Letter: Road Signs Say the Unexpected

In this edition of Blog-Lebo Letters to the Editors, reader and frequent commenter David Brown demonstrates two things: first, that letters to the editors need not be entirely serious; and, second, that by slightly altering the context in which everyday things are interpreted, you can give them new meanings and make them say unexpected (and entertaining) things. —Tom


Road Signs Say the Unexpected

There was a sign on Scott Road in June saying road work would begin on July 7th but nothing has happened yet, giving new meaning to this sign at the entrance to Sunset Hills:



Maybe they are following the imperative on this protest sign at the other end of Scott at Washington Road:




David Brown

Shopping Fundraiser in Memory of Lisa Styles

On Friday, 6 August, 2010, Learning Express Toys in the Galleria will host a fundraiser for the family of Lisa Styles. Twenty percent of all purchases made at the store, from 10 am through 9 pm, will be donated to The Children of Lisa Styles Trust and to The Autism Society of America.

For more information, see the following poster:

What Kind of Leadership Do We Need on the School Board?

Solving our school district’s spending problem isn’t going to be as easy as “just” changing the school board. That’s because the school board operates within an environment that fosters waste.

When you have a reliable stream of over $70 million that flows from the taxpayers every year, people are going to want some of it. And when you have a small, volunteer board that decides who gets to be on the receiving end of that stream, people are going to want to manipulate that board. Thus a whole industry of advisers and special interests has grown up around school districts.

This industry has great influence over the environment in which our school board operates. It’s this environment we must change if we want a better school district, a school district where our money is spent on what actually provides the best education instead of on what our trusted partners tell us.

Yes, changing the school board will probably help. At the least, a fresh board would not suffer from the divisions that weaken our current board. But a fresh board would still have to operate within that same exploitative environment.

Without a special kind of leadership on the board, the kind that can see this environment for what it is, I doubt that any board would do much better than the current board. I’ve met the people on the current board, and I think they’re good people, trying to do a good job. Maybe the problem, then, is that they’re too good, too trusting.

Maybe what we need instead are leaders who are wary enough to recognize when they have been dropped into an exploitation machine – and who are strong enough to fight it.

Our current board already has some fighters on it, but they are outnumbered. What we need are fighters in every seat.

More than that, we need leaders within our community to challenge the advisers and special interests that have intertwined themselves with our school district. We need to detach these self-interested parties from our decision-making processes. Until we do that, any school board is going to have a hard time spending our education dollars wisely.

For now, however, I’d settle for few more fighters on the board.

MLFD To Offer Citizens Fire Academy

Town firefighters will share their knowledge with residents and business owners at the fifth annual Citizens Annual Fire Academy, a nine-week program that begins Sept. 9.

Mt. Lebanon is the only South Hills fire department to offer such a course. Taught by both career and volunteer firefighters, the free course covers topics such as engine and ladder truck operations at structure fires, rescue methods, fire extinguishers, fire prevention and code enforcement, and emergency medical services.

"It's to make people aware of what their tax dollars are being used for and how the fire department functions and serves the community," said program coordinator Robert Fischer, volunteer fire department president.

More than 100 people ages 18-85 have participated in previous academies, Mr. Fischer said.

Classes will meet 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday nights at the Public Safety Building, 555 Washington Road. There will be one all-day Saturday experience at the Washington County Fire Academy, which will include a live structure burn.

Applications are at the Public Safety Building. Details: 412-531-5366 or www.mtlfd.org.

Read more: www.post-gazette.com/pg/10210/1076028-55.stm

Mt. Lebanon Grad Takes Team Frisbee For A Spin

It's the ultimate way to end a summer.

Over the course of a few weeks, Ellie Shaul, a 2010 Mt. Lebanon High School graduate, will participate in a training camp in Amherst, Mass.; represent the United States in an international tournament in Germany; and compete in a national tournament in Minnesota.

The name of the game? Ultimate Frisbee.

Read more: www.post-gazette.com/pg/10210/1076033-55.stm

Mt. Lebanon Police Investigate Attempted Luring

Mt. Lebanon police are investigating the attempted luring of an 11-year-old girl who was walking back from a volunteer job at a vacation Bible school this afternoon, officials said.

At about 12:30 p.m., the girl was walking at the corner of Hazel Drive and Hemlock Street when a small, black four-door car pulled up next to her with its windows down, said Mt. Lebanon Police Lt. Aaron Lauth.

Read more: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_692385.html

School Board Director Fraasch's July Update: Now What?

On his blog, School Board Director James Fraasch has posted his July Update. In it, he offers a frank assessment of our community's current school situation – uncompetitively high taxes, declining student population, stalled high-school project, short-sighted policy changes by the school board – and tries to examine the question that most residents are probably asking themselves: Now what?

There aren't any easy answers. The problems Mr. Fraasch discusses are serious, but solving them won't be enough. That's because the real problem is one of leadership.

Our leaders, to be blunt, are how we got these problems. Our leaders, past and present, created these problems, grew these problems from seeds they themselves planted. Every time our leaders talked about hard decisions but failed to make hard decisions, a seed was sown. Every time our leaders spent boldly in good times but failed to cut boldly in bad times, a seed was sown. And every time our leaders "handled" the public but failed to hear the public, a seed was sown.

I'm not sure what to do about the seed-sowing – solving that problem is going to require our community to change in ways that I'm not sure it can – but I do know that the first step is to be honest with ourselves about our present situation. Read Mr. Fraasch's July update. Think about it.

Then, you tell me: Now what?

Mt. Lebanon Man Accused Of Vandalism Spree With Ax

A Mt. Lebanon man was arrested early today on charges that he used an ax to damage several vehicles and garage windows in the municipality overnight.

Nathaniel Washington, 33, was arraigned this morning before District Judge Blaise Larotonda on charges of criminal mischief, resisting arrest, loitering and prowling, public intoxication and disorderly conduct.

Mr. Washington's mother summoned police around 2:25 a.m. to report that her son took the ax from the shed and he was headed up Lilac Street from their Kenmont Avenue home, according an affidavit that supports his arrest

Read more: www.postgazette.com/pg/10208/1075658-100.stm

Read more: www.wpxi.com/news/24404855/detail.html (with video)

What Do You Think about the New Signage in Uptown?

A few weeks ago, I noticed the new signage on lamp posts lining Washington Road in Uptown Mt. Lebanon. I'm not sure what to think about urging passers-by to "Shop Local," but otherwise I think the signs look great – clean, modern, unfussy. A welcome improvement.

I've always admired the ambitious signage initiatives that certain communities have fostered, but apparently these initiatives can be expensive. Sewickley, for example, recently had its council halt a proposed wayfinding initiative because it would have cost an estimated $400,000. Ouch.

Maybe, all things considered, simpler signage is the better way.

In any case, what do you think about the new signage in Uptown Mt. Lebanon?

Mt. Lebanon Residents Speak Up As Part Of Fiscal Plan Survey

Sitting around a table in the municipal building last week, Mt. Lebanon residents answered questions about their community.

They described what they liked: The ability to walk to shops and restaurants, the public safety departments, the diversity of housing and the community feel.

They discussed what they would change: Improving the infrastructure, updating facilities such as the pool and recreation center and maintaining sidewalks.

Read more: www.post-gazette.com/pg/10203/1074425-55.stm

Flags For Crosswalks

The following is an editorial that recently appeared in The Almanac:

I just returned from a visit to Seattle, Washington and a little town called Kirkland. This quaint town is much like Mt. Lebanon full of walkers, joggers, bikers and dog walkers. At each intersection affixed to a pole is a bucket of bright yellow flags. Pedestrians take a flag and wave it clearly to on coming traffic and cross only when the vehicle has come to a complete stop. Locals and visitors not only have adopted the system but find it to be fun. If a system like this can be adopted and named after this wonderful young mother maybe we can prevent future happenings.

David McHugh
Canonsburg

Read more: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/07-21-2010-letter-Cbg--McHugh

Mt. Lebanon Begins Its Fundraising For Veterans' Memorial

For years, Jack Haller of Mt. Lebanon has dreamed of a memorial honoring those in his community, who have made the ultimate sacrifice for America in conflicts across the world, especially former classmates of his from the Second World War.

This Thursday, July 23, that dream takes a big step toward being realized when the municipality begins raising funds to build a $154,000 memorial in Mt. Lebanon Park honoring all veterans, those who died in war as well as served in the armed forces.

Read more: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/07-21-2010-Mt--Lebo-Memorial

Lebo Gears Up For Intergenerational Games

In Mt. Lebanon this summer, there is a new game in town.

The Mount Lebanon Village Intergenerational Games will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14 in the municipal park.

Mt. Lebanon Village (MLV) is a community oriented, non-profit organization established in 2009 to give residents of the township, aged 50 and older, the practical means, confidence and peace of mind to enjoy life in their own place of residence, in the environment they value as they grow older.

Read more: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/07-21-2010-Lebo-games-w-pix-must-go

Mt. Lebanon Congregation Completes Numerous 'Missions Possible'

Members of the Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church last week made many missions possible.

The church sponsored numerous activities as part of its third annual "Mission Possible" week, with members committed to assisting people and making improvements within a three-mile radius of the church.

"There were a lot of needs and a lot of pain within that area," said Steve Aguzzi, associate pastor.

Read more: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_691231.html

Auditor's Report Uncovers Problems at the School District

Update: The performance audit can be found on the Auditor General's site: Mt. Lebanon School District Performance Audit Report.

The local news media are reporting on the Pennsylvania Auditor General's recent audit of the Mt. Lebanon School District. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

[Jack] Wagner, [Pennsylvania Auditor General], found the district failed to have an adequate policy to address board members who do not file financial disclosure forms from approximately August 2004 to June 2006; failed to update its agreement with Mt. Lebanon Police Department dating to 1996; and failed to implement a policy or procedure to quickly identify contracted bus drivers who are either charged with or convicted of criminal offenses.

A Post-Gazette article focuses on a single issue from the audit report:

Former Mt. Lebanon school director Mark Hart failed to file a statement of financial interests for the 2005 and 2006 calendar years, constituting a violation of the Ethics Act, according to a June 2010 performance audit report of the school district released by the auditor general's office.

Read more:

• Report: Mt. Lebanon School District falls short in policy, procedure (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
• Former Mt. Lebanon school director cited in audit (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Post-Gazette: Firefighter's confession tossed in arson case

The Post-Gazette is reporting on a new development in the trial of Gene R. Peck, a volunteer firefighter charged with arson:

An Allegheny County judge has thrown out the confession of a Mt. Lebanon volunteer firefighter accused of setting trash on fire in an apartment building.

Gene R. Peck, 21, is charged with arson, multiple counts of reckless endangerment and risking a catastrophe stemming from the April 29, 2009, fire at the six-unit Overlook Drive apartment building. Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning said the confession couldn't be used because Mr. Peck was denied his right to a lawyer during questioning.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10198/1073409-55.stm.

World War I Plaque Restored In Mt. Lebanon

When Fred Haller stops to pay respects to his father, Joe, and Uncle Fred at the World War I memorial plaque in Mt. Lebanon on his way to daily Mass, he does so quietly. Simply bowing his head, he says a prayer of thanks for his family.

Little did he know this personal gesture would touch a neighbor. Now that citizen's actions not only benefit Haller's relatives or World War I veterans, but the community as well.

After noticing Haller's daily ritual at the rundown marker, Mark Johnson of Dormont recently restored the memorial in Mt. Lebanon.

Read more: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/07-14-2010-WWI-Memorial

Letter: High School Project needs fewer contradictions, more compromise and responsibility

In the continuing evolution of Blog-Lebo Letters to the Editors, I am going to start posting selected letters individually. That way, each letter will have its own area for comments. Also, the blog's home page now offers instructions for sending a letter to the editors; they're located in the sidebar, right under the comments policy. For reference, I'll reprint them here:

If you've got something to say that doesn't belong in a comment, write a letter and email it to the editors (Joe and Tom). Use the subject "Letter to the editors." We'll select the best and post them at regular intervals. To be selected, a letter should be well written and say something new; it should be insightful, informative, or entertaining, not inflammatory. In short, it should be worth reading.

And now, on to a new letter! –Tom


The High School Project needs fewer contradictions, more compromise and responsibility

Where do I begin? It's hard to put the pen to the paper with so many thoughts running through my head. After all that has been said and done, the high school project design is now potentially being modified as indicated through the architect's recent request for the identification of delete alternates (the potential elimination of features). Now this, in spite of the many times I have heard that the current project simply must move forward as is. The question is why this new development? From anticipated opportunistic bidding environments to necessary features in the "21st century learning environment" contradiction after contradiction has surfaced and it is enough to make one's head spin.

In response to concerns being raised about the high cost of the high school renovation project back in February, one board director voted against the approval of the "spend up to $113.3 million" limit after suggesting the project should be conducted using a phased approach. The idea was to make initial improvements to the high school and, as economic conditions improved or a more certain economic climate emerged, move ahead with other projects accordingly. "It can't be done that way!" was the resounding response. Now, that very option is being put on the table as of the July 12th School Board meeting. Sworn testimony by school district representatives on March 11, 2010 as part of a variance request process, stated that (page 129/315 lines 2-8) "this was the best design to meet the needs of our students and the community" and (page 130/315 lines 1-2) "this ultimately ended up being the best design for our building". The statements were made in an effort to gain needed zoning variances. So, what has changed? If that was the best design, then what does the less than best design represent?

When I raised my concern about the high project cost many months ago, I was told by a school board director that the project would probably come in somewhere around $90 Million. I didn't believe it then based on a few assumptions; one being there would most likely be cost overruns like those which occurred during the elementary school renovation projects. I began circulating a petition in late February requesting a $75 Million cap on the high school project in an effort to prove to our board that there was little community support for their high cost plan. Weeks later when the support for the petition could no longer be denied, the same director presented "what $75 Million won't buy" at a school board meeting, a slap in the faces of some 3,800 residents who signed the petition. Along with stating what reasonable spending wouldn't buy was the minimization of project costs to the taxpayers – a mere $18 per month. The recent whopping 10.5% tax increase which only supports the initial $75 million bond issue raised my school district taxes $68.58 per month or $823.04 annually. That's more than the cost of the extra refrigerator running in my basement, a frequently employed analogy.

There has to be a solution that we can all live with and it is unfortunate the divisiveness the situation has caused over time. The way things are going folks in any of the camps are not going to be happy with the outcome, especially with the new approach of "what $113.3 Million won't buy either". The Mt. Lebanon Board of School Directors, also members of this community, owes it to everyone to find a solution which demonstrates compromise, fiscal responsibility and respect for our municipal law.

Charlotte Stephenson

Mt. Lebanon Support Group Aids Stay-At-Home Moms

Michele Shea never thought a chicken and broccoli casserole would feel like a life-saver. During the three weeks after her son Brady was born, Shea looked forward to the knock on her door that she knew would bring enough food to feed her family of five.

"Anything you need, someone will pull through for you," said Shea, 32, and a member of the Mt. Lebanon MOMS Club, the local chapter of a national organization based in California. "It's an awesome and great group of women serving as your support group."

Read more: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_690353.html

Mt. Lebanon Man Sentenced To Prison On Oxycodone Charges

A Mt. Lebanon man who pleaded guilty to his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute oxycodone was sentenced to six months in prison in federal court Tuesday.

Matthew Warhola was indicted on the single count, along with two co-defendants in September 2007. All three men have now pleaded guilty.

Read more: www.post-gazette.com/pg/10195/1072585-55.stm

Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Mt. Lebanon, MRTSA, and Others

The local news media are reporting on a federal lawsuit filed against Mt. Lebanon, MRTSA, and others. The Tribune-Review:

Jessica Yochum, 23, says in the lawsuit that she suffered a grand mal seizure Feb. 22 while working at Houlihan's Restaurant. Instead of letting her seizure run its course, Gregory Petro and Richard Weisner of Medical Rescue Team South and police Officer Jeffrey Frolo forcibly restrained her, the lawsuit says.

That caused her to react violently and she bit Weisner on the hand during the struggle, the lawsuit says. Frolo charged her with aggravated assault and drug possession, but a district judge dismissed the charges, the lawsuit says.

According to the Post-Gazzette, "The lawsuit names the municipality of Mt. Lebanon, the Medical Rescue Team South Authority ambulance service, two emergency medical workers, and Officer Frolo as defendants. It alleges they violated the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as Ms. Yochum's due process rights."

Read more:

• Woman arrested during epileptic seizure files federal suit (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Mt. Lebanon woman sues over arrest during seizure (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
• Epileptic Woman Arrested During Seizure (KDKA video)

Mt. Lebanon Restaurant's Simple, Flavorful Dishes Draw Festive, Loyal Crowd

Jeff Iovino opened his namesake cafe in his hometown of Mt. Lebanon in 2006. While the restaurant has attracted a steady stream of loyal customers, it doesn't come up in Pittsburgh restaurant chatter as often as it should.

While Mr. Iovino is planning to open a new restaurant on nearby Washington Road sometime next year, he hasn't moved on from his first project. In fact, the restaurant is entering a new phase, as Mr. Iovino acquires a liquor license and plans to "mature" the restaurant in the coming months.

Read more: www.post-gazette.com/pg/10196/1072805-242.stm

Mt. Lebanon Board Weighs Breaking Up $113M School Renovation

Mt. Lebanon School Board could decide as early as next week whether to bid portions of the planned $113.3 million high school renovation separately as a way to keep the project within budget.

School district architect Tom Celli said that to seek bids by late November, he would like the board to select by next week which parts of the renovation are optional. If the bids come in high, these features could be deleted and done later as money becomes available.

Read more: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_690233.html

Mt. Lebanon Art Show Focuses On Recycled Material

For Sally Gehl, items that some might put on the scrap heap or landfill are raw material and inspiration for her works of art.

"I find that objects often discarded can be reborn when put in a different context," said Mrs. Gehl, artist and owner of The Art Loft Gallery of Mt. Lebanon.

Read more: www.post-gazette.com/pg/10196/1072785-55.stm

Aldo Coffee Considers Its Future on Washington Road

It's no secret that Aldo Coffee is my favorite place to get coffee in Pittsburgh. Five years ago, I wrote on my blog about having wandered into the coffee shop, expecting to be disappointed, but leaving impressed. I'm still impressed.

What impresses me, and this is something evident to other coffee lovers, is that Aldo's owners, Rich and Melanie Westerfield, care about coffee. What's less obvious but supremely important is that, out of this care, they have been willing to sacrifice the bottom line.

It's expensive and difficult to source good coffee, to find and train and keep authentically skilled staff. These expenses are hard to bear, especially when most potential customers see coffee as a utility beverage for caffeine delivery or a backdrop for frothy milk confections. To care about coffee, simply put, means sacrificing profits.

And sacrificing profits isn't known to be a sustainable business strategy. Which brings us to the real story.

There's a new post on Aldo Coffee's blog: Aldo 2.0 - Part 1. In it, the Westerfields reveal that the lease for their shop on Washington Road is expiring. They're trying to decide what to do. Stay? Go? Try something else?

For selfish reasons, I hope they stay. But I can't ignore that my coffee preferences represent only a tiny minority of Mt. Lebanon's coffee drinkers. And that's something that the Westerfields can't ignore, either.

In their insightful and revealing blog post, the first of what is likely to be many about Aldo Coffee's future, they discuss the realities of running a coffee business the way they want to run it. They boil it down to one central challenge: doing for coffee what Sharp Edge did for beer and Il Pizzaiolo did for pizza. In Mt. Lebanon, a town that takes its coffee with milk and sugar, that's not going to be easy.

But if anyone can do it, my money is on Rich and Melanie. They have earned a huge following in the specialty-coffee industry and can draw upon an impressive network of industry friends and admirers for ideas and assistance. Plus they are marketing marvels. Whatever they decide to do, it won't fail for lack of word.

So stay tuned, Mt. Lebanon coffee lovers. Things are about to get interesting.

Update 2010-07-11 19:59: Minor edits for clarity.

Mt. Lebanon Gardener Turns Destruction Into Opportunity

In more than 25 years of Pittsburgh gardening, Nancy Smith has tested, sometimes fooled and been humbled by Mother Nature.

She has succeeded with plants that supposedly need more sunlight or aren't supposed to survive our winters. And she has lost perfectly suitable plants and trees to beastly weather, critters big and small and for no earthly reason at all. She tries to see major disasters like falling trees as an opportunity for change

Read more: www.postgazette.com/pg/10191/1071744-47.stm

Bomb Threat Forces Evacuation Of Galleria In Mt. Lebanon

The Galleria in Mt. Lebanon was evacuated briefly Friday afternoon as officers investigated a bomb threat.

Mt. Lebanon police said somebody called the Learning Express, a toy store, and said there was a bomb in the bathroom at around 2:55 p.m. Galleria personnel then evacuated the mall

Read more: www.post-gazette.com/pg/10191/1071931-55.stm

Mt Lebanon Hosts Concert During Mission Week

Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church will host a free concert with guitarist and musician Phil Keaggy at 7 p.m. next Thursday at the church, 255 Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon, as part of its Mission Possible III trip into the community to serve neighbors.

"We were looking for an artist who could appeal to those outside the church, but one whose life witnessed to the Christian message. Phil Keaggy fits the bill," said event organizer and associate pastor Steve Aguzzi.

A free-will offering will be taken; money raised benefits Family Guidance, a local ministry that works to strengthen families and help at-risk youth.

Read more: www.post-gazette.com/pg/10189/1071170-55.stm

Mt. Lebanon Fatality Prompts Caution

Much of Mt. Lebanon is lined with sidewalks. The school district has no busing system, because many students can walk to class. And last Thursday, when a vigil was held on a grassy spot at the intersection of Beadling and Washington roads, many of the few hundred who attended walked there.

The community prides itself on its walkability, but the death last week of Lisa Clay Styles, 36, when she was struck by a vehicle as she jogged with her children in a stroller, was a tragic reminder of what can occur when cars and pedestrians coexist.

Read more: www.post-gazette.com/pg/10189/1071155-55.stm

Sentence Extended For Mt. Lebanon Teen Found Guilty In Hammer Attack

A teen found guilty of attacking his former girlfriend with a hammer nearly three years ago will remain at the New Castle Youth Development Center for at least another three months.

Robertino DeAngelis, 18, has completed -- and even excelled in -- many aspects of his treatment and education program, but he still has shown no remorse for his attack.

Read more: www.post-gazette.com/pg/10190/1071479-55.stm

Taylor Lautner Filming In Mt. Lebanon

It's a teenage girl's fantasy -- she meets a handsome movie star, and they fall in love.

For teens in Mt. Lebanon, that dream has never seemed so tantalizingly within reach.

Over the next three months, Taylor Lautner, 18, made famous by his role as Jacob Black, a werewolf in the "Twilight" film series, and made even more famous by his washboard abs, will be filming a movie in Mt. Lebanon and other locations in and around Pittsburgh.

Read more: www.post-gazette.com/pg/10191/1071769-55.stm

Mt. Lebanon Garden Tour Celebrates 20 Years

Some years ago, Mt. Lebanon resident Barbara Logan had a visit from friend who told her, "You have a lovely garden," and suggested she use it for a library fundraiser.

The off-the cuff comment started the Mt. Lebanon Public Library Garden Tour, which in 1991 featured six local gardens. "It was dumb luck that it worked out so well," said Mrs. Logan of staging the event in mid-May when frost was a possibility.

No such worries this time. The 20th Anniversary Mt. Lebanon Public Library Garden Tour will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Read more: www.post-gazette.com/pg/10189/1071148-55.stm

Mt. Lebanon Man Could Get 3 Years, Deportation

A Mt. Lebanon software programmer faces three years in prison followed by deportation to his native India after he pleaded guilty to using the Internet to lure a 13-year-old girl into a sexual rendezvous in Moundsville, W.Va.

The 13-year-old didn't exist. She was a fictitious online character created by a privately run group called Perverted Justice, which notified the Moundsville sheriff's office of the man's interest and set him up for a sting on Feb. 4, 2009.

Amiya K. Mandal, 40, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

Read more: www.postgazette.com/pg/10191/1071828-55.stm

Mt. Lebanon Couple Dedicated to Fight Cystic Fibrosis

Mt. Lebanon, PA – Edward and Jodi Kubit have been selected as one of Pittsburgh’s Finest Couples. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation chose the couples based on their leadership and commitment to helping their community.

Ed and Jodi’s dedication to their community is demonstrated through their involvement in various activities, board, chair, and volunteer positions. Jodi has always had a passion for philanthropic causes. For the past three years she has been a Brownie Troop Leader, organizing many community service projects with the troop, she was a part of Mt. Lebanon’s Junior Women’s Club for five years, where she served as a member of their philanthropy committee, along with serving as President, Newsletter Editor, and Silent Auction Co-Chair, she is active in Markham Elementary PTA and Mt. Lebanon City Council of PTA and she was the chair for the 75th Anniversary Gala for Mt. Lebanon Public Library which raised over $50,000. Ed is a phenomenal asset to Mt. Lebanon’s School District. He is the President of Mt. Lebanon’s School Board and is currently dedicating his time to the high school’s construction project. He has been serving on the School Board since 2007. Along with his volunteer position as President, Ed is a territory representative for the software company, Check Point. The Kubit’s have three children; Molly Anne, Eddie, and Lilly, ages five, eight, and nine and have been married for 10 years.

On September 11, 2010, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will host an event, Pittsburgh’s Finest Couples for a Cure at the Smart House in Mt. Washington. The event will be held to thank and celebrate the couples that have dedicated their time to their community and helping to fight for a cure for cystic fibrosis. Tickets to this fabulous event for a cause cost $100 each. In 2009, Pittsburgh’s Finest Couples raised over $120,000 for cystic fibrosis research and this amount is expected to grow this year.

If you would like to make a donation in honor of Ed and Jodi, visit the Cystic Fibrosis website at http://www.cff.org/LWC/dsp_DonationPage.cfm?idUser=376325&idEvent=13323. Or contact Jodi at kubits@verizon.net.

Update 2010-07-09 13:17: Fixed broken link to the donation page on the CF website. —Tom

Allegheny County Communities Examine Benefits Of Recycling More

Communities across Allegheny County are lightening their loads. Instead of throwing away such items as newspapers and plastic bottles, more residents are recycling them.

Mt. Lebanon is recycling at nearly double the rate of just two years ago.

"There are so many environmental benefits. It makes sense to recycle," said Larry Holley, manager of the Division of Waste Minimization and Planning with the state Department of Environmental Protection. In Pennsylvania, the "green" benefits extend beyond the environment.

DEP reimburses municipalities for what they recycle -- disbursing nearly $35 million last year, Holley said.

Mt. Lebanon officials sold their constituents on recycling by making it easier for them to do. Last year, the township began allowing residents to toss all recyclables in one bin. Tom Kelley, director of public works, said Waste Management has collected 1,056 tons of recyclables so far this year - an 88 percent increase from the same time in 2008.

"It's an easy program, and people like that," Kelley said. "When you make things easy for people, they're going to participate."

Read more: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_689324.html

Mt. Lebanon and Shadyside Shops Promote Local Artists

Six years ago, Kate McGrady began making her own jewelry. The beaded pieces were a hit with her friends, and many encouraged the Mt. Lebanon mom to share her work. But McGrady quickly found out it wasn't such an easy task.

"We as a society are not supporting our local artists," said McGrady, 47. "People told me good luck trying to sell my jewelry, so I just made a way for it to sell."

And so was born Koolkat Designs, a Mt. Lebanon shop that gives more than 100 local artists a platform from which to sell their work.

Read more: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_688161.html

Pizza Is Still Specialty At Il Pizzaiolo, But Mt. Lebanon Restaurant Adds Entrees To Expanding Menu

Ron Molinare opened Il Pizzaiolo in Mt. Lebanon in 1996. The restaurant started with just pizza -- now some of the most authentic Neapolitan pizza you can eat in the United States.

As the years passed, Mr. Molinare repeatedly expanded, adding pastas and salads, acquiring a liquor license and building a second-story wine bar behind the restaurant that is sleek and atmospheric while the main dining room is bright and welcoming.

This year, Mr. Molinare hired a new chef, Richard Sphatt, who has added entrees to the menu.

Read more: www.post-gazette.com/pg/10182/1069353-242.stm

Community Gathers To Remember Mt. Lebanon Mother

Friends and community members gathered in Mount Lebanon last night to remember a mother who was struck by an SUV while she was out jogging with her children earlier this week.

Hundreds of people gathered at the intersection Washington and Beadling Roads for a candlelight vigil in memory of Lisa Styles, 36.

"Lisa was one of those people who was lit from within," said Melanie McCluskey, Styles' friend. "She was a bright and shining light."

Read more: www.kdka.com/local/Lisa.Styles.candlelight.2.1784451.html

Additional links:

• Pittsburgh Tribune-Review


• The Pittsburgh Channel


• WPXI

Obituary: Lisa Clay Styles / Being A Mom Was Mt. Lebanon Woman's True Calling

Lisa Clay Styles planned princess birthday parties, made cakes with smiley faces and filled each weekend with activities and field trips for her three young children.

"Her sails were most full when she became a mother," said Brett Styles, her husband.

She would call in the middle of the day to tell him when one of their children accomplished something, even if it was a small thing. Not long ago, she called him to say that their son Nate, 3, who has autism spectrum disorder, was able to put his first two-word, simple sentence together: turn page. "She made every day like that," Mr. Styles said. "She looked at being a mother as these sequential triumphs, so excited about every single step."

Read more: www.post-gazette.com/pg/10182/1069562-122.stm