If You Could Choose, Would You Choose Mt. Lebanon?

Here's one story of someone who would -- and did. Welcome to Lebo!

Great Harvest to Close -- Soon???

An email correspondent writes this afternoon:

Mt Lebanon and the whole South Hills is about to lose (IMO) one of its most valuable assets - Great Harvest Bakery located directly across from the Lebanon shops. Tomorrow, Friday the 30th of November, 2007 will be the last day this fine bakery will offer its unique-to-this-area mix of whole-wheat and cracked-grain breads, muffins and other delectable delights.

Is this true? I called Great Harvest, but no one answered the phone. If indeed tomorrow is the last day for GH, please stop by, buy some bread or a pastry, and say thanks to the team. They will be missed.

'Lost Boy' To Share His Story In Lebo

Benjamin Ajak was 5 years old when he was forced from his home in Sudan after government troops attacked and burned his village and killed many of the adults. He joined a band of other young boys who had been sent to hide in the woods at the onset of the attack as they trekked through the jungles of Africa searching for help.

Along the way, they met with thousands of other young boys --a group that eventually numbered more than 20,000 -- who became known as the "lost boys" of the Sudan. They spent anywhere from months to years living in the jungles and bush of Africa, existing on whatever was available in the wild or handouts from generous villages, before they reached refugee camps

Mr. Ajak will tell his story tonight at 7:30 in the auditorium of Jefferson Middle School in Mt. Lebanon. His appearance is being sponsored by the Mt. Lebanon High School Emergency Club and Dr. James Schuster and his wife, Cathy, Mt. Lebanon residents.

Reps. Smith and Vulakovich Call For Reduction In Funding For General Assembly

From an email received this morning from Rep. Smith's office:

State Reps. Matt Smith and Randy Vulakovich, both freshmen lawmakers from Allegheny County, are calling for a 20 percent reduction in the funding allocation for the General Assembly in the 2008-09 state budget.

In a letter they sent last week to House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans, the lawmakers said such a funding cut would help to restore the public’s trust, and would demonstrate that members of the legislature can be good stewards of public dollars.

“In my first term as a representative, I am looking for ways to reduce government spending in a responsible way that still allows the legislature to effectively serve the general public,” Smith said. “I believe that we can absorb a 20 percent reduction in funding and still meet the needs of the people we represent.

Link: www.pahouse.com/PR/042112607.asp

Opinionated in Mt. Lebanon

A commenter wrote in recently to let me know that this blog has gotten boring. Most of the posts on Blog-Lebo have been re-posts of information appearing elsewhere in the media, and/or announcements or summaries of events and activities going on around town. What happened to our opinions?

The answer:

The opinions (which, in most cases, were my opinions) haven't gone anywhere. In no particular order:

a. I've had a pretty busy Fall, and I post to five blogs in total. I can only be opinionated in one place at a time. ;-)

b. I got just a little bit opinionated back in September and early October, and certain Lebo neighbors got so offended that they threatened to sue me us.

c. There hasn't been a lot to get worked up about -- pro or con -- over the last couple of months. The big events in Mt. Lebanon this Fall were the School Board and Commission races. Those are over, and new Board members and Commissioners are learning the ropes. I know some of these people; things are happening beneath the placid surface of Mt. Lebanon; change is coming; there will be debates soon enough. The municipal budget is being scrutinized more carefully than ever (that's good; how about more cost cutting? -- there's an opinion). Efforts to grow commercial activity in Mt. Lebanon are underway (that's good, too; how about more revenue raising?). All in due course. For now, enjoy the coming holidays.

Does anyone have a good photo of the giant Mt. Lebanon Christmas tree -- which fell over yesterday? I'm told that it fell over in the morning. After dinner, it was still lying on its side. I hope that no one was hurt. Will we get a replacement? And who will pay for it?

Lebo Library Gala Coming Up

Blog-Lebo is always delighted to promote our fabuous Mt. Lebanon Public Library. The occasion this time is the Library's 75th Anniversary gala. The gala is this coming Friday -- November 30. More than 200 tickets have been sold -- but more are available. Here's the Library's press release:

Mt. Lebanon Public Library Hosts 75th Anniversary Fundraiser
Funds to profit library programs and services

Mt. Lebanon Public Library, one of the busiest libraries in Allegheny County with an annual circulation in excess of 550,000, will host a gala fundraiser to celebrate its 75th anniversary, 7:30 p.m., Friday, November 30, at South Hills Country Club.

The Once Upon a Time… Gala will feature a silent auction with more than 80 one-of-a kind gift donations, including sports packages, tickets to cultural district events, golf outings, gift certificates to downtown restaurants, museum memberships, and lots of great items for families.

Uptown Combo (a group known for jazz, blues, Texas swing, and vintage rock and roll), musicians from Mt. Lebanon High School, and Mt. Lebanon mime Dan Kamin will provide the entertainment. Emcee is Mary Robb Jackson. Gala chair is Jodi Kubit. Partygoers will also have a chance to get their handwriting analyzed and pose for a souvenir photograph while enjoying hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and cash bar.

Proceeds from this elegant evening benefit the library. Tickets are $75 per person. Attendance is limited, so the interested are encouraged to reserve tickets early. For more information, call Mt. Lebanon Public Library at 412-531-1912 or e-mail http://www.mtlebanonlibrary.org/.

In 1932, the Mt. Lebanon Lion’s Club solicited donations from residents so a community library could be established; local Boy Scouts collected 6,000 items, and Mt. Lebanon Public Library opened on the second floor of the Mt. Lebanon Municipal Building, November 15, 1932. By the late 1950s, the library had grown to the point that a new building was needed. In 1964,a 12,600-square-foot library opened at 16 Castle Shannon Boulevard. That library was renovated and enlarged to 26,000 square feet in the mid 1990s. Today, Mt. Lebanon Public Library’s collection encompasses approximately 180,000 items.

The Library's gala info page is here.

Here's an Almanac story about the event.

Holiday House Tours in Lebo

Howard Hanna and Coldwell Banker are each sponsoring holiday house tours in Mt. Lebanon. As reported in the Post-Gazette:

Dec. 12 -- Howard Hanna Real Estate's Mt. Lebanon office will hold its 17th annual Holiday House from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Six homes including Tudors, Colonials and a Cape Cod will be open for the tour, which will be followed by a Max & Erma's lunch, Chinese and silent auctions, raffles and gift items at the office, 607 Washington Road, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tickets, $20 in advance, $25 at the door, are available at local shops and the Howard Hanna office. Information: 412-561-7400.

Dec. 2 -- The third annual Holiday House Tour will include six Mt. Lebanon homes open from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. From noon to 3 p.m., Coldwell Banker's Route 19/Galleria office, 1539 Washington Road, will host a luncheon catered by Atria's Restaurant, with raffles, auctions and specialty boutiques. Tickets, $20, available at the office and area shops. Information: Heather Harrison at 412-344-0500, ext. 242.

Discharged Soldier to Keep Enlistment Bonus

A 21-year-old former Army private from Mt. Lebanon no longer has to repay nearly $3,000 from his sign-up bonus, despite receiving injuries in Iraq that forced him to leave the military before his enlistment period had ended.

The Army announced yesterday that the repayment request had been a mistake. Officials are conducting a review to see if any other injured soldiers had been told to give back their sign-up bonuses.

It caps a heady week for Jordan Fox, who emerged in the national spotlight after KDKA-TV aired a report Monday detailing his case. Since then, he's appeared on Fox News, MSNBC and several national radio shows.

Link

A Blog-Lebo Thanksgiving

Most residents of Mt. Lebanon have a lot to be thankful for today. Thankful for the love and support of family and friends. Thankful for their health and safety. Thankful for the privilege of living in this pretty snow globe of a little town, and thankful for the hard work of the volunteers and paid professionals who keep it safe and prosperous.

All of us should be thankful, too, for the sacrifices of American men and women around the world who can't be at home for Thanksgiving, because they volunteered to put themselves in harm's way in Iraq or Afghanistan or other places that we don't want to know about, or to improve the lives of communities around the globe. Think of their families, many of whom live in Mt. Lebanon, who miss them always but especially today.

Think also of the members of communities elsewhere who don't celebrate Thanksgiving but who couldn't celebrate even if they wanted to, because of war, or political repression, or disease, or poverty, or all four. Think of them always, but think of them especially today, as we pause to celebrate the unique foundations of American independence -- the security of home and family after a long journey to a New World -- with those most native and original of all American traditions, turkey and football.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Lauren's Work Helps Disabled Young Adults

Lauren's Work was looking more like play. Roughly two dozen young adults stood along a line of folding tables, quickly placing small items such as candy, bags of pretzels and beef jerky into Christmas stockings. Somehow, the motions of assembly-line effort had morphed into a contest between the two groups.

"Oh yeah!" shouted Matt Dee, 26, pumping a fist into the air and striking a Schwarzenegger-like pose as his "WWE" team reached its goal first. The others -- "Team Winners" -- appeared remarkably unperturbed.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07325/835454-55.stm

Deer Cull Starts Again Next Month

Mt. Lebanon's Deer Management Program resumes next month with a cull conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

As with last year's successful program, trained sharpshooters from the USDA's Wildlife Division will follow strict guidelines, including operating only from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Dates will be announced shortly.

Commissioners recently authorized the department to cull up to 150 deer in response to safety concerns from residents, including reports of dozens of car accidents, property damage and health concerns related to the town's deer overpopulation.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07325/835533-55.stm

Outgoing Lebo School Board to Hire Architect?

A comment posted earlier today to the post-election thread reads as follows:

Seems odd to me that the outgoing School Board is holding a vote tonight to hire the architect for the high school project. Can't this be put off to allow for newly elected members of the Board to vote for the architect THEY want to work with during their term?

Why does the outgoing Board feel the need to put this up for vote as the last thing they do on the way out the door?

I will reach out to who I can that has just been elected and see what they think.

I would urge others to consider asking themselves why this vote would be taking place at this juncture.

I took a look at the agenda for the School Board meeting scheduled for tonight (11/19) and sure enough, there's the following item:

13. New Business for Board Consideration and Action. All matters of new business were considered and discussed by the Board at its discussion meeting on November 12, 2007, except as noted (*). . . .

Architect Contract: RESOLVED, That the Board approves entering into a contract with _________________to provide architectural services for the High School Renovation Project.

Coffee Den in Mt. Lebanon Provides a Stage for Stardom

The tall, blond woman gripped her guitar for dear life and leaned into the microphone.

"Hi everybody, my name is Elizabeth, and this is ME, getting over a huge fear."

The casual crowd on this Friday night at the Coffee Den in Mt. Lebanon clapped and cheered in approval as Elizabeth Hareza, 21, dug into "Wonderwall" by Oasis. About 20 seconds into the song, however, she stopped, announced a different song, and sailed into that.

Flushed by her success, Miss Hareza, a student at Bethany College who said she needed to practice for an upcoming show at school, tried to make a quick exit from the glass-windowed stage area of the coffee shop.

"One more!" someone yelled, and the chant was picked up by the rest of the crowd. Miss Hareza obliged, tried Wonderwall again, this time to her satisfaction.

Many in the crowd last weekend could empathize. They were mostly veterans of the open stage, or the so-called "open mic" scene in the South Hills, where anyone with a song or a poem or a funny joke can get up and perform.

Link: Post-Gazette

Crossing Guards Needed in Lebo

For Mt. Lebanon, which is a walking community, crossing guards are essential to ensure the safety of children as they go to and from school.

Unfortunately, the municipality and school district are finding themselves short of bodies to provide this service. According to Mt. Lebanon Municipal Manager Stephen Feller, at one point this school year, six or seven police officers could be found on street corners filling in as school crossing guards.

"When there is an expectation that there is a crossing guard that is going to be there, and we can't get a crossing guard there, we need to put somebody there," said Feller.

The municipality and school district budgets to provide crossing guards at 41 posts, plus employ substitute crossing guards. It isn't only a lack of applicants causing the shortage. The job is also proving to have a high turnover rate once the post is filled.

Link: The Almanac

Autism Center To Open Third Satellite Office

AutismLink, LLC, the parent company of The Autism Center of Pittsburgh will open its third satellite autism center in the Mt. Lebanon area of Pittsburgh since its initial opening in the fall of 2006.

The first of its kind in Pennsylvania, the Autism Center of Pittsburgh opened its doors last year to provide family support, psychological evaluation and diagnosis, occupational and speech therapies, and a vast array of programs for families of children with autism spectrum disorders.

Link: www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,226404.shtml

Emergency Team Forming In South Hills

This month, the South Hills Area Council of Governments will be testing local police officers for eligibility to participate in the group's planned elite critical incidence response team.

The team would respond to emergencies, such as armed robberies, hostage situations and other serious situations in this post-9/11 world, said Russell McKibben, Dormont's police chief.

The new team would help, but not replace, current county emergency response efforts. Each member community in SHACOG will contribute $1,500 to pay for the program.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07319/833840-55.stm

Teen Accused In Hammer Attack Expected To Recover

A Mt. Lebanon teenager accused of attacking his ex-girlfriend with a hammer before trying to kill himself is expected to recover from his injuries. Police plan to charge him with attempted homicide.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07313/832586-100.stm

Disinfections Ineffective In MRSA Fight?

The elaborate disinfections schools are undertaking in the wake of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureas, or MRSA, infections are doing little to prevent the spread of the bug, say health officials. Ultimately, only successful research into the root causes of the epidemic will provide the answer to controlling it.

Lesley Stahl reports on the outbreak of the serious and sometimes deadly drug-resistant infection this Sunday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

"I am concerned that we have schools that are spending inordinate amounts of money trying to sterilize the school," says Allegheny (Pa.) County Director of Public Health Dr. Bruce Dixon. "As soon as the students and the faculty return, the school is no longer sterile," he tells Stahl.

Link: www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/08/60minutes/main3474157.shtml

Live Stream of Lebo's Channel 19

This information comes to the blog courtesy of former Blog-Lebo contributor (and current school board member) Jo Posti

For those of you interested in hometown programming, I wanted to share with you the latest feature on the Mt. Lebanon School District's web site. There is now a live feed of Mt. Lebanon's Channel 19 available at http://www.mtlsd.org/district/channelnineteen.asp. Now all of you non-Comcast subscribers and out-of-towners can get your fix of varsity soccer, orchestra concerts and yes, school board meetings - all from your desktop.

Link: www.mtlsd.org/district/channelnineteen.asp

ULTRAparty Group Ready To Host More Events

Young LEBO is now Experience LEBO and they are having a social event this Saturday evening, November 10th at 8 PM at The Saloon of Mt. Lebanon. More information about this event and their future plans can be viewed at their web site via the link below.

Link: www.experiencelebo.com

NOTE: A special thanks to The Saloon for the prominent link to Blog-Lebo from their contact page!

Roving Cocktail Party Next Monday

A roving cocktail and hors d'oeuvres party will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Monday in Mt. Lebanon's central business district. Participants can visit shops, restaurants and businesses for refreshments.

Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. at the municipal building, 710 Washington Road. Tickets cost $25 and may be purchased at the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center or municipal building customer service desk. Proceeds will benefit the Mt. Lebanon Partnership and the Mt. Lebanon Main Street program.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07312/831882-55.stm

Washington Park Construction Will Start in March 2008

When Lisa Perrone was thinking about moving from Cincinnati nine years ago, she found Mt. Lebanon listed among the best places to raise a family and chose a home. "I love this town. I love Mt. Lebanon," Perrone said Friday as ground was broken for the development that will include her new condominium.

Construction is expected to get under way in March, said Michael D. Heins, chief financial officer for the developer, Zamagias Properties. The project has a 16-month construction schedule.

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_536823.html

Proposed Budget Calls For 2 Layoffs, No Tax Increase

Mt. Lebanon municipal manager Stephen Feller said the proposed 2008 budget doesn't include "many new initiatives," but it does keep an eye on the future. One of the key proposals is $25,000 earmarked for a community wide strategic plan.

Mr. Feller noted that as "three of the five commissioners are new, it seems to me an ideal time for a re-evaluation of priorities, where we want to be in the next three to five years." A public hearing in the municipal building is scheduled for Monday, as well as two commissioners workshops: one scheduled for yesterday and the other for next Wednesday to discuss the proposed budget.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07312/831885-55.stm

Retiree Begins New Chapter As Passionate Volunteer

When Jim Jamieson retired from his job with Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad four years ago he didn't want to slow down and take it easy. As an avid supporter and user of the Mt. Lebanon Public Library, he began volunteering there for three hours every weekday morning.

"I promised the library director, Cynthia Richey, many years ago that after I retired, I would volunteer at the library," said Jamieson, 65, of Mt. Lebanon, who has accumulated more than 2,800 volunteer hours to date.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_536827.html

Lebo Election Debrief

Four new faces on the Mt. Lebanon School Board. Three new Commissioners.

Is there a message here? Not? What does it mean?

MRSA Problems Focus of '60 Minutes'

Mt. Lebanon High School has been educating parents and students about Community Associated MRSA or Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus since a student there was diagnosed with the infection earlier this fall. The school's efforts are now being recognized locally by the Allegheny County Health Department and nationally by the television newsmagazine 60 Minutes.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/11_07_ML_60_Minutes

Lebo Election Roundup

The election is over and here are the results from the following Lebo-related races:

• 1st Ward Commissioner -- D. Raja
  
• 3rd Ward Commissioner -- Joe DeIuliis
  
• 5th Ward Commissioner -- Dan Miller
  
• School Board -- Elaine Cappucci, Faith Stepanovich, Susan Rose, Ed Kubit and James Fraasch
  
• County Council - Vince Gastgeb
  

Mt. Lebanon resident Judge W. Terrence O'Brien will be retained as a judge in the Court of Common Pleas.

Washington Road Events Coming Up in Mt. Lebanon

From washingtonroad.com:

Friday, November 2nd
The Harvest Festival
6 – 9 p.m.

Enjoy the same fun you had this summer!

Come to Clearview Common and hear performances by DoubleShot vocal band and a Special Guest. Enjoy the strolling entertainment of Ben Sota of the Zany Umbrella Circus and Donna Penoyer.

Monday, November 12th
Tastes and Treasures of Mt. Lebanon
6 - 9:30 p.m.

Come for a progressive walking and dining evening. Enjoy food, shopping, raffles, and entertainment. Tickets are $25 and available at the Recreation Center and Municipal Building.


Thursday, November 15th
Light Up Night

Welcome SANTA’s Arrival in the MLFD Fire Truck! Don’t miss the TREE LIGHTING in Clearview Common and be sure to check your favorite stores for holiday RAFFLES!

Enjoy musical performances by:
The Mt. Lebanon High School Marching Band
The Mt. Lebanon Drum Line
Double Shot Vocal Band
The Junior Tamburitzans of the South Hills

Friday, November 30th
Holiday Open House
6 – 9 p.m.

Come out for a relaxing night of chocolates, hors d’ouvres, adult beverages and great deals at: Create-a-Frame, Kool Kat Design, Planet Art Gallery, Ona, La Boheme, Celtic Cross, Art by M.A., Art Loft, More Than Words, Salon Vivace, and more.

Friday, December 7th
Mistletoe Menagerie
6 – 9 p.m.

2007's last First Friday with live music & strolling entertainment! Weather permitting, the party will be outside.
Otherwise, come inside to all your favorite Washington Road stores and enjoy music, food, drink & good company!

Events jointly produced by the Washington Road Business and Professional Association & Mt. Lebanon Municipality.
Major sponsorship for First Fridays comes from National City Bank.

A Taste(ful) of Mt. Lebanon is also presented by The Mt. Lebanon Partnership.

Friday, December 7th
Find Lebo!!
Uptown, 6 - 9 p.m.

Inside, Outside, Anywhere on Washington Road
Lebo the Elf wants to help his fellow citizens get a jump start on their holiday shopping.

Find Lebo and get a surprise! Over $1000 in Lebo Loot, coupons, candy -- it's hard to say what might come out of Lebo's Sack o' Fun.

Attacked Mt. Lebanon Teen Recovering At Home

The Mt. Lebanon girl who police say was attacked by a former boyfriend armed with a hammer is expected to return to school Thursday or Friday, her father said.

Sarah Deluliis, 16, and a junior at Mt. Lebanon High School, was recuperating at home Saturday after three days in the hospital. Her face is badly scratched, while the back of her head has lacerations, said her father, Joe DeIuliis, who did not permit his daughter to be interviewed.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_536235.html

Lebo Campaigning Intensifies

Posted by request:

On Saturday, November 3rd many Mt. Lebanon residents received a postcard suggesting that they not vote for incumbents in the school board race. It was suggested that people should vote for four other candidates including Elaine Cappucci. As campaign manager of Friends of Elaine Cappucci I want to let the residents of Mt. Lebanon know that neither Elaine nor the campaign had anything to do with the mailer. From the time our campaign started early in 2007 to now we have not engaged in any mudslinging or dirty politics. We believe every candidate wants to work toward making a great place to live even better. We wish all of the candidates the best of luck on Tuesday.

Gregory J. Daubner
Campaign Manager: Friends of Elaine Cappucci
G.Daubner@verizon.net

Caring For An Older Home: Research & Renovation

The Historical Society of Mt. Lebanon will be holding their next meeting at 7:30 PM, Wednesday, November 7 at Mt. Lebanon Library. The program is "Caring For An Older Home: Research & Renovation/" it will be presented by Lori Humphreys, historical society trustee and Tara Merenda, program director for the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh's RenPlan Program.

Onorato Touts Light-Rail Development To House

Mixed-use development along the Port Authority's light-rail system in the South Hills is the future of transit-oriented projects in the region, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato said Thursday in testimony before the state House Majority Policy Committee.

"The idea behind these developments is we want to bring residential and commercial (uses) to where transit already is," he said. Onorato cited proposed development near a Castle Shannon park-and-ride as the ideal model: 60 apartment units, 65,000 square feet of retail space and a parking deck for Port Authority commuters.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_535860.html

Injured Teens Had Broken Up

Joe and Grace DeIuliis didn't like Robert DeAngelis, the former boyfriend of their daughter, Sarah, and were relieved when she broke off her relationship with him before the end of last school year.

But the Mt. Lebanon couple had no idea how troubled Mr. DeAngelis was until Wednesday evening, when police say he attacked Sarah with a hammer after luring her to a secluded area near the Port Authority Light Rail Transit tracks in Mt. Lebanon.

When she broke free during the attack, he threw himself in front of a trolley in what police believe was a suicide attempt.

Link: www.postgazette.com/pg/07306/830555-55.stm

Art Expression: Markham Pupils Learn Social Skills Inside And Out

There's an image of ourselves that we share with the world every day. Then there's the part of our psyche that we keep private and locked away -- where secrets and emotions lie hidden.

In recent weeks, a group of third- and fourth-grade pupils at Markham Elementary in Mt. Lebanon have been trying to illustrate both sides of themselves via an art project that is part of an after-school program called Art Expression.

The program uses art as its vehicle, but its real goal is to support pupils' social skills development.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07305/830126-55.stm

NPR's Nancy Pearl To Aid Library Fete In Mt. Lebanon

The Mt. Lebanon Public Library invites the community to celebrate its 75th anniversary. Just keep your voice down, all right?

"We believe the library is still the center of a community," said Cynthia Richey, head librarian. "It's a place where school kids can meet friends, where young mothers, who feel isolated, can meet others, and same with those who have retired."

It's not just about the books, although Mt. Lebanon has plenty of those. In fact, more than 569,000 items -- books, DVDs and CDs among them -- were borrowed from the library in 2006. Its staff of 50 includes 11 full-time librarians.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/07305/829959-55.stm

Showing Off Lebo Isn't Cheap

When it comes to public relations, Mt. Lebanon officials go all the way.

The affluent suburb -- where the median family income neared $80,000 in the last census -- allocated about $838,000 this year to spread good news about itself. It employs two full-timers in its public information office: Susan Fleming Morgans, who is paid $82,229, and new addition Laura Pace, who makes $34,916.

"There's a welcoming atmosphere here," said Fleming Morgans. "We want residents to feel free to bring up questions about anything in the community."

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_535524.html