She calls Sandy Baker coming to Mt. Lebanon "a Band-Aid." Michalina Pendzich wants deer dead. Sandy Baker, "The Deer Doctor" will be coming to Mt. Lebanon later this month. With last month’s trap and cull program a bust, Mt. Lebanon Commissioner Kelly Fraasch says it’s time to get some coexisting advice from the “Deer Doctor” on deer habits and needs. "Coexist" is not in Michalina's vocabulary.
In the Trib article, 'Deer-proofing' expert to offer lessons in Mt. Lebanon, Mt. Lebanon officials hope Baker's presentations can ease some of the discord that followed the flubbed attempt to cull the community's deer population.
The Almanac reports that Baker, known as “The deer doctor,” said the free two-hour seminars held each day April 25-27 will focus on practical tips for landscaping and protecting vegetation in gardens, but also understanding deer behavior.
"Deer Doctor" Being Brought In To Help With Mt. Lebanon Deer Problem
In Defense of Animals International has issued this bulletin, Tell Mt. Lebanon: No More Deer Killings. The nation is watching us, Mt. Lebanon Commissioners.
Culling is a bandaid approach, Ms. Penzich.
ReplyDeleteI am opposed to lethal means of deer management and Michalina is opposed to non-lethal means of deer management. I guess that is what it comes down to.
ReplyDeleteElaine
I should add that Marilyn Narey, Barbara Logan, Nancy Smith, Carolyn Byham, Cori Vipperman,
ReplyDeleteLourdes Castellanos, Jeanne Hoeft, & Coleen Vuono are also opposed to non-lethal methods of deer management.
Elaine
What are the odds that any of those above mentioned "ladies" will even show up to hear about alternatives? I wouldn't be betting the house on this one!!
ReplyDeleteWait....this isn't about flowers....This is traffic safety, right????? HA!
If it's about traffic safety, shouldnt someone from the NHTSA and/or PennDOT be conducting seminars? But if the deer lady is in town, we should demand our open-minded and thoughtful commissioners attend along with our police department.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thealmanac.net/article/20150403/NEWS/150409976
ReplyDelete"Baker said novice gardeners, parks and recreation employees, cemetery workers and others involved in landscaping would benefit from the talks. The exact times and locations have not yet been determined, and this article will be updated when that information becomes available. The suggestion to hire Baker as a consultant was made by commissioner Kelly Fraasch."
An excellent suggestion from The Almanac.
Of course any professional knows that to stay on top of their game they have to keep themselves up to date and trained in the latest tips and techniques in their industry. The best often attend seminars and educational venues on their own dime.
I'll be betting our municipal employees will only attend Baker's sessions only if they're on the clock.
i dont know Michalina personally,, but after hearing her speak like a robot at the Comm Meetings, i conclude that she is a a very very cold woman..i can imagine her driving around in a Toyota truck like Isis and shooting the deer pointblank..
ReplyDeleteI don't know Michalina, Marilyn Narey, Barbara Logan, Nancy Smith, Carolyn Byham, Cori Vipperman,
ReplyDeleteLourdes Castellanos, Jeanne Hoeft, or Coleen Vuono.
Are these women mothers? I can't understand a mother wanting any animal to be killed, much less the inhumane and cruel killing of pregnant doe, or a deer who cares for fawns. How can these women be so heartless and cold? There must be something lacking in these women…compassion, kindness, empathy...how sad.
I understand that Michalina has a neighbor on her block who "composts" all of her fruit and vegetable trimmings, leaving them on the top of the pile where the deer can reach them easily. I also understand that this un-named neighbor HATES the deer. SERIOUSLY???
ReplyDeleteWas it Michalina or one of the other gardeners who stood at the podium and said with a straight face that "education is a waste of money"? How sad when folks truly don't want to be confused BY THE FACTS!
Not just the Commissioners--how about there being a requirement that no one is permitted to speak on the "deer issue" who has not availed herself or himself of the information that is readily available about living iN a community in a state in a country that has deer? Do these gardeners REALLY believe they can live in a deer-free environment JUST BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN MT. LEBANON???
While don't the "Garden Club Ladies" just invest in artificial outdoor trees, shrubs and plants. Deer poop problem solved!
ReplyDeleteThese ladies didn't seem to have a problem with artificial grass at our main ball field, so why should artificial landscaping be a problem on their lawn?
Oh wait, they'd want the rest of the community to pay for it.
http://www.artificialplantsandtrees.com/articles/outdoor-artificial-trees-article/
3:47 - "didn't have a problem with artificial grass at our ball field"...That, and a deal is a deal: "athletic supporters" get artificial turf with no complaints from the gardening crowd while sports commissioners go along with deer culling for gardenin...uh, I mean safety. Pretty transparent deal there. Everyone wins, except the general public.
ReplyDeletei think most of them are very self centered, selfish, very narcissistic and would have no remorse on the killing of does preg with fawns..
ReplyDeleteI apologize for removing the first part of your comment, 4:36 PM. Knowing what I know about Michalina, I think she would want to cull me too, even though what you said is harmless compared to what they have said about the anti-cull people.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Maybe some of the pro cull people are so frustrated by their garden that they really have no clue as to what the big picture looks like for Mt Lebanon. It's not like a commissioner or municipal staff member is going to sit them down for a "reality talk", unless they know Kelly Fraasch.
ReplyDeleteI know that when I used to call the municipality with questions, they never gave me a straight answer about my concern. Maybe if the municipality learned how to provide "straight talk", we wouldn't have 90% of the problems we have in Mt Lebanon.
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I'm VERY CONCERNED that no times or location have been set or advertised for these deer proofing seminars this month. To have effective seminars you need to advertise and get the word out. Getting an expert speaker is only have of the solution, effective marketing is just as important. People need to be made aware of the dates, time, and location, and given some advance notice, so they can attend. I don't see any planning or effective marketing coming from the Commission. There should have been an article in Mt. Lebanon's Magazine, and ads placed in the Post-Gazette, The Almanac, and the Tribune review, with dates, time, and location. I'm wondering if Mt. Lebanon can do some kind of Lebo Alert to get the word out to residents. Why are there no times or location advertised yet? Who is in charge of coordinating and marketing this seminar in the administration?
ReplyDeleteI bet $20 that none of the killer-B's, Barbara Logan, Byham, Bonnie VanKirk, and friends, Nancy Smith, Cori Vipperman, Lourdes Castellanos, Jeanne Hoeft, & Coleen Vuono, will show up for Sandy Baker's deer proofing seminars; i.e. they aren't interested in non-lethal solutions to deer browsing, they just want to slaughter all the deer, so that they can plant their tulips. I also bet $10 that the only Commissioner that attends is Kelly Fraasch. And this is the crux of the problem.
ReplyDeleteMatt Santoni, Trib. reporter, wrote:
ReplyDelete"The program pitted people who thought the culling would be cruel and ineffective against those who felt an unchecked deer population would endanger drivers and cause vehicle damage."
I'm really getting frustrated with Matt's reporting. I initially thought he was more on top of this story, and was the only reporter asking questions and not being spoon fed by the PIO, but he has consistently misframed this divisive issue throughout all of his articles.
The car-deer collision campaign was a totally disingenuous campaign and a complete ruse. This is all about the deer eating the tulips. Everyone including the Commissioners knows that, and anyone attending the meetings and listening to citizen comments knows it too. So why does Matt continue to misinform the public about what this is really all about? Matt, please pull the curtain back and report the truth.
2:51 AM, not to worry. Flyers are being printed. Here is what I know. On Earth Day, Sandy Baker will be in Main Park from 11-4. She will be giving two seminars at the library on Sunday and two more seminars on Monday, where staff will be attending. Ms. Baker will be speaking at the April 27 Commission Discussion Session. This is the tentative schedule.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that I cannot give you more details, but there is no need to worry. Thank you for your concern.
Elaine
Too bad our "official" PIO relies on Lebocitizens to get the word out!
ReplyDeleteI'm "betting" that 3:00 AM will get NO TAKERS on the bets about the "Killer B's and their friends". Anyone who has been following this real-life political theater knows that there isn't a one of them who has a shred of interest in any non-lethal "solution" to their overwhelming, all-consuming "problem" with deer! How in the world they expect to occupy a deer-free environment is beyond all reason and logic. They must be living together somewhere in an alternate universe...
ReplyDelete