The Cold War in Mt. Lebanon

It was 1962. I was in second grade at Jefferson Elementary. It was common practice to have air raid drills. I will always remember lining up on the bottom floor of Jefferson much like what is in this photo.

One day, we were told to walk home as quickly as we could, as part of the air raid drills. With a pain in my side and completely out of breath, this little second grader ran along Bower Hill Road, not knowing what was going on. I will never forget that. In fact, I still have the dog tag that we all received in elementary school.

All these memories came back to me today when I read a comment about having a curfew during the month of February.This was a suggestion as a response to The PA Game Commission permit  published on the Mt. Lebanon website, along with some answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

Being a deer cull survivor, I have seen several PA Game Commission permits in my day. The latest one is unique. There are no locations listed - public or private. The method of killing is not listed. The names of the killers are not listed. Compare this permit to the one from February 2015. The Mt. Lebanon website doesn't appear to have a copy of the contract. All I see are the Request for Proposals and White Buffalo's Response.

The FAQs are very confusing to me. The sharpshooting phase, according to the FAQ, is from February 1, 2016 - March 31, 2016. Yet, the Deer Management Update shows During Phase Two, scheduled to run from February 1, 2016, to March 1, 2016, White Buffalo Inc. will conduct a deer cull using trained sharpshooters on designated public land and on donated private properties. Do we really know how long people will be shooting rifles in Mt. Lebanon?

The hours are baffling. Shooting will take place in late afternoon and after dark. What does that mean? 4:00 PM to 6:00 AM? Wouldn't it be easier to say that there is no killing taking place between the hours of 6:00 AM and 4:00 PM? Fourteen hours of shooting?

The locations are not provided. I don't suggest asking for that information. You will end up going to the Court of Common Pleas, if you do. The FAQ tell us that Various parties will be notified by letter, email or phone call, as was the case with the archery hunt. What does that mean? What about visitors from out of town? Should Hotel Tyvek inform guests not to explore the area, for fear they stumble upon a deer being killed? Perhaps they should include a map to Blaise Larotonda's court room on every night stand.

Which brings us back to the Cold War in 1962. We will have to tell our kids to come home right after school. We will not be able to tell them the areas to avoid. We won't know which public properties will be used for killing. We certainly won't know which private properties will be [ahem] "donated."

Does Mt. Lebanon need to institute a curfew? They will not tell us anything. Should we have a curfew from February 1-March 1 or February 1-March 31? Nobody on the streets or in our parks for 14 hours a day?

Welcome to the Cold War in Mt. Lebanon.

Are you watching, Mt. Lebanon? UPDATED 3X

Sign the petition: Justice for Cecil the iconic collared lion slaughtered by trophy hunter in Zimbabwe!

On that same note, it appears that Mt. Lebanon is having difficulty getting residents to volunteer their properties in this densely populated community. This is the latest update on the municipal website.

White Buffalo Inc. needs more residents to donate their private properties for the program. Informational meetings will be held in the commission chamber of the municipal building Saturday, August 15, at 10 a.m. and Monday, August 17, at 7 p.m. Resident also may contact White Buffalo directly... Properties in dense residential areas with few trees will not be suitable for the program. [Nah-uh] Please do not contact Mt. Lebanon Municipality directly.

Update July 30, 2015 8:17 AM I confess that I had no idea what a treestand looked like. Googling treestands, I found this.

http://www.treewalkertreestands.com/compare.asp

Yeah, that image certainly will add character to our community parks and neighborhoods.

With the "thousands" of deer that PG's John Hayes reported Mt. Lebanon having, we may see more of this:

http://www.treewalkertreestands.com/compare.asp

I wonder how many will be located along school safewalking routes. Something for the kiddies to see walking to and from school. Mt. Lebanon encourages elementary school children to go home for lunch. Wonderful.

Update July 30, 2015 9:25 AM The hunters have been recruited. This extensive screening process cost Mt. Lebanon taxpayers $15,460. From the Mt. Lebanon website:

White Buffalo Inc, the wildlife management firm hired to screen, train and manage archers who will conduct a bow hunt this fall, has concluded recruiting hunters. The archers, who will hunt up to 12 hours a week, were required to show experience through harvest verification and will need to have a Bow Hunter Education Certification before they can begin.

A hunter can take the course online. You must score 80% or higher to pass. Bow Hunter Education Certification.

Update August 1, 2015 10:40 PM This is the White Buffalo tweet mentioned in 10:06 PM's comment.

OK, we know the drill

McNeilly Park corral is gone.
Connor Road corral is gone.
Robb Hollow corral is gone.
Golf course corral near Shop 'N Save is gone.

Golf course corral near Sleepy Hollow is still there.
Bird Park corral is still there.

I hear that the white No Trespassing signs have been removed, but the yellow warning signs are still posted in all five "parks."

OK, so we know the drill, right? Since the municipality refuses to tell us where the new locations are, we know what to do.

• Scour the parks, looking for new locations. 
• Look for utility flags. Remember, Merlin has to call PA One Call again. He has been reminded.
• Get GPS coordinates of new sites.
• Plot the coordinates.
• Look for clover traps.

Benner has to wait for PA One Call. That can take up to five business days. Also, it takes time for deer to become comfortable with new bait feeders.

Kelly Fraasch was told that Benner is moving corrals to areas where there are more deer.

I updated the deer kill count. Zero kills the last two nights.

Update March 19, 2015 11:37 AM More signs from high school student, Claire Pullen. Claire said to consider it public domain and don't worry about copyrights.  Distribute them far and wide! Thank you, Claire!

 *******

******

********

Click to print:

Citizens for Humane Alternatives

Families for Humane Alternatives

Mt. Lebanon Families Respecting Wildlife

Mt. Lebanon Citizens Respecting Wildlife

Second location at golf course identified UPDATED

If you are on Sleepy Hollow standing in the old Giant Eagle, the corral is across Sleepy Hollow and up on the hill. The access road is on Arch, which is Castle Shannon. GPS coordinates are coming soon below. It is an active killing site. There is a corral/trap with straw inside, netting over the top and bullet holes through the plastic. Hard to tell the trajectory, but they may be shooting uphill.

Also, the No Trespassing Zones have been expanded at the Connor Road site. I was told that this was also done at Robb Hollow.

The small white dots are bullet holes

Golf Course

Golf Course

Warning sign in front of trap, taken from golf course

This pdf of coordinates show exactly where the second corral is at the golf course. They were adjusted after locating the approximate coordinates, so there was no trespassing involved.
  
40.3718056,-80.0201944

https://www.google.com/maps/place/40%C2%B022'18.5%22N+80%C2%B001'12.7%22W/@40.3718056,-80.0201944,502m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0

Mr. Benner, there are 8 deer in Mt. Lebanon's Galleria for an upcoming movie.
Ch-ching!

Update March 16, 2015 3:30 PM Commissioner Kelly Fraasch has posted the week's kill on her blog. Deer Program from Monday, March 9 - Monday March 16. Kelly has also included: 

From March 9th-March 13th Animal Control has picked up 4 dead deer, on Locust, Scott, Moreland and Birch.

Moreland is just above the corral/killing trap at Robb Hollow. I have no details as to how the deer had died.

Update March 16, 2015 9:29 PM The mapmaker was being conservative in relation to the location of the accident involving the motorcycle accident on Connor Road. The turkeys may have been closer to the corral.

Legal tours of killing sites

I was just on a legal tour of Robb Hollow.

Netting across the top to prevent deer from jumping out

That is me in the yellow slicker standing outside of the no trespassing zone

Glove pointing to killing trap in the distance

All photos were taken outside of the No Trespassing Zones. Legal tours of killing sites are available. Send me an email (EGillen476@aol.com) with the name of the killing site in the Subject line, and I will be in touch with you.

Some changes in the amended Game Commission permit include using clover traps*, which the commission DID NOT want to use, the use of semi-automatic rifles in .223 calliber to be used in these corrals/death traps (See page 2, condition 6), and the increase from two men to five men.

*Search "clover traps"and there are many videos available of these horrible traps. I have posted them on the blog in the past.

View of inside of Robb Hollow deer trap

View of inside of Robb Hollow deer trap

A lonely apple inside the Robb Hollow trap

Where are the deer-killing sites, Steve?

From: Nita M. Fandray
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2015 9:18 PM
To: 'ssilverman@mtlebanon.org'
Cc: 'Edward Modaro'
Subject: FW: Location of Each Deer-Killing Site

Hello Steve---

I am writing to confirm that you did not respond to my emails of earlier today, both of which are incorporated by reference into this email and set forth below.

Eight corrals and the public does not know their exact locations. This project of yours is a disaster.

Nita

From: Nita M. Fandray
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2015 1:34 PM
To: 'ssilverman@mtlebanon.org'
Cc: 'Edward Modaro'
Subject: FW: Location of Each Deer-Killing Site

Steve,

It’s Nita, again. Ed and I will appreciate your supplying us with the below requested information before the end of this business day.

Steve, everyone knows that the municipality wants the public to know as few details as possible about Benner’s operations in Mt. Lebo. I have actually heard that Benner and the municipality (including the police) have suggested keeping the details quiet in the interest of SAFETY.  Whose safety?

It is absurd and illegal (for the commission, the MLPD, and the PA Game Commission) to only supply the important, relevant information to the Benner boys and other choice municipal employees. THEY HAVE THE GUNS. They can protect themselves (from what, I don’t know).

The children of Mt. Lebanon have been placed and are at high risk of harm by the very people whose jobs require them to act as the “ultimate guardian” of our children. (Phil Weis can tell you about Parens Patriae and its very strong public policy implications in PA.) 

Please comply with the below request so that the general public may have at least some information on which to base safety decisions this weekend and in the future, especially for the children. Stop keeping secrets. It only perpetuates the continual decline of Mt. Lebanon.

I look forward to hearing from you today.

Thank you.

Nita Fandray

From: Nita M. Fandray
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2015 10:43 AM
To: 'ssilverman@mtlebanon.org'
Subject: Location of Each Deer-Killing Site

Hi Steve----

My interest in the ongoing Mt. Lebanon deer-kill operation is primarily public safety. At the commission meeting this past Tuesday night, the municipal manager was less than forthcoming about the locations of the corrals that are being used to lure deer, trap them and kill them with some very powerful weaponry.

Spring has sprung. Like you, Steve, I am an on-hands parent. With the ever increasing amount of daylight in mid to late March, kids of all ages will be out in droves, visiting the public parks that were once viewed as safe havens in Mt. Lebanon. They are contaminated now and may be for years to come.

For the sake of our children, please let me know today the exact location of each of Merlin Benner’s corrals.

Update March 14, 2015 7:49 AM Mackenzie Carpenter with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette interviewed me before writing "The DeerFather," a parody based on Mt. Lebanon deer-cull, will not be in theaters soon — if ever. Her intent was to write a lighthearted article based on how social media is reacting to the deer killing. In a phone conversation, she asked me to watch Fake Lebo's video and email my thoughts about the video. Here is what I wrote to her: 

Hi Mackenzie,

I watched Fake Lebo's video. I love Fake Lebo. "Many a true word hath been spoken in jest."
- William Shakespeare, King Lear

Definitely their best work. Did I laugh? No, I have lost my sense of humor over the commission's horrific plan. It is very sad. I can't even drive by the traps without crying.
Elaine Gillen

In a prior phone conversation, I did complain to Mackenzie about the PG's John Hayes, who wrote that we have THOUSANDS of deer in Mt. Lebanon. Instead, she wanted to focus on Fake Lebo's video. I tend to think that I have a good sense of humor, but I am not one of the ones laughing at the moment. No reflection on Fake Lebo. I love what they do.

March 15, 2015 6:08 AM PG's John Hayes is at it again. Mt. Lebanon deer cull begins, four killed 
According to Hayes, we have THOUSANDS of deer in Mt. Lebanon. Our commissioners have hired Wildlife Specialists to kill up to 150 deer. Mr. Hayes indicates that zero deer were killed on Night 5, with a total of four deer killed by five men, authorized by the PA Game Commission, in five nights. Hayes writes:

Now that pro-cull residents know that during deer hunting seasons they can legally waive safety zone protections and invite archers to hang tree stands on private property, some may take Mt. Lebanon deer management into their own hands.

Mt. Lebanon commissioners have hired an expert to kill 150 deer, Mr. Hayes. You have obviously been talking with Kristen Linfante, encouraging residents to take matters into their own hands.

THE KILLING STARTS TONIGHT

Here are the killing sites for tonight. Please spread the word.

Bird Park
Connor
McNeilly
Robb Hollow

Look for corrals with no bait station inside. The PA Game Commission permit states that bait stations must be removed before shooting can begin.

By 5:00 PM today, Benner should have approval for 2 or 3 more being allowed to "discharge."

Christ Science Church has a kindergarten "enrichment" program, so they are exempt from the Federal Gun Law. Nursery schools and enrichment programs: too bad.

I am getting so many emails from people asking how they can help. Here is all I can offer:

• Protest is at 5:30 tomorrow in front of the municipal building on Washington Road. 
• Citizen Comments begins around 8:05 PM. Sign up sheets to speak should be available after 6:00 PM.
• The media would like to tag along with anyone who may be video recording tonight. Contact me at EGILLEN476@aol.com if you would like to participate.
• If anyone has reindeer decorations from the Holidays, put them out in your front yards.

Here is a list of those contacted:

• Governor Wolf
• Senator Matt Smith
• Rep. Dan Miller
• PA One Call
• OSHA
• FBI
• Commissioners
• Manager Feller
• Chief Coleman McDonough
• Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank (never heard from Benner)
• Kip's Deer Processing (never heard from Benner)
• Wildlife Specialists (Merlin Benner)
• PA Game Commission
• Media
• Humane Society
• Others (added below)
• Peoples Gas Company
• Columbia Gas Company
• ACLU is on alert
• PETA

Here is who can stop it:

• PA Game Commission
• Commissioners

Warning: Do not say anything unpleasant to Kristen Linfante. She will report you to the police. She reported me when someone was talking about executing a contract. The other commissioners will rally around Ms. Linfante because she has a serious health condition. As much as she likes to bait people, don't do it.

Otherwise, there is nothing else that can be done.

Kelly Fraasch just posted Deer Program begins this Evening! on her blog.

Update March 9, 2015 7:54 PM John Bendel lies here on WTAE.

Santoni: Hunting the Deer Hunters

Santoni: Hunting the Deer Hunters | Backstory
blog.triblive.com/sbts/2015/03/02/santoni-mt-lebanon-hunting-the-deer-hunters

That is exactly what many residents have been doing in recent days, "Hunting the Deer Hunters."

Mt. Lebanon hasn't made it easy for us. Allegedly, Mt. Lebanon was to notify neighbors and haven't done a very good job. I have asked repeatedly for neighbors bordering these killing fields to share their letters, and not one of them have been able to say that they received anything from the municipality.

How many received this LeoALERT and checked the agenda to see if anything was mentioned about killing in the parks?

From: LeboALERT
To: EGillen476
Subject: LeboALERT: The Mt. Lebanon Park...
Date: Mon, Mar 2, 2015 3:37 pm

This is an important notice from LeboALERT.

The Mt. Lebanon Parks Advisory Board meeting agenda for March 3, 2015 has been posted to the website. View agendas http://mtlebanon.org/Agendas

Well, I checked and there was nothing mentioned. Here is the agenda:  http://mtlebanon.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2295

This is the Environmental Sustainability Board, Kristen Linfante, and artificial turf ALL OVER AGAIN! Why isn't Commissioner Steve Silverman addressing this issue with the Parks Advisory Board?

At the last commission meeting, a very emotional resident brought up a video of what happens during a corral and kill and had the commissioners confirm that they watched the video. They all said that they saw it. Here is the video. I won't watch it, but it is a daily journal of corralling wild boar using this method. http://jagerpro.com/hog-control/trapping-equipment.aspx What the hell!!!!

More photos of corrals

Robb Hollow - one entrance

Robb Hollow - one entrance

Connor Road: black plastic in place; two entrances. 

Connor Road: black plastic in place; two entrances. 

Connor Road: black plastic in place; two entrances. 

Deed for McNeilly Park, situated in the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon and Baldwin Township.

New baiting station located in the woods at end of Thornwood Drive, between Kossman property and the golf course.

GPS Coordinates

Here are GPS coordinates:

  
Thornycroft: 40.37116667°N, -080.02895°W
https://www.google.com/maps/search/40.37116667N,+80.02895W/@40.3711667,-80.02895,200m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1 
  
McNeilly:

990 ft. is not 1000 ft.

Connor: 40.35705°N, 080.04265°W

https://www.google.com/maps/place/40%C2%B021'25.4%22N+80%C2%B002'33.5%22W/@40.35705,-80.04265,798m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0
  
Photos of Connor Road deer at the corral

Deer on left. Corral on right.

Compare size of deer on left to corral on right. Corral is larger than expected.

Deer on right. Corral on left.

Deer on left. Corral on right.

Very tame young buck with corral behind him. Great picture for mtl Magazine.

Heading toward the corral

Deer eating in the corral

Deer eating in the corral

View of corral looking down from Connor Road

Inner view of feeder on Connor Road

Inner view of wall with branches holding down plastic

Two openings at Connor Road

Spotted at one of the corrals

Commission considers additional private property locations UPDATED

According to the Commission Discussion Session Agenda for tomorrow, February 23, 2015, our commissioners will be considering additional private property locations for deer killing. Brian Benner from Wildlife Services [sic] and staff will be reviewing plans with the commissioners. Brian Benner is one of two people from Wildlife Specialists, LLC permitted to do the field work as listed in the PA Game Commission permit.

For all the Lebo Citizens readers who are new to this, the Discussion Session will start at 6:30 PM in Conference Room C, down the hall from the Commission Chambers in the Municipal Building. The public is permitted to observe, but not speak.

The Commission Meeting will begin at 8:00 PM in the Commission Chambers. Citizen Comments begins shortly after 8:00 PM. The agenda is rather short, so if the commission permits non-residents to speak at the end of the meeting, the wait will not be as long as the last meeting. It appears that Commissioners Linfante and Bendel will not be attending. Those who wish to speak, must add their names to the sign up sheets in the back of the room. Last time, there were two sign up sheets, one for residents and one for non-residents.

Also on the Commission Meeting Agenda, the commissioners will be awarding a contract to Diversified Municipal Services to represent the municipality in defending and appealing assessments, otherwise known as the Newcomers Tax. Mr. and Mrs. Stroyd Morgans, get your phones charged. It will be a night for photos.

Update February 22, 2015 3:21 PM The commission lied to us about the sterilization permit. The Game Commission stated that they have not denied the sterilization permit, but are still waiting for Mt. Lebanon's response to their six questions.

On Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 12:23 PM, a resident wrote:

Hello Steve,

To date I have not received a response to my inquiry surrounding the deer sterilization permit.

Considering the Mt. Lebanon Commissioners initially misled the public to believe this permit was not approved by the PA Game Commission, I would like to know its true current status.

Please respond as soon as possible.

Thank you.

From: Stephen Feller <sfeller@mtlebanon.org>
Date: February 20, 2015, 1:14:16 PM EST
To:
Cc: Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>
Subject: Re: Sterilization deer permit Inquiry


We are working with Mr. DeNicola and are hopeful that we may have answers and a proposal for the Game Commission by the end of April. 

Baiting begins

People are asking me where the baiting is occurring, not to tamper with, but to warn their children. I will post photos as I receive them. Consider this post a work in progress.

McNeilly Park, located on left side of McNeilly Road heading toward Rt. 88, opposite from Dewalt. Just follow the car tracks.

Twin Hills Trails Park Bower Hill Road to North Meadowcroft, cross over Beverly Road, left onto Twin Hills Drive to dead end. Twin Hills is located in Scott Township. I wonder if the nine commissioners are aware of what is going on. To reach them by telephone:

Ward       Name             Phone Number

1  Eileen L. Meyers (412) 279-4003

2  William Wells (412) 276-8623

3  Stacey Altman (412) 221-1977

4  David G. Calabria (412) 276-1488

5  Thomas M. Castello, Esq. (412) 429-8247

6  David A. Jason, President (412) 249-8171

7  Craig C. Stephens, Esq. (412) 429-1580

8  Patricia Caruso (412) 279-0276

9  Donald Giudici, Vice President (412) 973-1046

I remember Steve Feller was asked if Scott Manager Denise Fitzgerald was notified, and I believe his answer was that when he spoke with her, she said that it wasn't up to her. 

Bird Park Washington Road, right onto Cedar Blvd., left onto Bird Park Drive (before Beadling Road). Its location is about 257 ft. from Markham Elementary and is most accessible from the soccer field driveway/steps that connect Beadling Dr. to Youngwood Dr. Notice the police presence while the photographer was taking pictures.

257' from Markham School

Notice the police presence?

Snow covered bait station

Robb Hollow Park – South on Bower Hill Road past St. Clair Hospital, left after post office onto Robb Hollow Road, left on Driftwood Drive, continue to dead end. Number of access points include Kelso Road and Public Works.

Baiting station is at the Kelso Road access, at the bend.

Soon to be dead deer

Camera is in the yellow circle

Our police chief inspecting the site

Police chief checking baiting station

Mt. Lebanon Golf Course As of this afternoon, the golf course manager said there is no baiting happening at the golf course yet.

Conservation District on Connor Road Heading toward Rt. 88, located on left past Terrace Drive and before Marshall Drive. Look for the Duquesne Light equipment.

I don't recommend anyone getting arrested. These locations are being posted to assist parents when advising their children to stay away.

You may want to follow Kristen Linfante's advice to me in her letter that I shared in my September 27, 2014 post  More than 300 yards away UPDATED

I am sorry to hear that you suffer from nightmares. My only suggestion is to seek psychiatric counseling immediately. My understanding is that it can be very helpful if you can find someone skilled in treating such a condition...

Best of luck to you,
Commissioner Linfante 

PS-I just painted my basement with the help of the great people at Rolliers. John in the paint department is wonderful and gave me excellent advice. It looks quite nice. I'm not sure what your basement is like, but perhaps they could help you if you are inclined to spend time down there.

PERMIT FROM GAME COMMISSION