In brief: Plum, Oakmont area news, events for the week of Oct. 28, 2024
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Thanksgiving food drive in Oakmont
The Hummel family will be hosting their annual Thanksgiving food drive at Fox’s Pizza Den in Oakmont starting Nov. 1.
The most-needed donations are flour, sugar, canned pumpkin, canned sweet potatoes, boxed stuffing mix, cereal, canned vegetables and fruits, nonperishable canned goods, turkey gravy, canned cranberry sauce, baking spices, nonperishable pie crusts, canned pie fruit and Giant Eagle gift cards for turkeys.
Donations will be accepted every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. at Fox’s Pizza Den, 314 Allegheny River Blvd., through Nov. 19.
Donations will be given to the Riverview Communuity Action Corporation Food Bank and the Rosedale Food Pantry for distribution to those in need.
Monetary donations also will be accepted to purchase Thanksgiving meal gift cards for those impacted by the Rustic Ridge home explosion.
Lori Hummel will be hosting a “Wrap up Party” on Nov. 20 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Fox’s Pizza Den. Gift cards and monetary donations can be brought to the wrap up party.
Plum veterans invited to high school Veterans Day ceremony
Plum veterans are invited to attend Plum High School’s Veterans Day ceremony.
The school’s junior ROTC and orchestra will present its annual tribute to veterans beginning at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 11 in the auditorium. Light refreshments will follow.
Those interested in attending should RSVP by Nov. 3 by calling 412-795-4880 or sending an email including name, service and rank to nosekp@pbsd.net, butlerk@pbsd.net, or monickc@pbsd.net.
The ceremony will be broadcast to the community through the district’s website, pbsd.net/plumboroughschooldistrictliveevents.aspx.
Veterans Day dinner planned
Oakmont Elks will host a Veterans Day dinner at 5 p.m. on Nov. 11 at the lodge, 106 Washington Ave.
Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. There will be a parade of service flags, and Plum High School ROTC will perform the Vacant Table ceremony before dinner.
The menu includes roast pork loin, sides, salad, dessert, rolls and butter, and coffee or tea. Veterans attend for free. The cost for their guests to attend is $10 each.
Reservations are required. For reservations, call 412-828-1668.
PALS meeting set
The Plum Area Ladies Society (PALS) will hold its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 6 at Plum Community Center. The speaker will be Karli Miller, a certified yoga instructor, who will share some interesting information about the mind-body connection and demonstrate breathing techniques.
The theme for the refreshments and friendship basket is “We Gather Together to Make New Friendships.”
The service project for November is to stuff 100 stockings for Military Connections, to be sent to servicemen and women stationed overseas. The troops’ favorite items are: candy, trail mix, tuna packets, 5-hour energy drinks, Slim Jims/beef jerky, canned fruit with pop-top lids, granola bars, energy bars, pop tarts, peanuts, peanut butter crackers, k-cups and men’s non-gel deodorant. Check to see that nothing expires before Jan. 1, 2025.
The Ladies Day Out event will be PALS Second Annual Friendship Dinner at John Anthony’s on Nov. 21. Members are invited to stay for and participate in the trivia contest afterward. Sign-ups will be available at the meeting.
PALS is a service/social group open to residents of Plum, Penn Hills, Monroeville, Murrysville and surrounding communities. Newcomers are welcome to attend a meeting, which are at 6:30 on the first Wednesday of each month from September through April, at the Plum Community Center.
For more information, call Mary Lou at 724 327-8265.
Fall leaf collection runs through Dec. 6
Plum’s fall leaf collection is underway and runs until Dec. 6.
Leaves will be collected on the weekday after residents normal trash pickup. There will be no collection on Nov. 11, Nov. 28 and Nov. 29.
Unforeseen circumstances could cause a change in the schedule. Residents are asked to not contact public works about missed pick-ups or to ask for a special pick-up.
Guidelines include raking leaves to the back of curbs and not behind shrubs or bushes; keeping leaves away from storm drains; not raking leaves into flower beds or landscaped areas; and not bagging leaves.
Leaves are recycled into compost. Participation in the program is voluntary.
Fire hydrant flushing continues in Plum
The Plum Borough Municipal Authority will be flushing fire hydrants through 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.
Verona Historical Society program slated
A program dubbed “The Encampment at Valley Forge, 1777-1778” will be offered on Nov. 21 by the Valley Historical Society. The presentation from Ken Cherry will discuss a pivotal time in U.S. history.
For more information on the historical society’s programs or membership, visit veronahistory.org.
Craft show, bake sale
The craft show and bake sale sponsored annually by Clover Commons will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the Clover Commons Clubhouse, 600 Cloverview Circle, in Plum.
Crafts, baked goods, lunch items and a Chinese auction will be available.
Free Thanksgiving dinner
Christ the Divine Shepherd parish in Monroeville will host a free Nov. 28 Thanksgiving dinner open to those would otherwise be eating alone on the holiday.
It will be from 12:30 to 3 p.m. (or until food runs out) at the church, 245 Azalea Drive.
Rotary offering need-based scholarships
The Bob Williams Rotary Memorial Scholarship Program is accepting applications from current high school seniors and GED students for 2024-25.
This year, eight need-based scholarships at $5,000 each will be awarded.
The scholarships are open to students in Allegheny and Beaver counties, as well as those attending New Kensington- Arnold, Kiski Area and Burrell Area high schools and The Kiski School in Westmoreland County. Vocational students, GED students and those attending parochial, charter and private schools also are eligible.
Students must have a 2.5 or higher grade-point average and must complete an essay highlighting their community/school service.
Complete application and criteria materials are available on the website of Rotary District 7305 at rotarydistrict7305.org/scholarships.php or from area high school counselors.
The deadline to apply is Feb. 28. Applications postmarked after that date will not be accepted.
For details, email Dr. Robert Arbuckle, chairperson of the scholarship committee, at rarbuckl@yahoo.com.
Entries sought for gingerbread house contest
Registration for the 22nd annual City of Pittsburgh Gingerbread House Competition is now open at pittsburghpa.gov/gingerbread through 11:59 p.m. Nov. 10.
The CitiParks Office of Special Events welcomes entries from individuals, schools, communities, nonprofits and professionals from Allegheny County and beyond.
The competition started in 2002 with Downtown Pittsburgh hotels to benefit the Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund. It since has attracted thousands of entries and visitors to PPG Place before moving to the City-County Building in 2019.
The Office of Special Events also recently announced a new partnership with Clearview Federal Credit Union to present the city’s official holiday events, including the gingerbread contest and the 109th Tree Lighting Ceremony to illuminate the only live holiday tree in Downtown Pittsburgh.
This year’s gingerbread display at the City County Building will open with a ceremony Nov. 22, with the entries remaining on view for Light Up Night on Nov. 23 through early January. In addition to 19 categories, participants will be eligible for overall awards such as “Clearview Choice,” as voted on by Clearview representatives, and “Curator’s Choice,” which will be selected by Carnegie Museum of Art staff.
For details about the gingerbread contest, visit pittsburghpa.gov/gingerbread, email specialevents@pittsburghpa.gov or follow @pgheventsoffice on social media.
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.