Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Allegheny County has compiled important information about Plum, Oakmont, Verona and other municipalities.
Do you know what state senatorial district you live in? Who your county council representative is? Or have you ever given thought to the geography of Plum, Oakmont or Verona boroughs? Allegheny County's website has a municipality map that provides vital information for the three townships—and other municipalities. Just click on the map and a community profile pops up with information such as school district and municipal millage rates, the name of the police chief and fire department information. Join Patch for more community news or join us on Facebook and Twitter.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
The concert series kicks off on Friday, May 31.
Allegheny County officials have announced the line-up for the 2013 Summer Concert Series. The Pittsburgh CLO will kick off the concert series on Friday, May 31, with “A Gleeful Evening, Vol. 3” featuring Gene Kelly Award winners at the South Park Amphitheater. Pittsburgh Opera will begin the season on Sunday, June 2 at the Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater. Summer performances include Grammy Award winners Sarah Watkins, the Yellowjackets and Rickie Lee Jones at Hartwood Acres, as well as Grammy Award nominees Monty Alexander, Sixpence None the Richer and James Hunter at South Park. The concert series will come to an end on Sept. 1 with the Allegheny County Music Festival featuring Rusted Root and special guest Joel Plaskett at Hartwood …
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Applications must be completed and returned to the Elections Division no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14.
The Allegheny County Elections Division is reminding Moon and Robinson residents who need an absentee ballot for the upcoming May 21 primary election that the deadline is near. Applications must be completed and returned to the Elections Division no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14. Absentee ballots are available to registered voters who will be absent from their municipality on May 21 or those who cannot reach the polls due to an illness or physical disability. Applications can be requested through the mail or for faster results, requested in person at the Allegheny County Elections Division, 601 County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. If properly registered, voters will be handed an absentee ballot to vote …
Monday, April 29, 2013
Plum and Oakmont property owners must pay their tax bills soon to take advantage of the 2% discount.
The Allegheny County Treasurer's office is reminding Plum and Oakmont taxpayers that the deadline for the tax discount period is drawing near. In order to save 2% on your county property taxes, bills must be paid in full and received or postmarked by Tuesday, April 30. “For the second year in a row, the due dates for county taxes had to be adjusted. I am certain that many taxpayers may not remember that their county property taxes are coming due by months end,” Treasurer John Weinstein said in a news release. The County Treasurer’s Office, Room 108, will remain open later until 7:30 p.m. on April 30 to collect taxes at the 2 percent discount rate. Other methods include paying in person by 4:30 p.m. on other weekdays, paying by mail with …
Friday, April 26, 2013
County officials unveiled the first two compressed natural gas trucks put into service for the public works department at an Earth Day press conference Monday.
To most Plum, Oakmont and Verona residents, the new, white Allegheny County trucks they might pass on the roadways won't appear to be anything extraordinary. But they are a first step in the county going green with a cleaner-burning fuel for fleet vehicles. Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and other officials unveiled the county’s first two compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles at a press conference on Monday. Each vehicle cost $35,285. The Silverado 2500 HD, four-wheel drive, extended cab pickup trucks contain specially designed 6.0 litre Vortec V8 engines and have a gross vehicle weight of 9,500 pounds. The trucks are factory-built with hardened valves and seals, which are critical for CNG vehicles, according to a news release …
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Eligible high school girls can choose a free gown and accessories.
Project Prom Shop is offering eligible high school girls one last chance to choose a free gown and accessories later this month, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services announced. Located at the Century III Mall, the Project Prom Shop will be open from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 23. The one-day extension was added from the original close date of March 16 due to popular demand. To be eligible, high school girls must live in Allegheny County and meet one of the following eligibility requirements: The shop will have new and gently worn dresses available in the latest trends, and in a wide range of sizes. All of the gowns have been carefully screened to ensure each is clean and undamaged. Accessories, including shoes, purses, wraps …
Monday, April 8, 2013
The pilot foreclosure prevention program is open to Allegheny County homeowners with Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) mortgages.
Allegheny County, partnering with the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, launched a pilot program to assist low-income homeowners with energy-efficiency improvements that could help cut down on utility bills. The pilot "Energy Efficiency Foreclosure Prevention Initiative" program was created through a partnership with PHFA, ACTION-Housing and four utility companies: Columbia Gas, Duquesne Light, Equitable Gas and Peoples Natural Gas. The program will provide $1 million in energy-efficient improvement services to at least 200 Allegheny County homeowners with PHFA mortgages who meet federal income guidelines. Letters have been sent out to 1,341 households in Allegheny County. To date, 415 persons, or 31 percent, have responded to express …
Friday, March 29, 2013
New trees will be planted in the business district, and the borough might have more grant money available for revitalization.
Work toward Verona's business district revitalization is under way, and it seems as though the borough might have more money to spend on the project. The improvement plan for the borough's streetscape project includes 46 lights and landscaping along Allegheny River Boulevard; Center, South and East Railroad avenues; and James Street. Earlier this week, Mike Vento, the architecture and design chair for the Verona Business District Advisory Committee, said it looks as though the borough will receive a $150,000 county grant with a 15 percent match. The borough already has received a $143,000 grant through the county's Community Development Block Grant program. Verona Borough must contribute an extra $21,485 in cash or in-kind services. Vento …
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Or does it act more as a business? And what about the other major nonprofits in the area?
In a June 2012 "Taxpayer Alert," Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner questioned the fairness of nonprofits that have expanded their roles beyond the traditional definition of a charitable organization, but still maintain tax-exempt status. "In these challenging financial times, it is our duty and responsibility to address the questions raised by a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling and determine if properties are used for a truly charitable purpose," Wagner said in the report. "While exemptions are justified for clearly charitable organizations such as churches, soup kitchens and many others, some are plainly unfair." A 2012 state Supreme Court decision has given local governments a tool to challenge the loopholes in a five-…
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The storm is expected to begin as a mixture of rain and snow before turning to all snow overnight.
The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a winter storm warning for the Pittsburgh region, including Plum, Oakmont and Verona boroughs from 6 p.m. Tuesday until 5 p.m. Wednesday. Forecasters say snow will accumulate 5 to 8 inches before the storm ends Wednesday afternoon. The period of most intense snow will be between midnight Tuesday and 8 a.m. Wednesday. A storm warning means that snowfall will make travel dangerous, according to the weather service, and drivers are urged to use extreme caution if they must go out. Here's a specific look at the forecast for Plum-Oakmont: Stay with Plum-Oakmont Patch for updates about the weather. Are you sick and tired of winter, or are you happy with the forecast of more snow. Tell us in …
MBM
5:39 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The poll is incomplete. There should be a box that allows you to vote for "no, it acts more like a business than a charity, but it is ultimately in the regions best interest to leave them alone." I'd pick that one. more ›