In brief: Plum, Oakmont area events, week of Jan. 15, 2024
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Winter parking reminder for Plum residents
Plum is reminding residents to refrain from parking vehicles on snow-covered streets.
Regulated by a borough ordinance, the borough says the measure helps snow removal teams work efficiently and ensures safer road conditions.
Blowing and shoveling snow onto borough streets is also prohibited.
The borough’s primary objective during the winter season is to provide for safe travel for emergency services, education and commerce during adverse weather conditions. More information on snow removal is available on the borough’s website at plumboro.com/public-works/pages/snow-removal.
Trib Total Media scholarship applications open
Trib Total Media’s Scholarship for Diversity in Media, created in 2020, is open to minorities as defined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Program.
Eligible applicants must be current high school seniors planning to attend an accredited four-year college or university with a major in journalism, English writing or communications.
Scholarship recipients each will receive up to $30,000 in scholarship funds awarded in annual installments of up to $7,500. The recipient also will receive a summer internship at Trib Total Media and, upon graduation, an offer for full-time employment.
The students will be required to remain in the approved course of study through graduation and complete summer internships with Trib Total Media each year of the program.
Interested applicants can apply at tribtotalmedia.com. The deadline to apply is Feb. 14.
“When you’re graduating college, you don’t know the kind of company you might be accepting a position with and what the job will look like,” said Trib Total Media President and CEO Jennifer Bertetto. “Here you get a very realistic job preview so there are no surprises.”
Congressional candidate appearing at Plum Republicans meeting
James Hayes, a candidate for the 12th Congressional District, will be the featured guest speaker at the Plum Borough Republican Committee meeting at 7 p.m. on Jan. 25 at the Plum Senior Community Center, 499 Center-New Texas Road.
The seat is currently held by Democrat Summer Lee, who won the seat against Republican Mike Doyle, of Plum, in 2022.
This meeting is open to registered Republicans and provides a forum to meet with candidates, discuss issues, exchange ideas and enjoy fellowship.
For more information, call 724-787-8673, email Steve Schlauch at sdschlauch@gmail.com or send a message to PBRC, P.O. Box 14244, Plum, PA 15239.
Road paving bids sought
Plum is seeking bids to resurface up to 18 roads this year.
The base bid includes parts of 15 roads — Abers Creek, Francis, Scott, Roberts, Clements, Palmer and Fox roads; Klimeyer, Mardi Gras, Nassau, Samoa, Havanna, Paree and Entrance drives; and Millers Lane.
Three other roads — Ross Hollow, Harris and another part of Clements — are alternates that will be included if the cost and available funding allows, borough Manager David Soboslay said.
Bids will be due by early February. Council could vote to award the contract at its Feb. 12 meeting, Soboslay said.
Public works contract approved
Plum Council has approved a new contract with the union representing its public works employees.
The four-year agreement is retroactive to Jan. 1. It covers 25 full-time employees, borough Manager David Soboslay said.
The contract provides for annual pay increases of 4% in the first year, 3.5% in the second and third years, and 3% in the fourth year.
Civil Service Commission changes
Ryan Wooten has been reappointed to Plum’s Civil Service Commission, for a six-year term ending on Dec. 31, 2029.
At its Jan. 8 meeting, borough council accepted Joe Dytka’s resignation from the commission. Thomas Oslick was appointed to fill the unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2026.
Dytka was appointed as an alternate, filling an unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2025.
Planning Commission members named
Plum Council approved two appointments to the borough’s Planning Commission.
Geter Sloan was appointed for a four-year term, ending on Dec. 31, 2027.
Ryan Delaney, a former councilman, was appointed to fulfill an unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2025.
Library board appointments made
Plum Council approved two appointments to the borough’s library board.
Milanne McCutcheon was reappointed to a three-year term, and Alex Kozora was appointed to a three-year term.
Both terms are through Dec. 31, 2026.
Municipal authority board members remain
Plum Council approved two reappointments to the municipal authority board.
Keith Nowalk and Bill Bonura were reappointed for five-year terms, ending on Dec. 31, 2028.
Zoning Hearing Board members named
Plum Council approved three appointments to the borough’s Zoning Hearing Board.
Allen Ayers was appointed for a five-year term ending on Dec. 31, 2028; Linda Wilkins was appointed to fulfill an unexpired term ending on Dec. 31, 2027; and Andrew Novick was named as an alternate for a three-year term ending Dec. 31, 2026.
Scholarships available for high school seniors
Applications are being sought for the Bob Williams Rotary Memorial Scholarship Program for the 2023-24 academic year.
Eight need-based scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded.
High school seniors in Allegheny County are eligible to apply, as are vocational students, GED students and those attending parochial, charter and private schools.
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 Rotary District 7305 website or from area high school counselors.
Applications must be postmarked by Feb. 29.
TOPS meetings on tap
The Oakmont TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) chapter, a support group to help those struggling with weight loss, meets Tuesday evenings at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1261 Pennsylvania Ave. in Oakmont. Meetings begin with a private weigh-in between 5:45 and 6:10 p.m.
There is a brief business meeting and sharing of the participants’ week and offering of support for one another. A program follows to educate participants on the benefits of healthy eating and exercise.
The organization’s Oakmont chapter has been meeting weekly for nearly 60 years.
Anyone interested in joining the group can attend a meeting and decide if TOPS is right for them. For more information, call 412-828-3854 or e-mail jmjkwj@gmail.com.