Oakview Ave. to 206 Oakview LLC for $213,000. Forest Hills Mary Kubick sold property at 1987 Centurion Drive 305 to Conchetta DeCrosta for $38,000. Amber Sunseri sold property at 612 Edgewood Road to Shirley Tolbert for $314,000. Irwin Andrew Miller sold property at...
Plum officials appoint new council president, vice president
Plum Council has new leadership. Dave Odom and Dave Vento were unanimously appointed president and vice president, respectively, at a reorganization meeting Jan. 6. Their nominations were made by former council president, Mike Doyle. Odom is in the third year of his first term on council. “I’m extremely excited to...
Pittsburgh Restaurant Week spotlights delicious meals and deals
Two things are fairly predictable about January in Pittsburgh: It’s typically a cold month – and it’s a slow month for local restaurants after a busy holiday season. Brian McCollum says it’s a perfect time of year to check out some new cuisine or visit favorite dining establishments that are...
Hulton Road fully reopens after months of landslide repair in Penn Hills
A section of Hulton Road along the border of Plum and Penn Hills that had been closed since July reopened Monday, PennDOT spokeswoman Yasmeen Manyisha said. Hulton Road had been closed for slide repair between Iowa Street and Michael Drive since July 1. A landslide in that area occurred in...
Plum businessman hooks investor on ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’
He got a deal. Plum’s Joe Altieri appeared on the ABC show “Shark Tank” on Sunday night, seeking an investment for his Murrysville window screen company, FlexScreen. After making his pitch and fielding questions from the show’s five “shark” investors, Altieri, 43, considered offers from Kevin O’Leary, Lori Greiner and...
Oakmont among libraries to earn ‘gold star’ status
Six Allegheny County libraries, including one in Oakmont, were recently recognized by the Pennsylvania Library Association for enhancing their patrons’ quality of life. They were part of the PLA’s fourth quarter program that recognizes libraries by assigning various “star statuses” for providing patrons with educational resources and opportunities. Oakmont Carnegie...
Plum-area real estate transactions for the week of Dec. 29
Chalfant Zachary Smith sold property at 145 Greenfield Ave. to Tamia Jackson for $105,000. 2019 Castle LLC sold property at 145 Lynnwood Ave. to Sumedha Misra for $11,500. Churchill Charles Mahofski sold property at 41 Barton Drive to V & K Investments LLC for $60,000. Anthony R Alvarez Pedroso sold...
Burglary, assault among cases before Judge Zucco
District Judge Linda Zucco recently handled the following cases. Charges were filed by Plum police unless otherwise noted. • Adam J. Vanclief, 36, of Plum with burglary, criminal trespass and theft by unlawful taking. Charges were filed Dec. 20. • Patrick J. Sullivan, 40, of Plum with simple assault and...
Plum School District officials plan to build on year’s accomplishments in the coming decade
The holiday season allows folks to reminisce on all that happened over the year that was and ponder what the future will bring. It holds true for Plum School District officials as they have authorized some major changes in the past 12 months. School Director Scott Coulson went over some...
Plum’s 20th annual Make-A-Wish telethon raises $42K
Another successful Make-A-Wish Foundation Telethon is in the books at Plum Senior High School. The school’s TV production classes hosted the 20th annual telethon to fundraise for the organization that grants wishes to children battling chronic illnesses. This year, students raised $42,359, bringing the fundraiser’s grand total since 1999 to...
Murrysville window-screen company will appear on ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’ in JanuaryVideo
Joe Altieri was taking a huge risk when he decided to leave his job in the window industry to start up FlexScreen, a Murrysville company that provides removable, flexible window screens. Now he has a chance to have a professional investor share that risk. Altieri, a Plum resident, will appear...
Man hospitalized after car crashes onto curb along Unity Trestle in Plum
A man was injured Monday night when his car crashed over a curb and nearly struck a utility pole in Plum, officials said. Shortly after 6 p.m., the man was driving a gray sedan on Unity Trestle Road near Universal Road heading toward Leechburg Road and failed to make a...
Allegheny County residents can recycle Christmas trees at parks
Allegheny County residents can recycle their Christmas trees at nine regional parks starting Dec. 26, the county announced Monday. Trees, which will be used for mulch in county parks, can be dropped from 8 a.m. until dusk through Jan. 14. Lights and decorations must be removed prior to drop-off. The...
Oakmont’s 2020 budget approved with no tax hike
Oakmont property owners won’t have to worry about their real estate tax rate going up next year. Council unanimously approved next year’s spending plan and maintained the 3.73-mill rate. Borough Manager Scot Fodi expressed hope for Oakmont’s future when presenting the budget. “As we enter a new decade, this budget...
Plum School District’s Make-A-Wish telethon hopes to top $1 million
A Plum School District fundraising effort has a chance to hit the $1 million mark on Monday. Students and staff have raised funds for Make-A-Wish since 1999 with each year’s efforts culminating with a telethon at the high school. This year, activities took place October through December and included car...
Plum library hosts ‘Elf on the Shelf’ show
Families with children of all ages packed the Plum Community Library Dec. 18 for a special Christmas performance of “The Elf on the Shelf Saves Christmas” presented by Stage Right, a performing arts and theater company based in Greensburg....
Elks, Knights of Columbus, veterans rally to help Plum family in serious jam at Christmas
Picture this: a family with two young children, a life-changing diagnosis, a move across the country and a broken vehicle – all just weeks before Christmas. For the Carlson family, it’s not a picture. It’s their reality. “They’ve gone through quite a bit,” said Plum Mayor Harry Schlegel. That’s why...
Plum school officials say 4% tax hike might be needed for next year
Plum School District property owners could see their real estate taxes jump by more than 4% as school district officials try to plug a $1.3 million budget shortfall in next year’s budget. Instead of adopting a resolution to keep any tax increase at or below the state’s Act 1 index...
Trial period for off-leash dogs and bicycles extended in Oakmont’s Dark Hollow Woods
A trial period for off-leash dogs and bicyclists in Dark Hollow Woods in Oakmont has been extend until at least March as officials postponed a vote on a recreation board proposal. Council also agreed to relaunch a survey to get more public input prior to making the rule change permanent....
Attorney for Plum teacher accused of stealing neighbor’s suits uses ‘impeccable dresser’ defense
Police say the Plum teacher accused with his wife and a 17-year-old of stealing lawn equipment, sheets, a washing machine, five suits and a broom shared a driveway with the house they allegedly broke into. Michael R. Verrico, 47, was placed on leave from his teaching job at Plum Borough...
Plum suspends teacher accused of burglary, corruption of minors
The Plum School District placed a teacher on leave after police charged him with felony burglary and tampering with evidence in connection to an incident in January, officials said. Michael Richard Verrico, 47, who teaches physical education at Oblock Junior High School, is accused of burglary, theft, criminal mischief and...
