Written Test Flummoxes Local Speller

Mt. Lebanon seventh-grader Jeremy Pople was eliminated this afternoon in the preliminary rounds of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. He correctly spelled "kaiserdom" this morning in the first oral round of the bee, but his score on the written test was not high enough for him to advance to the quarterfinals.

Words on the written exam included miscible, intermittence, eidetic, pinyin, nonpareil and tremolo. Ninety of the 288 spellers moved on to the quarterfinals, which are now under way. Jeremy, 12, attends Mellon Middle School and was competing at the national level for the first time.

Link: www.postgazette.com/pg/08150/885826-100.stm

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/08151/886039-55.stm

Lebo Teacher Wins Award, Trip To Nation's Capital

Anita Schuler, an elementary math facilitator in Mt. Lebanon School District, spent the week of April 28-May 3 in Washington, D.C., being "treated like a queen."

That's because she was one of 99 math and science educators nationally to receive the annual Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for 2007.

The award is administered by the National Science Foundation on behalf of the White House and the president, and is accompanied by a $10,000 cash prize.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/08150/885538-55.stm

Cready on the Denis

Gwyn Cready is a Lebo resident (and Lebo grad!) who is building an impressive resume as a romance novelist. There's more to that story, as Gwyn's blog (here) and website (here) can tell you. Gwyn was part of the cleanup crew at the first day of volunteering at the Denis (earlier post here), and on her blog she posted a lovely account of her history with the Denis. Here's a taste:

There isn't much about Mt. Lebanon I'm not sentimental about. I love driving around, letting different sights remind me of my growing up family. The library, where my mother took me, letting me load up on children's reading books--save the dreaded Barbar which was printed in hard-to-read script and therefore beyond my ability to enjoy--while she selected her own books upstairs. The park where my sister and I played. The L'il General, where my Dad would take me to get a Coke slush. The green office building where we all went to the dentist. And so many places that are gone or replaced: the pool, the A&P, the G. C. Murphy, the on-street trolley, Koval's corner market, Mr. Cameron's hair salon, Horne's, the Peacock House restaurant.Which is why I cried the day four years ago when the Denis Theatre closed.

Admittedly, it had grown seedy. But it had never stopped making me feel happy to sit in one of its four chopped up theatres and remember that this was my theatre, in my hometown, that I got to share with my new family.Which is why I also cried when I read three weeks ago that someone had rescued the Denis by buying it before it was sold and turned into an office or a string of retail shops. Mt. Lebanon is a town, not one of the soul-less suburbs with no main street one finds farther from the city, and towns need theatres. Someone rescued the Denis and a foundation has been formed to raise the money it will take ($3MM) to restore it to it's former glory. My husband Les and I volunteered to join the clean-up efforts today. I'd been complaining so long about the Denis closing down, I knew I had to put my elbow grease where my mouth was.

Read the whole thing.

Fire Crews From 4 Communities Battle Blaze

An overnight fire forced a family out of its home in Mount Lebanon. Investigators said the flames started in a basement and spread to the first floor shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday in a home at the intersection of Sieaforth and Layton avenues.

Flames were intense as firefighters from Mount Lebanon, Dormont, Bethel Park and Castle Shannon arrived at the scene.

Link: www.wpxi.com/news/16411164/detail.html

"Every 15 Minutes" Film Now Online

The film has been in production since the fall of 2007 and involves a cast and crew of over 50 students. Produced by Mt. Lebanon High School senior, Austin Wright and written by students Kelly Arbogast and Max Simone, the movie centers on a day in the life of four students and concludes with their involvement in a deadly car accident that takes place after they leave a house party where alcohol has been served.

“The goal of the film is to raise awareness among students, parents and the public of the deadly consequences of drinking and driving,” said Mt. Lebanon High School principal, Dr. Ron Davis. “What’s so exciting is the level of enthusiasm, commitment, and passion for this project on the part of everyone involved. Our students are leading a remarkable community effort which could result in saving lives.”

Link: multimedia.mtlsd.org/Play.asp?FILEID=24392

James Fraasch on the School Board Budget

School Board member James Fraasch has posted a lengthy explanation of his vote against the budget for the Mt. Lebanon School District. It's long and detailed, and a lot of it hinges on what we make of (i) declining enrollment; (ii) increased staffing; and (iii) increases in per-student expenditures. But there's much more. An excerpt:

I voted no for the following reasons:

1) I wanted to at least keep our pupil/teacher ratio the same and not let it go down any further. Despite that fact that we are allowing four positions to go unfilled, our ratio is still going down due to a projected drop in student enrollment of 63 students. If the Board would have let two additional positions (bringing the total to 6) go unfilled then our ratio would have remained essentially unchanged. Our ratio will be 12.75 next year, down from 12.82 this year. Two additional positions going unfilled would have left us at 12.81. That being said, perhaps the hardest thing to do on the Board is to make efficiencies in staff. There are a lot of machinations that have to be done on the part of the administration to carry out those type of changes and it is never easy to target a certain school or certain grade level with those changes.

2) I wanted a better future forecast for the budget than the one we had. I think this would have allowed for the community to see the point of view from which I speak. I blame myself for this since I should have asked for this in public. For instance, the forecast given to the public included a very small millage increase in future years even with a $100,000,000 high school project. I felt this was misleading since that document increased assessed valuation by $150,000,000 which is a pretty unlikely event unless the County and State come to some sort of legal assessed valuation agreement. Again, let me be clear, this is not to point a finger at anyone at all, I simply did not ask for the right data.

3) I would have liked to have nailed down a more precise amount that we would put towards future retiree health care benefits. Right now I am uncomfortable that the number is dependent on a few variables and I would have liked to have seen an amount over and above our fund balance that would go to that fund and have it better defined. As mentioned before, this sort of planning is very productive for both the short and long term.

Read the whole post.

You or I may agree or disagree with the reasoning, but there's no doubt that this is fabulous transparency in local government. Thanks, James! Every Board member should follow his example.

Death Penalty Law Change Sought For Killers of Elderly

State legislators said today they are backing an amendment to Pennsylvania judicial procedure that would make the first-degree murder of a person over 60 years old or of the infirm an aggravating circumstance allowing juries to consider the possibility of the death penalty upon a guilty verdict.

The proposal -- House Bill 2464 -- was proposed by state Rep. Matt Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon, in response to the June 4, 2003, beating and stabbing murder of Jean Heck, 78, in her Upper St. Clair home by her landscaper. Her killer, Patrick James Stollar, 29, was sentenced to death by the jury on Feb. 22 because there was an aggravating circumstance -- the killing was committed during the commission of a felony, the home-invasion robbery and burglary.

Link: www.postgazette.com/pg/08144/884362-100.stm

Denis Theatre Moves Along

A volunteer with the Denis Theatre renovation passed along this note that circulated recently:

Dear Denis Theatre supporter,

WOW! That is what we keep saying over and over when we talk about what happened on Saturday [May 17]! You emptied every basement, found every loose seat and hauled literally TONS of materials! The amount that got done exceeded even our wildest dreams, and we are incredibly excited about the level of support and enthusiasm that you showed, and that we hope is reflective of the whole community.

Here are some of the "stats":- There were 83 volunteers, including elementary school children and retirees.- Over 200 person-hours of time were contributed.- The salvageable metal that you hauled out filled a 30 cubic yard trailer to the brim (as soon as we know the exact weight we'll let you know). - You didn't complain, whine or point out obstacles to success. Instead you laughed, encouraged, offered to help at
future events and came up with great ideas and suggestions that we had never
thought of!

All during that day our official (volunteer) photographer, David Rutherford, was snapping pictures of your efforts. Those pics are posted on the web site through the Volunteer page, and you can also click on the link below to see them.

http://denistheatre.org/PhotoJournal/May172008

We hope to see you at the Hard Hat Preview on Friday, June 6, either as a volunteer
or as a visitor.Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing the dream! See you at the Denis!

The Denis Theatre Foundation http://www.denistheatre.org/ .

In conjunction with the First Friday event on Friday, June 6, there will be a Hard Hat Preview at the Denis.

Local Firefighter Maintained Passion For Saving Lives

John Schmidt was known by many for his dedication to firefighting, which he considered to be a noble profession.

"Saving lives was John's motivation," said his wife, Phyllis Damiano Schmidt. "During the 25 years that John served as a Mt. Lebanon firefighter, he was always ready, regardless of the time of day, to answer the call."

John R. Schmidt of Canonsburg, formerly of Mt. Lebanon, died of a pancreatic infection on Tuesday, May 20, 2008, in Kindred Hospital of Pittsburgh in North Fayette. He was 65.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_568975.html

Security Increased, But No Bomb In Mt. Lebanon School

Left with little choice, Mt. Lebanon school officials notified police soon after a high school student found a bomb message scrawled on the third floor south gymnasium restroom wall.

Discovered after school Thursday, May 15, the message simply said "Bomb Friday." School Principal Dr. Ron Davis called police, then sent all high school parents an e-mail outlining what had been found and what precautions were being taken. School officials said they do not know who wrote the anonymous message. And police say that if caught, the person will be charged with a crime.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/05-21-ML-bomb-scare-B

Link 2: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_569100.html

School Taxes Go Up Less Than Was Expected

Mt. Lebanon School District directors voted this week to raise taxes by 1.1 percent, less than half the increase they initially proposed last month.

Total millage will increase .25 mills to 23.81. The median assessed value for taxable property in Mt. Lebanon is $146,200, according to the town tax office. The owner of that property will have to pay $3,481.02 in school taxes for 2008-09.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_568681.html

Student Film Depicts Tragedy Of Drunk Driving

The film stars arrived at their Mt. Lebanon location in a Mercedes-Benz. They stepped from the luxury car onto the red carpet, where a reporter waited to interview them about the impending world premiere of their movie.

In separate interviews, each of the actors said they hoped the message of the film would come through loud and clear. The film doesn't have a warm and fuzzy Hollywood ending but is direct and abrupt and ends with a bloody death. Its message: Don't drink and drive or you could face fatal consequences.

The film, "Every 15 Minutes," was made by Mt. Lebanon High School students in an effort to persuade their classmates to stay sober during the prom tonight and during any after-prom festivities they attend.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/08143/883585-55.stm

Environmental Film Wins Festival Prize

It's been quite a week for Mt. Lebanon High School senior Austin Wright. First, there was the long-awaited premiere Sunday of the movie "Every 15 Minutes," a documentary on the dangers of drinking and driving which was produced by Austin and worked on by a group of more than 50 other Mt. Lebanon High School students.

Then, came the news that he will be featured in a U.S. News & World Report article in the May 26 edition. "So much is happening right now," said Austin, 18. The article, which is already available online at www.usnews.com, is about Pittsburgh high school students entering an environmental film festival sponsored by Bayer Corp. and the Carnegie Science Center's SciTech Initiative.

Austin's video, "Stop Waiting for the World to Change," won the narrative prize in the festival called the Creating Awareness and Understanding of Our Surrounding Environment Challenge High School Film Festival.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/08143/883599-55.stm

Mt. Lebanon Removes Assistant Lacrosse Coach, 4 Players

Four boys on the Mt. Lebanon High School lacrosse team and an assistant coach have been removed from the team for violating the drug and alcohol policies of the team and the high school during a trip to Detroit this past weekend. The names of the students and coach have not been released.

Boys lacrosse is a club sport this year, which means that it is organized and overseen by a private association, the Mt. Lebanon Lacrosse Association. Next year, however, it will become a school-sponsored sport.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/08143/883907-55.stm

Link 2: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_568786.html

Kids in Lebo Schools?

Based on occasional conversations with neighbors and friends, my informal and anecdotal sense these days is that the number of Mt. Lebanon adolescents now attending private schools rather than Mt. Lebanon High School -- not parochial schools, but private schools -- is slowly increasing.

Do others share this sense? Is there data available that might confirm it or discredit it?

And if these numbers are on the rise, the obvious questions are: Why? And why now?

Pittsburgh High Schools Compete In The C.A.U.S.E.

When Austin Wright isn't running four shows for the local TV station or filming for WTAE (Pittsburgh's ABC affiliate), he's in classes at Mt. Lebanon High School. Recently, he's been working on Every 15 Minutes, a film about the deadly consequences of drunk driving, to be aired shortly before his high school prom.

And earlier this spring, his documentary video on creative ways to recycle, Stop Waiting for the World to Change, won the Narrative Prize in the Creating Awareness and Understanding of Our Surrounding Environment Challenge High School Film Festival—an honor accompanied by $300 for him and $1,500 for his school.

Link: www.tinyurl.com/6r637n

Dan Woodske Resigns

The municipality will looking for a commercial districts manager after the resignation of Dan Woodske. Mr. Woodske, who began working for Mt. Lebanon in January, "resigned to pursue other opportunities," said municipal manager Steve Feller.

Mr. Woodske declined to comment.

The last time Mt. Lebanon held a search for this position, a pool of "40 or 50" applicants applied, according to Mr. Feller.

"We have a healthy business climate here and a business district that is improving all the time," said Mr. Feller.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/08136/881805-55.stm

Galleria Agrees To Assessment Increase, Lowers Millage Increase for 2008-2009 Budget

An agreement with the Galleria shopping mall on an assessment increase will allow the Mt. Lebanon school board to lower its projected millage increase in the 2008-09 budget from .59 mills to .25 mills.

The change in assessment covers two prior years and the coming year and resulted in about $700,000 in additional revenue for the district, said Finance Director Jan Klein.

The budget will be presented for a final vote by the board on Monday. If adopted, it will mean a tax hike of about $56 on a home assessed at $225,000.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/08136/881805-55.stm

Computer-Savvy Middle Schoolers Tutor Seniors

It was late April, and Lydia Davis, 72, of Mt. Lebanon was trying to build a snowman. But it wasn't the spring-like weather hampering her efforts, it was her limited computer skills. "I'm clicking and nothing is happening," she told her young instructor, Lydia Herman, 12, also of Mt. Lebanon.

The two were participating in a special computer class at Mellon Middle School in the Mt. Lebanon School District. The class, held in the school's computer room, paired five senior citizens with student council members for a one-hour computer training session in which the middle school students acted as private tutors.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/08136/881806-55.stm

Rep. Smith To Honor WWII Vets

State Rep. Matt Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon, is sponsoring a ceremony in July to honor World War II veterans living in the 42nd Legislative District. The ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. July 24 at the Bethel Park Community Center.

"I'm excited to have an opportunity to help bring our community together to honor the many patriots who answered our country's call to duty," Mr. Smith said.

World War II veterans who want to attend should respond by visiting Mr. Smith's constituent office at 319 Castle Shannon Blvd. between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays or by calling 412-571-2169.

New Mt. Lebanon Superintendent Finds Himself At Crossroads

Since Superintendent John R. Allison arrived from suburban Dallas last year, the most important thing he said he has learned about Mt. Lebanon is that its residents demand change. "Definitely, this is not a community that tolerates the status quo," he said. "There's a strong desire to maintain tradition, but not at the sake of progress."

And the status quo in Mt. Lebanon School District is in the middle of a shakeup. Many view Mt. Lebanon as a district at a crossroads.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/southwest/s_567477.html

James Fraasch Takes the School Board Online

Mt. Lebanon School Board member James Fraasch has opened a blog -- Lebo School Board Updates -- with the goal of communicating more effectively with members of the community:

Many decisions I make as a School Board member are not easily explainable during a meeting, and besides, most residents and other Board members don't always know what thinking has gone into making a decision or casting a vote a particular way. This blog will attempt to shed light on some of the processes involved in my decision making as well as present information to the public that I have researched in order to come to my decisions.

James is clear that he is speaking entirely for himself and not on behalf of his colleagues on the Board, and not on behalf of the Board as a whole. Still, this is a great step forward! His first long post is about the status of the budget. I'm looking forward to reading more. Welcome to the blogosphere!

Judge Won't Order Probe Of Mt. Lebanon School Board Campaign

A Common Pleas judge today dismissed a petition that alleged filing irregularities and false information about who created and funded campaign post cards and signs in the Mt. Lebanon school board race in November.

Common Pleas President Judge Joseph M. James said the two Mt. Lebanon men who created the Save Mt. Lebanon Schools committee were not accurate record keepers, but that the misinformation in the filings did not rise to the level of being referred to the district attorney's office for a criminal investigation.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/08133/881234-100.stm

Link 2: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_567099.html

UPDATED (5/15/08): www.post-gazette.com/pg/08136/881904-55.stm

Students Support Primary Vote Change

Students from three high schools in the Pittsburgh region told a state House committee on Friday that 17-year-olds should be allowed to vote in Pennsylvania's primaries provided they turn 18 by the general election.

"In an age in which primary election turnout is usually around 25 percent, a measure to allow more young people to vote would be a welcome aid to our rather deplorable rate of civic participation," Fox Chapel Area High School senior Luke Secosky testified.

Students from Fox Chapel Area were joined by others from Monaca and Mt. Lebanon High Schools and members of special interest groups who said they favor the idea.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/mostread/s_566828.html

Mt. Lebanon Continues To Look At Budget

After seven meetings, school board members in Mt. Lebanon are close to approving a budget for 2008-2009, but whether the tax increase proposed remains on the books is a matter of debate.

A preliminary budget approved last month includes a .59 mill increase, which would boost taxes on a $200,000 home by about $120 a year.

But Board President Mark Hart said unexpected revenues totaling nearly $2 million, combined with a possible $1 million surplus for 2007-08 could be used to offset the proposed millage hike.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/05-07-ML-board-meeting

Handler: K9 Officers Provide Valuable Service

After the shooting death of a Pittsburgh Police canine officer in Mt. Oliver Tuesday, more attention is being paid to the hard work police dogs do in making arrests, finding drugs and protecting police.

While some may consider them to be just a dog, a Mt. Lebanon police officer told KDKA he believes his canine partner is invaluable. Canine officers are well-trained, they have police badges and are considered police officers under the law in Pennsylvania.

Officer Michael Smakosc says they also form bonds with their partners that last a lifetime.

Link: www.kdka.com/local/canine.officers.police.2.718188.html

Lebo Teen Held For Trial In Hammer Attack

A teenager today was ordered to stand trial for allegedly trying to kill his ex-girlfriend with a hammer. At a preliminary hearing for Robertino DeAngelis, Sarah DeIuliis testified that he attacked her as they walked along a path in Mt. Lebanon.

She said she had broken up with him, but that she wanted to meet him to get back some of her belongings. As they walked, she briefly lost sight of him and then was hit in the back of the head.

District Judge Robert Ravenstahl ordered Mr. DeAngelis held for trial on charges of aggravated assault and attempted homicide.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/08128/879824-100.stm

Link 2: www.kdka.com/local/DeAngelis.DeIuliis.trial.2.718202.html

Link 3: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_566294.html

Parents Resource Network Reception Coming

From Lebo's own Kelly Fraasch:

Please join State Representative Matthew Smith and County Councilman Vince Gastgeb on May 8th 6:30-8:30pm for a Wine n Cheese event at Parent Resource Network's new office at 5151 Penn Avenue! Tickets are sold at the door $30 couple/$15 single. Call 877.647.4373 x 702 for reservations.

Lebo Shortcuts

From the May 2008 issue of mtl (formerly Mt. Lebanon) magazine:

For some people, the four most alluring words in the language are “I know a shortcut.” You know who you are. There’s a tiny little thrill that comes with knowing that if you cut down—well, we’re not going to say—it will shave a couple of minutes off your trip. But as gratifying as it is to be able to get someplace faster and cleverer, it’s good manners to respect property lines. Houses just a block or two away from schools are very desirable if you’re a parent, but the convenience factor wanes when you’re picking up notes and doodles, homework and lunch remnants from your yard twice a day.

Ask permission before crossing someone’s property. This isn’t something that’s restricted to school-age kids. In many neighborhoods, long-established walking and visiting patterns can be viewed as intrusive by newcomers. Just because good old Fred never said anything about you trampling through his garden on the way to drop in on Tom and Nancy doesn’t mean you have an easement when he sells the place. In the course of introducing yourself to the new neighbors (always a nice thing to do anyway) ask if it’s OK to cut through once in a while to save a few steps. As an incentive, you can always offer to share some of your best neighborhood
shortcuts with them. As long as they promise to keep them to themselves.
—sponsored by the mt. lebanon community relations board

It's interesting that this note does not distinguish between cutting through someone's back yard and walking on pathways paved in concrete or stone. But maybe it should. In the former case, there is potential damage to plants, peace, and privacy. By all means, where possible, ask permission first. In the latter case, because of the appearance of the "secret path," public use is likely more legitimate; private property interests are less compelling. Mt. Lebanon is filled with both kinds -- shortcuts, and secret (paved) paths.

Why treat these things differently? Among other reasons, in the latter case it's more likely that there really is an easement recorded in the county records, not just an easement that's alleged because of decades of public use. Once an easement has been recorded against a parcel of private property, then that property owner can't unilaterally rescind it. Property lawyers will tell you that the easement specifies in writing who gets to benefit from the easement (or what gets to benefit -- this may be defined in terms of other properties, not in terms of people), but a paved path in your neighborhood that links two streets certainly looks like an invitation to the public to use it. And usually, members of the public are on safe legal ground if they accept that invitation.

Bottom line: Be neighborly, because it's the right thing to do. But sometimes the law favors the neighbor, not the property owner!

Grant Will Help Polish Mt. Lebanon's Business District

Mt. Lebanon Commissioner John Daley enjoys that his city can pride itself on being a walking community with an attractive business district that has restaurants, specialty shops and medical offices.

"It's not just a strip mall or a shopping mall, where you park in a big lot and do what you have to do and take off," Daley said.

The shopping thoroughfare along Washington Road is charming to visitors, and community leaders hope to keep it that way after receiving $341,809 from the state to spruce up the business district's overall appearance.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_565116.html