Two Candidates Remain In Mt. Lebanon School Chief Search

A decision on a new superintendent of the Mt. Lebanon School District appears imminent as the search committee has narrowed the field to two candidates and final interviews are being conducted this week.

The new superintendent will succeed John Allison, who is leaving in early July to become superintendent of the Wichita Public Schools in Wichita, Kan., near Kansas City, where his elderly parents live.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09148/973203-55.stm

Hearing On Club Gets Testy In Mt. Lebanon

A marathon hearing on whether Mt. Lebanon should approve construction of a health club turned into an exercise in stamina Tuesday night. A team of representatives from Kossman Development and LA Fitness, a California-based chain of workout facilities, spoke for almost 90 minutes in a public hearing before commissioners.

Coupled with comments from residents, the hearing went well into the night, clocking in at just a bit over three hours. There was other commission business to attend as well, so the meetings adjourned, after more than 51/2 hours.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09148/973221-55.stm

In Unusual Effort, Mt. Lebo Police Remind Residents To Lock Car Doors

Mt. Lebanon police are using some unusual methods in the hopes of stopping a string of break-ins. Those who leave their vehicles unlocked will find a card squeezed between the steering wheel and the speedometer, reminding the drivers to lock their cars.

“Very good idea. You don't need to encourage any of the crooks today. They find they're own way of doing it,” said Mt. Lebanon resident Mike McElligott. When Mt. Lebanon police find vehicles open, they also put cell phones and other personal items in the consoles, so they're not visible, and lock the cars up.

Link: www.wpxi.com/news/19593259/detail.html

Mt. Lebanon Approves Global Warming Text

School board members in Mt. Lebanon have approved a series of student textbooks for the 2009-2010 school year. There was no debate, nor questions asked about any of the selections approved May 18.

On April 13, however, two board members questioned whether an additional text reflecting both sides of the global warming debate could be added to a high school environmental geoscience class. The possibility of adding another textbook set off a debate in the community which carried over into online blogs.

State law requires the school board to approve all student textbooks. Board members Mark Hart and James Fraasch asked about the following text: "Dire predictions: Understanding Global Warming--The Illustrated Guide to the Findings of the IPCC" by Michael E. Mann and Lee R. Kump. The IPCC is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/05-27-ML-global-warm-book-update-B

More Trees Die in Mt. Lebanon: The Blue Horse Coffee Case

From the most recent newsletter of Blue Horse Coffee, on Washington Road, here is a tale of newly demised trees. For what it's worth, I've learned that when it comes to trees being cut down, there is almost always more to the story. Perhaps those in the know can help fill in details.

Updated 5/28 (same day as the original post): I've received two notes that offer "more to the story." One is that the lessee here (Pazzo, apparently) may have a "ground lease" rather than (or in addition to) a lease of the building. If that's right, the "ground lease" may give them broader powers to make changes to the property than merely renovate the space. Two is that the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon was not involved in "permitting" or "approving" the removal of the trees. According to Steve Feller, the manager of the Municipality, Mt. Lebanon was not consulted in advance regarding removal of these trees, and ordinarily Mt. Lebanon doesn't regulate the removal of any trees on private property - unless the trees are hazardous. So the tenant may have done something foolish here, but the tenant may have been within its legal rights, and the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon appears to be off the hook. That isn't the end of the question, even legally. The incoming tenant does have active permits on the property, as to renovation, signage, and occupancy. I don't know what's within the scope of those permits, or what the tenant would claim is within the scope of those permits. Also, the original approved site plan, dating from the original development of the property, may include landscaping requirements, and those landscaping requirements may point to trees (the Blue Horse newsletter suggests that it does). And the terms of the lease(s) should be consulted. As before, there is probably more to the story.

As we mentioned in a recent newsletter, a new restaurant, Pazzo Ristorante, will open soon next door to Blue Horse. The restaurant owners are busy making some changes, like remodeling and painting, as you might expect. One of the changes they made, though, was quite unexpected. This past Friday, the four, perfectly healthy, 40-year old oak trees that stood in the grassy area out front along Route 19, were cut down. These were lovely, tall trees that provided good shade for our shop, and provided a nice, green buffer between our shop and the busy road. Many of you have already asked us why the trees were cut down, and you’ve expressed anger and disappointment over this. We’re going to tell you what we’ve been told.

The owners of Pazzo (who are leasing the space, by the way; they did not buy the property), somehow obtained authorization from Mt. Lebanon to cut the trees down. This authorization was given despite the fact that the family that owns the property was not notified, and did not grant permission for this. We can tell you that the property owners, an extremely sweet, gentle, older couple that live nearby, are extremely upset about this. Annette and I truly love these people, and we are upset that they are upset. After the trees came down, we found out that Pazzo plans to put a sprinkler system and some type of decorative garden planting out front. That’s why the trees were cut down, so this tenant could put in some plants and sprinklers.

To us, this is so wrong on so many levels. The property owner told us that, ironically, Mt. Lebanon required those trees to be planted all those years ago, because the township wanted a green area in this part of Rt. 19. The trees had to be 3-inches in diameter at the time of planting, and now, decades later, the township okayed the destruction of these healthy trees, by a tenant of the property. The tenant has shown great disrespect, to say the least, by doing this without the permission of the property owners. The tenant has also shown a grave lack of foresight. After all, there are no guarantees in this world, and if the new restaurant does not succeed, then there will be a sprinkler system and garden that nobody will maintain, and no trees. And, of course, with no shade on the southwestern front of the building, air conditioning usage will increase, the electric bills will increase, and Blue Horse and Pazzo will unnecessarily be using more energy. Presumably, the sprinkler system will unnecessarily use more water as well.

We don’t know the workings of the Mt. Lebanon government, or under what authority or rationale the permission was given. We do know that our shop is located in Ward 3 of Mt. Lebanon, and that Joe DeIuliis is the Ward 3 Commissioner. His e-mail is jdeiuliis@mtlebanon.org, and his phone number is (412) 670-2584, and he deserves your input. As another little ironic twist, Mt. Lebanon has a new Environmental Sustainability Board, that’s looking for Board members. This is “a newly created advisory board that will promote environmental awareness and will recommend ways for the municipality and the district to save energy.” We also know that Pazzo Ristorante is owned by a local company called Culinary Concepts (Amigo’s, Lemont, Café Euro) and their website is http://www.culinaryconceptspittsburgh.com/.

We are happy to hear what you think about this. If you are displeased by the trees being cut down, please e-mail us and let us know. We will prepare a letter to the editor of the Mt. Lebanon Magazine to express the collective opinion, and your input will help tremendously in that regard.

That’s all for now, everyone. Thank you for your time and your business.

Annette and Melissa

Residents Debate Mt. Lebanon Fitness Center Plans

An overflow crowd of more than 80 residents attended a hearing last night in Mt. Lebanon where commissioners were presented with the pros and cons of building a fitness center in a residential neighborhood. The hotly debated topic centered around a parcel of land at the intersection of Mt. Lebanon and Castle Shannon boulevards.

The hearing lasted three hours, sandwiched between other commission business. The whole affair went almost 5 1/2 hours and ended just after midnight.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09147/972988-100.stm

Fridays Kick Off In Mt. Lebanon

A sure sign of summer is the year's first First Friday, a free outdoor family festival on Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon from 6 to 9 p.m. the first Friday of every month from June through October.

First up this year is "Pickin' on Uptown," June 5, featuring bluegrass and other music of the mountains. Headliners are Mac Martin and the Dixie Travelers. Martin, a Dormont resident, has lead bluegrass bands for five decades. The Blue Canoe Folkgrass Band will be on the second stage, in addition to dulcimer players and other street performers.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/05-27-ML-First-Fridays--June-5-

'Most Poignant Event' These Scouts Do All Year

Jacob Jones wandered through the lush hills of Mt. Lebanon Cemetery scanning every craggy gravestone. He paused to brush leaves and grass from an older marker, then dropped down for a closer look.

Squinting in the late afternoon sun, the sandy blond 10-year-old from Dormont's Boy Scout Troop 23 was hunting for "eagles and shields" -- signs that he was standing near the final resting place of a veteran.

"There we go," he said, pulling an American flag from several clutched in his hand. "We finally found one."

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09143/972253-55.stm

Mt. Lebanon Lacrosse WPIAL Division 1 Champs

Chris White had two goals and William Round was superb in goal as Mt. Lebanon held on for a 3-2 win against Shady Side Academy in the WPIAL's first Division I boys' lacrosse championship last night North Hills High School's Martorelli Stadium.

"Coach always says, if we win, 1-0, he'll be happy because we won the game," White said. "It was ugly out there at times, but, if we win it like that, all that matters in the end is that we won it and it's worth it."

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09143/972246-364.stm

Lebo School Board Raises Taxes by 30%

The title of the post reflects the course of action that the Mt. Lebanon School Board embarked on by passing its most recent budget. The "30%" increase in school taxes reflects what may come your way over the next five years. Of course, the tax increase may be much more than that. (Or it might be a mite less. Since last January, I've been arguing on this blog that the high school renovation alone would trigger a 20% tax increase.)

James Fraasch explains more at his blog.

Is everyone still happy with their not voting in last Tuesday's primary?

All Atwitter About Tweets: School Districts, Towns Get Word Out

Do you Twitter? There's a big, wide world of techno-savvy people out there who wish you would. The virtual community is abuzz over the "next big thing," which, actually, already haas arrived. Consider this service the modern-day equivalent of the town crier, who stood on a corner shouting "Extra, extra, read all about it!"

The short, 140-character messages sent through Twitter are known as Tweets, and they're as immediate as instant messaging or a Facebook update, without depending on the Internet.

For example, when a water main break temporarily closed a Mt. Lebanon school, Cissy Bowman, district director of communications, sent a Tweet to alert residents.

"It's the immediacy of it that is unique," Ms. Bowman said. She was able to attach a photo of the water main break so that anyone who received the information could see that it was outside the building and had not caused major damage.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09141/971444-55.stm

Library Director Chosen To Chair The Newbery Medal Committee

Cynthia Richey has been director of Mt. Lebanon Public Library for 13 years, but during that time she never left behind her true library love -- children's literature and services.

"I love making a difference in children's lives of all ages and love connecting children with books," Richey said. So it should come as no surprise to those who know her well that Richey, 59, of Mt. Lebanon, has been appointed chair of the 2011 Newbery Award Committee.

The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association for what is deemed to be the "most distinguished American children's book published the previous year," according to the association Web site.

Link: cywww.post-gazette.com/pg/09140/971252-44.stm

Low Voter Turnout Hurts Lebo

I voted yesterday. Did you? Probably not.

For a community that professes to care passionately about its values, its schools, and its children, voter turnout in Mt. Lebanon in yesterday's primary election was pathetic. Given the issues now facing the School District -- planning for high school renovations, possible changes to the assessment system and corresponding school tax overhauls, and looming pension liabilities, not to mention the quality of the education provided to local children, which is no longer clearly providing some of the best in the Commonwealth -- this election may turn out to be the most important School Board election in memory and for years to come. Yet turnout yesterday was just less than 25% (5,341 ballots cast, by my count, out of 22,821 registered Democratic and Republican voters).

Here is the raw data, from Allegheny County. The County statistics report an overall turnout that's closer to 20% (5,341 out of 25,608 registered voters), but the County doesn't account for the roughly 3,000 registered independents and other non-Ds and non-Rs, none of whom were eligible to vote yesterday.

The difference between 20% and 25% isn't huge; in either case, the low turnout -- on a day when there was no weather, disaster, or traffic to impede access to the polls -- speaks volumes about Mt. Lebanon's true priorities and about people who aren't willing to put their votes where their mouths are.

It's true, of course, that yesterday's election was only a primary; the real fireworks come next Fall. As I understand the rules, the results yesterday lead only to the exclusion of one candidate (Electa Boyle) from the November ballot, because she did not finish among the top four candidates in either the Democratic primary or the Republican primary. (So much for re-using the "R Team" yard signs!)

Yet her failure to make it into the top four, especially among the Republicans, makes me wonder about party politics in a school board election -- especially in the primary. In other words, with so few people voting, I puzzle over the effort that goes into caring about what the Mt. Lebanon Republican Committee and the Mt. Lebanon Democratic Committee might do or say or who they might endorse in local races. I was a paid political operative (briefly) in a prior life, and I learned that the chief purpose and virtue of a party organization is getting people to the polls to vote for the party's candidate(s). Maybe the party Committees helped to bring turnout from an unbelievably disgraceful level up to the merely pathetic level that we saw yesterday. But that seems unlikely to me. I'm a registered party member; I got no GOTV contact leading up to yesterday's election. Did the Republican committee do GOTV for its endorsed candidates?

Maybe party affiliation is a label that helps voters identify who to vote for. But in a local race for a non-partisan office, that theory is full of holes, too. Four candidates ran as the "R" team, for example, but it's not clear that the "R" label, or the Republican endorsement, helped. Not only did one of the "R"s (Electa Boyle) not finish among the top four in the Republican primary, but a different "R" (Dale Ostergaard) finished fourth in the Democratic primary. Mary Birks, who I believe is an unendorsed candidate, finished second in the D primary and fourth in the R primary. (This is based on the unofficial results.)

The Fall election season promises to be interesting. I hope that more people show up at the polls in November.

Mt. Lebo Family Blogs To Pressure DA In Daughter's Attack

Calling their daughter's beating a premeditated act with more sinister intentions, a Mt. Lebanon couple has hired a public relations firm and is publicly pressuring the district attorney to appeal a ruling that says the suspect can be tried as a juvenile.

In an exclusive interview Tuesday, Grace DeIuliis told WTAE Channel 4's Sheldon Ingram that an informant told police that Robertino DeAngelis talked about a plan to rape and kill Sarah DeIuliis.

The boy had "a backpack with duct tape, box cutter and other weapons in that backpack. I can only imagine what his intentions were," Grace DeIuliis said, breaking into tears.

Link: adulttimeforadultcrime.wordpress.com

Link: www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/19495085/detail.html

Some Local Shopping Districts Battle Empty Storefronts

On any given day Route 65 near Sewickley is busy, but travel just a few blocks to the village of Sewickley and it’s a different story. Many of the stores lining the streets are vacant, but Sewickley isn’t alone.

In the Mount Lebanon, 9 percent of the stores are vacant. After losing some long-standing stores and not being able to find renters for other properties, area leaders are taking it to the people.

Mt. Lebanon commercial district manager, Eric Milliron said, "We're really pushing a shop-local campaign. We're really trying to get people to understand that for every dollar they spend here in Mt. Lebanon, almost 45 percent of that dollar stays in our local economy."

Link: www.wpxi.com/news/19505215/detail.html

Mt. Lebanon Teacher Pleads Guilty To Soliciting A Minor

A Mt. Lebanon High School teacher and tennis coach pleaded guilty today to sexually soliciting an undercover cop posing online as a 14-year-old girl.

Nicholas E. Salvo, 35, will be sentenced Aug. 11 by Common Pleas Judge John A. Zottola on felony charges of unlawful contact with a minor and criminal use of a communication facility.

Prosecutors dropped a charge of attempted unlawful contact in exchange for the plea, but there was no agreement on sentencing.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09138/970996-100.stm

Mt. Lebanon Hammer Attack Suspect Kept On Home Detention

A Mt. Lebanon teenager accused of attacking his ex-girlfriend with a hammer will remain on home detention pending a juvenile hearing that might have to wait until August.

Robertino DeAngelis, 17, is charged with attempted homicide for an Oct. 31, 2007, attack on Sarah DeIuliis. Both were 16 at the time.

Family Division Judge Kim Clark today reiterated a previous order that Mr. DeAngelis must remain outside Mt. Lebanon, have no contact with the victim or her family, and, on occasions when he has medical or dental appointments in Mt. Lebanon, must get approval from the probation department.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09138/970965-100.stm

School Board Primary and the Palace

The Mt. Lebanon School Board primary election is tomorrow -- Tuesday, May 19 (of course, the election features balloting for all kinds of other things and races) -- and Blog-Lebo endorses: No one. That's not our purpose, and I'm not even sure that Joe and I would agree on who we support. (We haven't talked about it!) There are lots of people of good will running for the Board. Please get out tomorrow and vote for some of them!

But the School Board election proceeds in tandem with the high school renovation project, and in the latter case there is much less good news to report.

On the one hand, the architects have been hard at work. The architects presented their latest proposal on Monday, May 11. This version differs substantially from the "Option B" that the Board decided to go forward with earlier this Spring. "Building B" (the "old" high school building, which faces Cochran Road) is back in the mix as part of the educational program, and there is a new "bridge of sighs" that would cross Horsman Drive and connect the (new!) educational buildings and (new!) athletic facilities.

On the other hand, it is difficult to know what to praise and what to criticize with this plan. The renovation project has become a perpetually moving target. As Board member James Fraasch has pointed out, construction costs for this version are still inexplicably high. The Board and the architects are still working to bring down the overall costs. And the design is still subject to substantial tweaks. The swimming community, for example, is gearing up to argue that the swimming pool is undersized for competitive swimming. Do we really need a bridge between the academic buildings and the athletic buildings? How about closing that stretch of Horsman Drive and making the entire area a walkable plaza?

The May 11 presentation is available at the High School Renovation website. (If you want to go directly to the schematic design, here it is.)

As that site notes, "The School Board will hold a Special meeting to continue discussion of the project on June 1st, 2009 at 7:30 pm in the High School Library."

Bankruptcy Shrouds Mt. Lebanon Retirement Community Residents

Maurice Deul said he and other residents at Covenant at South Hills have invested $23 million in entrance fees in the seven years since the retirement community opened, and $6.5 million in monthly payments toward medical needs.

For their money, the retirees expected to spend the rest of their lives in apartments in the Mt. Lebanon community or, if their health declined, in assisted living or nursing centers on the campus. Now, with Covenant under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and attorneys trying to work out a sale, they worry that a new owner could force them out.

"Here we are paying our way after having invested a substantial amount, and we are at risk," said Deul, 88, who has lived at Covenant for four years and heads the council that represents around 190 residents.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/mostread/s_625497.html

Mt. Lebanon Kicks Off Senior Partnership

A group of citizens from Mt. Lebanon are ramping up efforts to mobilize an organization which aims to give residents over age 50 the tools they need to be able to live in their homes longer, postponing a move to an independent or assisted living facility.

Mount Lebanon Village has registered as a federal non-profit organization, and is poised to kick-off fundraising efforts in anticipation of going on-line between July and October. The organization intends to serve as a clearing house for services and programs for those over age 50. Membership in the group will entitle one to benefits, which over time will expand according to need.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/05-13-ML-village-B

Change In Formula May Push Libraries Funds Down, Up

Since 1994 when Regional Asset District funding became available to the 44 suburban libraries in Allegheny County, those libraries that received higher levels of municipal support received higher levels of RAD funding.

But proposed changes in the formula to distribute about $5.6 million in RAD funding for 2010 would take the emphasis off local support and place it more on usage and distress level.

That means that some libraries, such as Carnegie Library of McKeesport, would see a significant increase in funding, if the change is approved in a vote by the suburban libraries next month. But others, such as Mt. Lebanon Public Library, would take a large hit in their level of RAD funding.

UPDATE: 5th Ward Commissioner Dan Miller has commented on this issue on his web site.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09134/969829-55.stm

Mt. Lebanon, Abode Of Giants

The following is from Reg Henry's blog on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette web site:

Working for a newspaper is sometimes a depressing "Gulliver's Travels" sort of experience, with an army of critics always on hand to try to bind one down with their tiny ropes.

But not last night. I went to the Mt. Lebanon Public Library to give a talk for the Friends of the Library. No mental midgets in this crowd.

The whole experience was a tonic. At least in Mt. Lebanon, a sizable number of people love newspapers in general and the Post-Gazette in particular. They were smart, educated and civically engaged; they asked good questions and, best of all, laughed at my jokes. They actually get my column, as the legions of Lilluptians do not.

Who needs enemies when you have Friends like this?

Link: http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/regonwry/archive/2009/05/15/mt-lebanon-abode-of-giants.aspx

The Palace

The Mt. Lebanon School Board seems determined to spend as much as it possibly can on a new or renovated high school - without putting the question of reasonable cost to the voters of the community. That is the Board's prerogative; some would even say that making calls like these is the Board's duty.

Chris Schultz, formerly of Mt. Lebanon and now living in the Golden Triangle area of North Carolina, pointed out to me today that price tag for Mt. Lebanon's high school renovation puts the structure in the same nine-figure ballpark as Heinz Field ($280 million), PNC Park ($216 million), and the new Consol Energy Center ($315 million). There are some important differences. The construction costs for each of those structures are offset considerably by government subsidies, tax breaks, and naming rights -- not to mention the fact that team operations are funded substantially by revenues from TV contracts. Note to School Board: Explore naming rights, and not just for the building as a whole. Sell the rights to the gym, to the theater (to each of the theaters!), to the rifle range, to the library, to the cafeteria. Put ad space in the stadium. Consider TV rights for Lebo sports. I can even recommend a great local lawyer who will help out the District at a reasonable rate (and it's not me).

Seriously, Chris also pointed out that a new school down in the Carrboro area (near Chapel Hill) is being built for $34 million -- and it's certified LEED Silver to boot. Materials and labor costs may be lower in North Carolina than in Mt. Lebanon, but more important, Carrboro's school comes in at 148,000 square feet, supporting a capacity of 1,200 students. The Mt. Lebanon project is budgeted for 440,000 square feet (someone will correct me quickly if that's mistaken), supporting a capacity of (in the vicinity of) 2,000 students. I did a quick and dirty tour of high school building projects underway elsewhere in the US, and $100 mm to $125 mm estimates for complete renos of large schools are not uncommon.

In other words, the price tag as price tag isn't really the question. It never has been. The question is what the money buys. If the community spends $110 million on a new school, is that money going to impact the quality of the educational program more than spending less to renovate the current facilities and/or to invest in the quality of teaching and the curriculum would impact it? That's my question. (Remember, I never reject the assumption that the current facility has serious problems and that something substantial needs to be done.) The answer to that question is not "it's self-evident." The answer to that question is not "we have to have the best of everything for our children." The answer to that question is not "if we don't build a new school, everyone will buy houses in Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair, and Peters Township." The answer to that question is not "I moved here believing that there would be great schools, and I demand great schools!" The answer to that question is not Mt. Lebanon's history or tradition or board scores or its leadership position in PA public education.

In an earlier thread on this blog, there was a lively debate about data that supports the proposition that synchronizing the Washington Road stoplights represents good public policy. I don't think we ever saw that data, though certainly someone must have studied the question. Certainly someone must have studied the question that I've asked: How does spending on facilities impact educational quality? There must be data. I'm still waiting for an answer.

New Lebo High School Price Tag: $120 million

From this morning's Post-Gazette:

Architects for the Mt. Lebanon School District last night presented drawings of a significantly renovated high school that included a new gymnasium, pool and academic wing and carried a price tag of about $120 million.

While that price is still $10 million above the district's state-mandated borrowing threshold of $110 million, architect Thomas Celli said officials from his firm will be working closely with project manager P.J. Dick to bring the cost down another 7
to 9 percent.

Mr. Celli told the board he hoped it would be able to give approval to plans that his firm will bring to the June 1 school board meeting so that they can be sent to Harrisburg for initial approvals.

The model of the high school presented last night was significantly different from the one chosen in February by the board. At that time, the board approved what had become known as Option 2, which included a high school with 67 percent new construction and 33 percent renovation.

Option 2 included a new academic wing, sports facilities, a renovated fine arts wing and a preserved Building B, the original high school structure. However, it carried a price tag of $130.9 million.

School directors, while approving the plan, asked the architects to come back with a version with a price tag closer to $110 million.

Link

Save The Date -- Ultra Party 2009 - August 8th

SAVE THE DATE -- MT. LEBANON ULTRA PARTY 2009 -- August 8th, 2009

Mt. Lebanon Partnership presents ULTRAparty 2009 to benefit The Autism Center of Pittsburgh. ULTRAparty 2009, a follow-up to the enormously successful events in 2007 and 2008, is now in the planning stages. With more than 1 out of 150 diagnosed with autism, once again, the Autism Center of Pittsburgh will benefit from ULTRAparty, allowing for more services and support to be provided to those affected by autism in our area.

Come help the only local autism organization that keeps the money LOCAL! Support the autism Center of Pittsburgh and come out and enjoy one of Pittsburgh's most well-attended and amazing parties in the street!

Miller Lite/Wilson-McGinley Co. has once again signed on as our Signature Sponsor, along with Media Sponsor, mtl Magazine, The Saloon of Mt. Lebanon & Web Partner, Higher Images, Inc.

For more information or to volunteer to help, please visit http://www.ultrapartylebo.com or call the Autism Center at (412) 343-4303.

Coach Stull Makes WPIAL Hall of Fame

One of baseball's greatest players and an Olympic track silver medalist are among the individuals who make up the third class of the WPIAL Hall of Fame.

Stan Musial, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame who played at Donora High School in the 1930s, and former Rochester sprinter Lauryn Williams, who was second in the 100-meter dash at the 2004 Olympics, are two of the individuals who will be formally inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame at a banquet that is open to the public June 19 at the Embassy Suites in Moon.

Chuck Stull coached Mt. Lebanon's boys' and girls' tennis teams from 1969-97 and won 27 WPIAL titles, 13 in boys and 14 in girls. His career record in team matches was 855-70 and he coached 22 PIAA champions.

History Center Digs Deep Into The Closet

The Historical Society of Mount Lebanon will celebrate its eleventh anniversary -- and the town's roots --with the opening of a new History Center in the downtown.

The grand opening is set for 6 p.m. June 5, during one of Mt. Lebanon's popular First Friday programs. Located in the lower level of the parking authority building at 200 Lebanon Ave., the center has three rooms and is equipped with a computer for visitor research. Mt. Lebanon library and the municipal building are within walking distance.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09127/968113-55.stm

Historic Preservation Board Looking For Guides

The town's Historic Preservation Board will conduct two training sessions for residents interested in serving as volunteer guides for the board's neighborhood block party tours.

The training sessions will be held from 9:30 to 11: 30 a.m. next Thursday and May 16 at Mt. Lebanon Public Library. Tours will take place on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

The free 40-minute tours, started last summer, are given by volunteers at the request of residents during summer block parties. The tour guide researches information about the history and architecture of homes on the street and provides residents with an overview of Mt. Lebanon history and the subdivision in which the street is located.

Volunteer guides are asked to lead at least two block party tours over the summer, if their schedules permit. For details, contact Susan Morgans at 412-343-3780 or smorgans@mtlebanon.org.

Women's Wellness Day -- May 30

A Women's Wellness Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 30 at Galleria of Mt. Lebanon, 1500 Washington Road. State Rep. Matt Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon, said he organized the event to help educate women in the South Hills on health and lifestyle issues.

Reservations are not required. For details, call Mr. Smith's office at 412-571-2169.

St. Bernard School Student Wins Pennsylvania Geography Bee

Henry Glitz from St. Bernard's School in Mt. Lebanon captured first place in the Pennsylvania Geography Bee held in University Park on April 3. This seventh grade student went ten rounds to find himself standing with only one other competitor, an eighth grade student from a school in Philadelphia.

"In double overtime, we were asked what was the largest city in Siberia with approximately 1.4 million people that is located on the Trans-Siberian Railroad," said Glitz. "My opponent said Vladivostok. I said Novosibirsk. I had the correct answer."

Glitz will now represent Pennsylvania at the National Geography Bee in Washington, D.C. on May 18-21. He is competing for the grand prize of a $25,000 scholarship. Second and third place prizes of $15,000 and $10,000 respectively will be awarded as well. Alex Trebek, host of TV's "Jeopardy," will host the competition. The final 10 students will appear on the National Geographic Channel. Glitz hopes to be among that elite group.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/05-06-Youth--quot-Bee-quot--winners-2-pix

LA Fitness Club Plan Comes Before Board

Mt. Lebanon residents who live in Sunset Hills may think work on an LA Fitness health club is stalled because the planning board rejected an amendment to the zoning code allowing the club. Not so, say municipal commissioners.

Commissioners have the final say over whether zoning amendments will be made in order to permit the construction of a fitness club on the so-called "Kossman property," near the intersection with Castle Shannon and Mt. Lebanon boulevards. In order to construct the 47,000 square-foot club, the zoning of the property must be amended to permit "health club" in the mixed-use (MX) overlay district.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/05-06-ML-LA-Fitness-B

Pension Plan Shortfalls Likely By 2010

The average taxpayer would have to brush up on college statistics and accounting coursework to understand the business of actuaries.

But taxpayers surely understand the bottom line--when the actuary numbers don't go their way, either taxes rise or budgets are slashed. And by 2010, it looks like some pension funds in every municipality will be impacted by losses in the markets as of Dec. 31, 2008.

Those could be the breaks in South Hills municipal governments, given the projections for fund deficits in 2010. Depending on the municipality, the police, fire and administrative employees could all have separate pension funds. If the fire department is volunteer, however, there is no pension. Only municipally-paid firefighters receive pensions.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/05-06-SH-pension-issues-B

Mt. Lebanon Volunteer Firefighter Charged With Arson

A Mt. Lebanon volunteer firefighter is free on bond on charges that he set a small fire last month so he could watch it burn.

Gene R. Peck, 20, was arrested Thursday on six counts of reckless endangerment, three counts of arson, and one count each of risking a catastrophe, criminal mischief and making false reports to law enforcement.

Mr. Peck is the son of Allegheny County judge candidate Michele Zappala Peck and the nephew of District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. He is charged in connection with a trash-can fire April 29 that scorched the side of an apartment building on Overlook Drive

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09125/967831-100.stm

League of Women Voters Launches Candidate Site

Candidates for office can get their message online free of charge, and voters can bone up before the May 19 primaries, on the League of Women Voters' new SmartVoter Web site.

At www.smartvoter.org, the site allows voters to type in their addresses and get a list of the offices and candidates that will be on their ballot. Or they can browse through a list of races from throughout Allegheny County -- or any number of other counties nationwide that are on the site -- and click on the links of candidates who have submitted information about themselves and their platforms. Municipal, county, judicial and school board races are included.

The League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh sent invitations to around 1,000 candidates to post information on the site, according to the chapter's press release, As of this morning, around 85 candidates had taken up the offer. The other candidates are listed, but there is no link to their biographical information and platforms.

Link: www.smartvoter.org

The School Board Race Heats Up

Start with this post, which excerpts recent blog posts by School Board candidates Jo Posti and Rob Gardner. Were the other candidates reading? Absolutely. Candidate Electa Boyle, on her own behalf and on behalf of the rest of the "R Team" (Silhol, Remely, and Ostergaard) sent me this [spelling corrected by me, for clarity; this was no doubt written in a hurry]:

Dear Mr. Madison,

We are greatly disappointed in Mr. Gardner’s decision to publish statements which he took out of context and manipulated into negative campaign rhetoric. These were baseless, uncalled for and in direct contradiction to Ms. Posti’s “Going Positive” statements.

The statement by one of us, and referenced by Mr. Gardner, was, “I cannot be sure somebody else won’t go negative.” This comment referred back to the events of two years ago when a group of citizens, not connected to any candidate or campaign, sent out mailers asking people not to vote for certain candidates. Those events evidence the fact that neither we, nor anybody, can control the actions of the populace. Mr. Gardner may not recall those events as he was not actively involved in politics at the time, but Ms. Posti should remember the events well.

The R Team does not spend funds on negative campaigning because it is in direct conflict with our core values. Outside influences did not lead us to this decision. It is who we are. You’re welcome to review our campaign literature as evidence of our good faith. There is no R Team flier, handout, web-page, or any other information, final or draft, which is negative. If Mr. Gardner and Ms. Posti are experiencing undue pressure from their “backers” to go negative, we encourage them to resist. Fortunately, we have not had to deal with this type of pressure.

The attempt by Mr. Gardner to mask his own negativity by trying to portray the R Team as negative is unconstructive and misleading. We will not be forced into a war of words with any candidates. We will continue to run our campaign based on our strengths of professional experience and integrity. These will prove to be the best way to lead our District forward.

Best regards,

The R Team

Alan Silhol
Dan Remely
Dale Ostergaard
Electa Boyle

Are School Board Fireworks Comng?

Take a look at these two posts at the website for Mt. Lebanon School Board candidates Jo Posti and Rob Gardner:

Jo Posti (post title: "Going Positive") writes (I'm excerpting):

Negative campaigning is not just harmful to candidates. It’s harmful to our community. It damages trust in the electoral process which discourages participation in one of our most important responsibilities as citizens. We encourage all candidates for this and other offices to join us in leading Mt. Lebanon politics in a new direction. We ask that they not only take responsibility for their own campaigns’ communication but that they alert candidates to any potential negative communication they learn of and then take responsibility for any resulting literature produced that mentions other candidates. Together, we can elect leaders in our community based on candidates’ qualifications and integrity.

Rob Gardner (post title: "Going Negative") writes (I'm excerpting again):

I recently spoke to another candidate who assured me they weren't going to spend money on negative campaigning, but who then added that they couldn't be sure someone else wouldn't go negative on their behalf.
Really? Well, who, exactly, is in charge of your campaign? Jo and I have been approached by backers who urge us to be ready to go negative. We tell them "no." We tell them Mt Lebanon deserves to have their candidates address the issues and to judge us on the merits of our positions, qualifications, and experiences. No one else's agenda impacts or over rides our own.
If you are a candidate who cannot control the tenor of your own campaign, how can the residents of Mt Lebanon trust you to control the assets of the District?
I emplore all the candidates to reject the hijacking of their good intentions. Pledge along with Jo and I that we will not engage in, condone, or allow any form of negative campaigning via any media that benefits us in any way. [bold font in original.]

Anyone want to clue in the rest of us regarding what has happened -- and what may be about to happen? Statements like this don't come out of nowhere.

Remember, signed comments only, please, per the usual blog policy.

The primary arrives on May 19.