Bradley Center To Close

The Bradley Center, a residential treatment facility for children from traumatic backgrounds, will be moving all children out of its Mt. Lebanon campus, and about 66 workers will be losing their jobs, as a result of higher health care costs, center officials say.

Link: www.postgazette.com/pg/07120/782224-100.stm

Barbara Logan For County Council

I have added current 1st Ward Commissioner Barbara Logan's web site to the Candidates section of the right-hand column. She is a candidate for County Council District 5 which covers Mt. Lebanon, Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair, South Fayette and McDonald.

Link: http://www.loganforcountycouncil.com

Lebo PR Firm Expands

We blog so much about community and school affairs that Mt. Lebanon business issues sometimes get overlooked. But if you want to keep your real estate and earned income taxes low, become a cheerleader for growth in local payrolls and (fully-taxed) commercial real estate development. Here's a brief corrective:

LarsonO’Brien Advertising, Public Relations and Interactive announced it is expanding its Mt. Lebanon firm, adding seven new hires as it positions itself as specialists in the field of innovative architectural building products.

Joining the firm are three public relations account executives, two interactive designers, a general account executive, and a full-time public relations intern. The hiring signals a significant growth in business for LarsonO’Brien with the expectation for even more growth opportunities in the future.

“About a year ago we determined that what we are doing well is strategic planning and marketing for architectural building products and it has really paid off,” explains Jack O’Brien. “We’ve increased our business by one-third and are definitely growing.”

[via Pop City] [Thanks, Steve!]

Meet The School Board Candidates

Mt. Lebanon School Board candidates night will take place from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 8 at the Jefferson School auditorium. You can meet and ask questions of the nine candidates: Zachary Benkovitz, Elaine L. Cappucci, James Fraasch, Rene M. Garson, Edward L. Kubit, Sue Rose, Faith Ann Stipanovich and Carol J. Walton.

This non-partisan forum is sponsored by the Mt. Lebanon PTA Council and League of Women Voters.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/ML_Candidates_forum_5_8

Lebo Teacher As A Pilgrim

Michael Weber is the best kind of teacher, as students in Jefferson Elementary School in the Mt. Lebanon School District are finding out in an assembly today.

Dressed as a pilgrim from the 17th century, he enthralls his audience by transporting them back to one of the most important times in this nation's history.

Mr. Weber, 55, specializes in playing characters from the early 1600s who came here on the Mayflower and other ships.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07116/780973-55.stm

Lebo Parents Upset Over Sex Offender

Some parents in Mt. Lebanon are outraged after learning a convicted sex offender is living in their community. What's even worse is their school district and even the police department is powerless to act.

Link: www.kdka.com/topstories/local_story_115194738.html

Luma Coming To Lebo

Luma, an established Aspinwall restaurant, is opening its second Pittsburgh location on Thursday at 186 Castle Shannon Blvd. in Mt. Lebanon.

The Upper St. Clair resident recently discovered that a large percentage of Luma's Aspinwall customer base actually lives in Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair. “Mt. Lebanon is a great demographic. We always knew we wanted to open one in the South Hills. We really like the charm and look of the block. There’s high traffic, it’s up and coming and there’s plenty of parking in the lot.”

Link: www.popcitymedia.com/developmentnews/luma0425.aspx

Beverly Heights Congregation to Leave Presbyterian Church

The Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church, on Washington Road near Spalding Circle, has voted to withdraw from the Presbyterian Church (USA). Negotiations are ongoing, primarily over the terms of the congregation's retaining the church building.

Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07113/780277-51.stm

Washington Park TIF Approved

Mt. Lebanon commissioners approved a controversial tax-increment financing plan Monday for a luxury condominium and retail complex.

Commissioners voted 4-1 to give developer Zamagias Properties a $6.1 million tax break for the $42.8 million project at Washington and Bower Hill roads. The Mt. Lebanon School Board approved the plan last month.

"I would really like to see the area developed, but this is a plan I cannot support," said Commissioner Keith Mulvihill, who voted against the tax break. "I don't believe that private developers should receive tax benefits not available to taxpayers."

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_504274.html

Governor's Awards for Local Government Excellence

Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll recognized the winners of the Governor's Awards for Local Government Excellence during a Local Government Day ceremony held yesterday afternoon at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.

Mt. Lebanon Township received an Information Technology Award for making municipal news and information available to its citizens 24 hours a day through the use of its Web site, e-mail, and blog to communicate with its residents. Today's mobile citizens in Mt. Lebanon have the ability to share opinions on community issues without necessarily having to attend public meetings.

Link: www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,93084.shtml

Commissioners Support TIF For Washington Park

A majority of Mt. Lebanon's five commissioners said they'll vote to approve a controversial tax-increment financing plan for a proposed luxury condominium and retail complex.

The board will vote Monday on the plan to give a $6.1 million tax break to developer Zamagias Properties for the $42.8 million project at Washington and Bower Hill roads. The Mt. Lebanon School Board approved the financing plan by a 6-3 vote last month.

Only Commissioner Keith Mulvihill said he hasn't made up his mind on which way he'll vote next week. "It's a good project ... but I'm not sure whether it makes sense for us to provide that amount of support," he said.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/southwest/s_503364.html

$3.8 Million Bond Will Fix Sewers & Sidewalks

Mt. Lebanon commissioners are moving toward a $3.8 million bond issue to pay for various projects over the coming years.

The bond issue, which will be voted on at a meeting Monday, would pay for sewer, street and sidewalk work, as well as replacement of fire department equipment. The spending was included in the current operating budget.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/today/s_503363.html

Tree City USA

The municipality will celebrate Arbor Day on April 27 with a noon ceremony at the parking lot on Beadling Road, across from Markham Elementary School. The National Arbor Day Foundation has honored the town with a Tree City USA designation.

Mt. Lebanon's Department of Forestry will present the award to the town at the ceremony. It's the first year Mt. Lebanon has received the honorary title.

Link: www.postgazette.com/pg/07109/779113-55.stm

Lebo Commissioner Candidates

Besides listing the school board candidates across the south hills, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also listed the commissioner candidates for Mt. Lebanon as well. We will also be adding web sites for these candidates to the sidebar as we are made aware of them. If you are a candidate, or know the address for a candidate's web site, please email me at josephpolk@gmail.com and I'll make sure that they are listed.

1st Ward

Democrat: Bonnie W. VanKirk
Republican: D. Raja

3rd Ward

Democrat: Andrew Reinhart
Republican: Joe DeIuliis

5th Ward

Democrat: Daniel L. Miller
Republican: William L. Hoon

Lebo School Board Candidate Information

The first candidate for the School Board to land in my mailbox is Rene Garson. She has a skeletal website at http://www.garsonforschoolboard.com. Interestingly, that site does not mention the fact that she is an incumbent member of the Board, running for reelection. But the "About Me" section of the site is empty; perhaps a bio will be forthcoming.

I have created a space to the right for websites for School Board and Commissioner candidates.

Lebo: Conflicts Over Incumbency

The Mt. Lebanon School Board election is underway. The election for seats on the Mt. Lebanon Commission is underway too. In both, I expect that there will be substantial debate about the virtues and vices of keeping incumbents on the Board and on the Commission. The value of experience will be stressed by some; the virtues of new blood and fresh voices will be stressed by others.

In both contexts, do not underestimate the role of professional staff in guiding both the School District and the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon. Staff has enormous influence over administration of the town and the schools both on a day-to-day basis and on a strategic basis. Specifically, in the case of the School District, consider the role of Janice Klein, Director of Business. In the case of the Municipality, consider the role of Stephen Feller, Municipal Manager.

Continuity of service and job experience is critical to both jobs, since members of the Commission and members of the School Board are typically dedicated but untrained citizen politicians -- even at their very best. They depend heavily on staff. Brand new Board and Commission members are likely to depend on them even more.

So as voters, if your impulse is to change the way that Mt. Lebanon does business or runs its schools, recognize that by voting out the incumbents you may increase the power and authority of the municipality's and school district's current managers. And on the flip side, if your impulse as voters is to keep Mt. Lebanon on its current course with town and school management, then recognize the role of its current and past staff in that success. From both perspectives, though, candidates should be pressed for their views on the role of staff generally and on the capabilities of current staff.

Nine Seeking Five

Though most of the nine candidates for five seats on the Mt. Lebanon school board said they would like a place on the board so they can participate in plans for a new or renovated high school complex, there is no single theme that runs through the campaign.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07102/777021-55.stm

Not Your Father's Rules

The Post-Gazette published an article today regarding how discipline is handled in the various athletic departments of school districts around the Pittsburgh area. The Shane Phillips situation at MLHS is, of course, mentioned in the article as well.

It's interesting to see the differences between the MLSD's policy on this issue (if it doesn't happen on school grounds, we can't do anything about it!) and the other school districts' policies (you will be disciplined regardless of where you get in trouble!).

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07097/775971-49.stm

Sixty-Eight Deer Killed During Cull, Officials Pleased

Sharpshooters for the U.S. Department of Agriculture have virtually wrapped up their cull in Mt. Lebanon, with 68 deer taken over seven days since February.

In a summary given to Mt. Lebanon Public Works Director Tom Kelley, the USDA tallies list the kill totals as: seven adult males, 14 juvenile males, 30 adult females and 17 juvenile females.

"It went exceptionally well," said Craig B. Swope, a district supervisor and wildlife biologist with the USDA. "I could not have dreamed of a better outcome."

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07095/775164-55.stm

Pet Peeves: Lebo Traffic Lights

A regular Blog-Lebo reader wrote in puzzlement about the timing on the traffic lights at Segar Road and Bower Hill Road. If I read his note correctly, the short green coming up Segar and crossing Bower Hill means extraordinarily long wait times at peak hours.

I don't travel that route much, so I've never noticed. I have noticed something else, though, which is that the timing of the lights at several of major Mt. Lebanon intersections -- Cochran and Washington Road for example -- seems to change from time to time, with no apparent rhyme or reason.

What's your favorite (or least favorite) traffic light in Mt. Lebanon?

Party Cake Coming to Lebo

The Party Cake Shop, a long-time Brookline institution, is opening a store on Beverly Road in Mt. Lebanon later this month.

Link: http://www.partycakeshop.com/

This is bad news for Cupcake Class hipsters. Party Cake looks to be about as traditional as they come, and if it's doing well enough to open a Lebo branch, then traditional business must be good indeed. Donuts for everyone! Welcome!

Group Wants New Commissioners To Stop Deer Culls

After failing to stop a deer-culling program in Mt. Lebanon, a residents group is turning its attention to three commission races. The Coalition for Neighborhood Safety & Awareness hopes to work with commissioners to find nonlethal ways to control the deer population, said co-founder Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo. Commissioners will be elected in the 1st, 3rd and 5th wards.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/today/s_501025.html

No TIF?

Karen sent me this image. If you like it, use it.

More Trees Disappearing

A neighbor asked: What's up with the disappearing street trees? There isn't any gas line or electrical line work going on in the neighborhood. Still, lots of trees -- especially sycamores (or perhaps London plane trees?) have been cut down in the last few weeks.

Lebo Police Blotter

The Mt. Lebanon Police Department blotter has been changed. Names of adults arrested and cited in Mt. Lebanon are now online.

Shameless Self-Promotion

I have two (count 'em!) pieces in the Forum section of today's edition of the Post-Gazette, about Penguins and cupcakes. Details at Pittsblog.

Hollywood Theatre Reopens in Dormont

"[T]the rebirth of the Potomac Avenue theater has a twist. It is being operated by The Bradley Center, a residential program for children from traumatic backgrounds of abuse and abandonment, said the center's chief financial officer, Garry McGrath.

The Mt. Lebanon campus houses about 70 youths in its McNeilly Road facility, which is within walking distance of the theater.

The theater has hired about 14 of the kids, ages 16 to 19, as staffers, to sell tickets and snacks and be ushers and cleaners."

Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07088/773238-55.stm

Link: http://cinematreasures.org/theater/4730/

Lebo News Roundup

"There are a number of questions to be answered about the pending sale of the Covenant retirement community in Mt. Lebanon, but the most pressing one for residents is: Who will be the new owner?"
Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07088/773167-55.stm

"More than half of a nearly two-hour public hearing on a proposal for tax increment financing in Mt. Lebanon comprised a presentation from the developer, a county official and a financial consultant. But in the 45 minutes that the public had to speak, five of seven people were against giving the developer a tax break."
Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07088/773233-55.stm

(Related: Tribune Review "lance" to Zamagias Properties attorney Sara Davis Buss, which strikes me as completely unwarranted, whatever the paper's view of the merits of the Washington Park TIF proposal. Anyone who opposes the TIF should be critical of Zamagias Properties itself -- not the developer's attorney.)