Trib: Happ’s effort contagious for Mt. Lebanon baseball

Even at 11 years old, Ian Happ wanted to work.

Sure, Happ hung around Mt. Lebanon’s 2006 WPIAL Class AAAA champion baseball team because his older brother, Chris, was the squad’s stud third baseman and leadoff hitter, but the younger Happ didn’t just gawk at the older Blue Devils — he fielded with them. Read the full article:

• www.triblive.com/sports/hssports/1072073-85/happ-lebanon-baseball-mccloskey-baseman-blue-devils-practice-team-aaaa
(Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

P-G: Mt. Lebanon elementary school student schedule changes coming

Students in Mt. Lebanon elementary schools can expect some changes in the fall.

Elementary principals recently introduced a new plan that, among other things, will make the elementary school day more closely resemble the secondary schedule, said Deborah Allen, superintendent of elementary education.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/mt-lebanon-elementary-school-student-schedule-changes-coming-633187 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

The Almanac: ML resident, blog help to find missing woman

It's not often that city traffic turns out to be a good thing, but that's what happened April 22.

Charlotte Stephenson of Mt. Lebanon was leaving the Priory after a fundraiser for Sojourner House, and rather than sitting in traffic, she decided to check her Blackberry and let things clear out a little before heading to the South Hills.

One of the sites she checked was Elaine Gillen's blog on the Lebo Citizens website, where the top story was about police looking for a missing 77-year-old Mt. Lebanon woman. A photo was posted of the missing woman, and even on the Blackberry's small screen, Stephenson thought she had seen the woman before. Read the full article:

• www.thealmanac.net/alm/story11/04-25-2012-ML-blog- (The Almanac)

Trib: Mt. Lebanon designer gets ahead with creativity and flair

The hat with the mirrors is a true reflection of the woman who designed it.

"I have a fascination with mirrors," says Faith Pongracz, a hat designer from Mt. Lebanon, who lives in an apartment in New York City with 50 mirrors. "Mirrors can create optical illusions. They can really open up a room. They show the many sides of who you are."

Read more:

• www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/s_792370.html (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Trib: Former Mt. Lebanon Panera manager settles discrimination suit

A former manager at a Panera Bread in Mt. Lebanon has settled his federal discrimination claim against the franchise owner, according to court records.

Scott Donatelli of Scott claimed in the lawsuit that Covelli Enterprises of Warren, Ohio, fired him from the Galleria mall store because he has degenerative arthritis and refused to relegate minority employees to working in jobs that kept them out of public view.

Read the full article:

• www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_792280.html (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

New Blog: Lebo Fields

Mt. Lebanon resident and frequent blog commenter Dave Franklin has launched a new blog called "Lebo Fields" to serve as a place for people to share opinions and ideas about the recreation facilities in town. Please stop by the blog to join in the discussion.

Link: lebofields.blogspot.com

P-G: St. Clair Hospital ranked among top 100 in country

Two Pittsburgh area hospitals have been named among the top 100 U.S. hospitals based on overall organizational performance.

A Thomson Reuters study identified Allegheny General Hospital and St. Clair Hospital as two of the best in the country, based on evaluations in 10 key areas, including mortality rates, medical complications, patient safety, average patient stay and other clinical and patient factors.

Read the full link:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/st-clair-hospital-ranked-among-top-100-in-country-632139/ (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

P-G: Property taxes to rise a half mill in Mt. Lebanon schools

School directors in Mt. Lebanon voted Monday night to increase the property tax rate by a half mill in the district's proposed $80.6 million final 2012-13 budget.

The increase would mean an extra $50 on tax bills for a home valued at $100,000. With this plan, the district's millage would total 27.13

Read the full article:

• http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/property-taxes-to-rise-a-half-mill-in-mt-lebanon-schools-632133 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

P-G: Union urges upgrade in salary for substitute teachers in Mt. Lebanon schools

While budget planners in the Mt. Lebanon School District are busy readying the 2012-13 spending plan, hanging over their heads is a grievance that could cost them in years to come.

The Mt. Lebanon Education Association has filed a complaint with the district, demanding that long-term substitute teachers get credit for the salary scale they started on if they enter into a contract with the district.

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/union-urges-upgrade-in-salary-for-substitute-teachers-in-mt-lebanon-schools-632132 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

P-G: DA: Former Goodwill executive took nearly $50,000 from agency

A former executive with Goodwill Southwest Pennsylvania was charged today with stealing nearly $50,000 from her employer.

Mary Suzanne Hribik, 50, of Mt. Lebanon is charged with access device fraud after the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office said she used a Goodwill credit card to pay for personal expenses.

Read the full article:

• old.post-gazette.com/pg/12107/1224710-55.stm (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

The Almanac: Mt. Lebanon seeks public input on rec needs

Mt. Lebanon residents are encouraged to share their ideas about the community’s recreation needs—including suggestions regarding maintenance, improvements and additions to parks and recreation facilities—at a special public meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 19, in the Commission Chamber of the Municipal Building, 710 Washington Road.

The commission is seeking input from people of all ages that will help them meet community needs, prioritize projects and allocate available funds appropriately. Speakers will be asked to keep their remarks to no longer than 5 minutes.

The meeting will be taped and broadcast for one week following the meeting according to this schedule: Saturday-Tuesday, 10 a.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 7 p.m., and Friday, 3 p.m.

Residents who are unable to attend the meeting but would like to share their concerns and ideas with elected officials may e-mail comments to commission@mtlebanon.org.

Read the full article:

• www.thealmanac.net/alm/story11/04-11-2012-ML-special-meeting (The Almanac)

Trib: Mt. Lebanon lacrosse team continues success

Pat Donnelly is 5-foot-8, a spark plug of a midfielder with a wicked shot and the Mt. Lebanon lacrosse team`s leading scorer.

Dylan White is 6-6, a defender`s defender with nimble athleticism that belies his height.

The Blue Devils come in all shapes and sizes. It`s been that way for years for one of the region`s most consistent programs. Different as the players` frames may be from season to season, one thing rarely changes — success.

Read the full article:

• www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_790727.html (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

WTAE: Churchgoers Rescue Woman From Fire In Mount Lebanon

A group of people heading to church helped rescue a woman from a fire in Mount Lebanon on Sunday morning.

Fire officials said the group of people saw the flames before seeing a woman in an upstairs window of a home along Broadmoor Avenue.

Susan DeMasters was out for a morning run when she saw the fire and called 911.

Read the full article:

• www.wtae.com/news/30897063/detail.html (WTAE)

Trib: Hearings to decide on Mt. Lebanon spending surplus

Mt. Lebanon commission will hold public meetings in the next two weeks to discuss spending up to $1.38 million of this year's budget surplus and to discuss the municipality's parks and recreation needs.

Mt. Lebanon keeps about 10 percent of its annual revenues in reserve, not assigning it to pay for any projects. When revenues at the end of the year go above that 10 percent threshold, a law enacted late last year requires a public hearing for residents and the commissioners to discuss whether to spend the excess, and if so, how to do it.

Read the full article:

• www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_790860.html (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

P-G: South Xtra: Lebo's extensive search yields a new coach

It's funny how life works, explained Mike Melnyk.

A head coaching change at the University of Pittsburgh created what he called a "domino effect" that ultimately changed Melnyk's future.

For more than a decade, Melnyk was a successful high school football coach in "Amish Country." Melnyk is now ready to bring that success to "Steelers Country."

Read the full article:

• www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/high-school-football/south-xtra-lebos-extensive-search-yields-a-new-coach-630065 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

The Almanac: Mt. Lebanon sets date for dedication of vets memorial

After more than two years of planning and fund raising, Mt. Lebanon will dedicate its Veterans Memorial on Morgan Drive at 7:30 p.m. May 27.

Keynote speaker will be Mt. Lebanon resident, Vietnam veteran and former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rocky Bleier, who chaired the fund-raising committee with former Mt. Lebanon Commissioner Dan Gigler.

Speakers will include Mt. Lebanon commission President David Brumfield and other elected officials, in addition to former commissioner Dan Miller who launched the project. Representatives of Duquesne Light, which awarded the project a $220,000 Power of Light Grant, will also attend.

Read the full article:

• www.thealmanac.net/alm/story11/04-04-2012-ML-vets-monument (The Almanac)

The Almanac: Lebo's Milner, Wey have BC in Frozen Four

Mt. Lebanon natives Parker Milner and Patrick Wey have advanced Boston College to the Frozen Four where the Eagles will take on Minnesota at 8 p.m. April 5 in Tampa Bay. The hockey game will be televised on ESPN2.

Thanks to shutout wins against Minnesota-Duluth, 4-0, and Air Force, 2-0, in the NCAA Tournament played at Worcester, Massachusetts, Boston College earned its 10th appearance in the Frozen Four.

Read the full article:

• www.thealmanac.net/alm/sportstory11/04-04-2012-BC-hockey-w-pics (The Almanac)

The Almanac: Mt. Lebanon seeks community input

In an effort to reach out to the community, members of the Mt. Lebanon School Board hosted an informal gathering at Uptown Coffee in Mt. Lebanon to discuss district issues with residents.

The first meeting, attended by school board President Josephine Posti and members Scott Goldman and Dale Ostergaard, was held March 31. It was an intimate group with two community members present - Carolyn Glace and Aubrie Pecore, both parents of children who attend Lincoln Elementary School.

Read the full article:

• www.thealmanac.net/alm/story11/04-04-2012-ML-school-board-coffee (The Almanac)

The Almanac: Melnyk tackles Lebo coaching, teaching positions

Offer Michael Melnyk an off-beat, non-sports related question and the recently hired Mt. Lebanon football coach answers the inquiry as deftly as the former place-kicker handled a bad snap or spot during his collegiate playing days at Michigan.

"Favorite president? That's a tough question," he says then answers quickly, "Gerald Ford.

Read the full article:

• www.thealmanac.net/alm/sportstory11/04-04-2012-melnyk-w-pic (The Almanac)

The Almanac: Mt. Lebanon school budget cuts take shape

The Mt. Lebanon school board amended its list of proposed budget reductions at its April 2 discussion meeting.

The new list is estimated to save some $860,000 through budget reductions and revenue generation. This will occur alongside a .426 mill tax increase and the use of $250,000 from the district's fund balance.

Read the full article:

• www.thealmanac.net/alm/story11/04-04-2012-ML-amends-budget (The Almanac)

The Almanac: House resolution marks Mt. Lebanon centennial

State Rep. Matt Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon, hosted Mt. Lebanon Manager Steve Feller and Commission President David Brumfield at the state Capitol recently.

Smith sponsored a House resolution, which was adopted unanimously, recognizing Mt. Lebanon's 100th anniversary.

"I am proud to call Mt. Lebanon home and to inform my House colleagues from across the state about this impressive milestone," Smith said. "Mt. Lebanon is a prime example of one of our area's early suburbs that has evolved and adapted to remain a premier community in which to live and raise a family."

Read the full article:

• www.thealmanac.net/alm/story11/04-04-2012-ML100th-citation (The Almanac)