Susan Morgans and John Hayes, you disgust me.

Susan Morgans and John Hayes, you disgust me. In your article, New regulation expands the role of ‘public’ hunting for suburban deer 

Municipal spokeswoman Susan Morgans said the community kerfuffle has calmed since the deer-reduction policy was enacted, and deer numbers seem to be dropping in parts of Mt. Lebanon. There have been no hunting-related shooting incidents related to the program, she said.

"Community kerfuffle," Susan? You beat us into submission. We have given up. We filed Right To Knows. You cited us. You took us to court. We have shared photographs of hunting-related incidents. We have had protests. We were harassed for walking through parks. We have gone to court. We tried to use facts. We tried to be logical. We feared for our lives and you call it kerfuffle? Despicable.

John Hayes, you call yourself "Outdoors Editor." Please. Why don't you just admit that you are the mouthpiece for the PA Game Commission? You write:

The municipality won a court challenge that attempted to force its commissioners and controlled-hunt organizer to reveal the names of participating hunters and property owners.

For your information, what I was challenging was the right to know WHERE lethal weapons were being discharged, so that people like me with PTSD, could avoid those areas. But evidently, $7,000 later, we don't have that right. Parks remain open during hunting season as well as culling . And now, as you so gleefully like to bring up Mt. Lebanon every chance you can, the public will be shooting in our parks. Thanks, John. You are a real piece of work.

Timmy warns parents. Again. And again.

Keystone Oaks had a problem with the indoor rifle range being so close to Myrtle Avenue School, so Mt. Lebanon was forced to move the rifle range to Public Works. Here in Mt. Lebanon, our School District encourages parents to keep their kids on sidewalks and safe walking routes and avoid shortcuts through private properties starting Wednesday, February 1 through March 31, 2018. Killing starts at 4 PM on undisclosed private properties (during after school activities) and 6 PM at posted public properties including the Golf Course.

You might want to consider avoid sled riding at the Golf Course to avoid a "teaching moment*" for your kids.

Here is the letter from our head "teaching moment" professional, Mt. Lebanon's overpaid superintendent, who will be receiving a 6% increase this July. I hope all private schools and neighboring school districts have also been notified since we have lower standards for high powered rifles in our community. And it is PA Courts Approved!

From: Dr. Timothy Steinhauer [mailto:noreply@mtlsd.net]
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2018 1:28 PM
To: Mt. Lebanon School District Families
Subject: Updated Deer Management Information

Dear Mt. Lebanon School District Families,

In our ongoing effort to keep you apprised of local issues, I am sending you information that I received from the Mt. Lebanon Municipality concerning the upcoming cull beginning on February 1 through March 31 of 2018.  I have attached a letter from Assistant Municipal Manger Ian McMeans with details about the program and a link to more extensive information on the Municipal website at http://www.mtlebanon.org/2114/Deer-Management-Information. This same information is also being shared with all of our principals, teachers, and support staff. Please do not hesitate to contact the Mt. Lebanon Municipality or Mt. Lebanon Police Department should you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Timothy J. Steinhauer, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Letter from Municipality 0118.pdf**

*White Buffalo's Jody Maddock, August 15, 2014, considers children witnessing a deer being killed as a teaching moment. See How about this teachable moment?

**Same absurd suggestion from our municipality as last year. See Shooting starts Feb. 1- March 31, 2017.

You can't do this in our parks. Public drunkenness TBD.

There is no smoking in our parks.* Our commissioners passed the ordinance a couple of years ago. So please, when you are firing your lethal weapons, such as high powered rifles or cross bows, in our parks, don't smoke. It can kill us.

*Public drunkenness TBD. To learn more, attend this event at Mt. Lebanon Public Library on Saturday, October 7, 2017 from 10:00 AM - Noon.

Update October 2, 2017 2:49 PM From yet ANOTHER Democrat. Sorry, but it is hilarious.

Tis the season for the Haters Fa la la la...

'Twas the week before killing, when all thro' the town,
The gardeners were stirring, all with a frown.

The signs were hung at the golf course with care,
In hopes that DeNicola soon would be there;

The haters were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of bloodshed danced in their heads.
And Susan in her Gucci, and Keith ready to snap,
Had just settled down to write some more crap.

When out in the Park, there arose such a clatter,
they jumped from their desks, and dropped their shrimp platters.
Away to their limos, they drove in a dash,
Tore open the windows and Looked Up Lebo. (wait that doesn't rhyme.)

"Now, Brumfield! now Bendel! now Silverman too!
On Aaron, On McLean! Rudy! but not Fraasch. Boo hoo!
It's September and time for the cull.
Now kill away! Kill away! Kill away all!

Absolutely no comments will be accepted related to deer under this or any other post.

Uh, yeah, it's not about gardens.

I have Google Alerts set up for Mt. Lebanon and thought it was rather funny that these two alerts appeared at the same time.

Dave Brumfield is a liar. He told Barbara Sollenberger that he knows it is about gardens, not car accidents. Read why after twenty-five consecutive years, I quit going to the Garden Tour. Babs tarnishes the Garden Tour

Mt. Lebanon garden tour features exotic plants and an inherited garden Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Kerry and Bill Boehner inherited an impressive garden and have worked to preserve it by a new pool. Both properties are featured on the Mt. Lebanon ...
Mt. Lebanon to resume archery hunt for deer Pittsburgh Post-Gazette For the third year in a row, a controlled archery hunt for whitetail deer will be held in Mt. Lebanon. Commissioners on Monday voted 4-1 to approve a ...

Round Three

Our brainless commissioners will be approving a third year of paying Tony DeNicola another $9,000 for doing nothing but watching The Deer Hunter from his recliner in Connecticut.

The program has included "volunteer" archers and a dozen private "donated" properties, as well as McNeilly Park located near Brookline, Twin Hills located in Scott Township, Robb Hollow and Public Works located located near Scott and Upper St. Clair, and the Golf Course located on the edge of Castle Shannon.

Mt. Lebanon commissioners will be voting on Monday to hire Tony DeNicola to oversee the archery program with his trail cameras that we bought him last year. The donors and volunteers will also benefit with the venison, also on our dime.

Foolish and stupid

That's what one resident called the commissioners on Tuesday (yesterday) since they are considering hiring Tony DeNicola for another $9000 to oversee the archery program and "sharpshooting." They have to continue paying Tony thousands of dollars to protect the identities of the archers and twelve private property owners even though there is a decline in deer/vehicle collisions and dead deer pickups.

None of this adds up. Well, actually, it never did. We were told last spring when Mt. Lebanon paid $815.78/deer for "sharpshooting," that the warm weather was to blame for the low body count. Oh wait, also, they couldn't get to where the deer were hiding. Now, there is a decline in deer/vehicle collisions. We were counting incidents, now we are counting collisions. That is what they should have been doing the entire time. Of course, the manager's numbers are out of whack anyway, so who's counting?

“They have a safety protocol that has so far been impeccable,” said Commissioner John Bendel.

Of course, they refused to follow up with Castle Shannon over the two incidents that were reported to Castle Shannon Police.

The commissioners are going to discuss the deer killing at their June 26 meeting. In the meantime, watch out, Pedestrians! Look up, Lebo!

Game Commission: Semi-automatic weapons next year for PA woodlands and Lebo

Pennsylvania will be the 49th state to permit semi-automatic weapons during deer hunting season next year. Governor Wolf signed the legislation last month.       http://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/11538937-74/automatic-semi-board

The board will decide which types of game can be hunted with a semi-automatic rifle, any limits on ammunition and when the rules will go into effect. 

Commission spokesman Travis Lau said the board has its first quarterly meeting in January and could formally approve new rules as early as April. The board will meet Monday in a workshop-style session. 

“We do expect them to begin the discussion on semi-automatic rifles for any hunting or all hunting,” Lau said.

This change could be helpful to older or disabled hunters.

State Rep. Eli Evankovich, R-Murrysville, said the change can be beneficial to hunters who are older, disabled or have difficulty manually reloading. 

“I think we should be adult enough to allow people to do that,” he said. 

Additionally, air- and gas-powered rifles are permitted for hunting as part of the amendment. Semi-automatic shotguns for hunting certain species are permitted in designated areas of five counties in the state, including a portion of Allegheny County.

Don't you all feel better that our governor signed this legislation?  People who have trouble with vision or mobility will benefit and be able to participate in killing deer in Mt. Lebanon next year. Thanks Mt. Lebanon Commissioners.

Look Up Lebo, Deer, Parking, and 09 2016 Expenditures

The September Expenditure list has finally been released to the public.

I had filed a Right To Know asking for receipts from the Look Up Lebo campaign. All receipts, which were available, were given to me, and I shared in my September post, Look Up Lebo Update.

The costs of the Look Up Lebo stickers and flags are included in the September Expenditure list.

3,000 Look Up Lebo stickers cost $927, while the flags cost $879.66. The audio and video cost $449. According to Susan Morgans' report, the stickers and flags expenditures should be covered by the $5,000 grant from Allstate.

Compare Mt. Lebanon's investment for pedestrian safety to the $9,000 handed over to Tony DeNicola for the 700-900 deer his Cornell buddy estimated we had. Tony says that the hunters killed about half as many deer as last year. He isn't comparing apples to apples because this year's numbers should include kills from the 25 additional acres in Twin Hills Park, located in Scott Township.

So while the pedestrian safety budget is nominal, the commissioners are gearing up to spend another $80,000 to kill our stealthy deer. It is to "reduce deer/vehicle collisions." Of course. But as Commissioner Dave Brumfield realized, there is no way to measure the success of the killing program through tracking accidents. Accidents have declined. Dead deer pick ups have declined. Yet reported collisions have increased more than 80%. Either the deer are being raptured, or false collision reports are on the rise.

I have also noticed that Mt. Lebanon charges itself $1,040 per month for staff parking. I don't quite understand that concept. Would someone please explain to me how an entity can charge itself and then claim it as income?

Cell phone expenses are outrageous as usual.

And nobody laughed CORRECTED/UPDATED

The deer expert from Cornell, who never stepped foot in Mt. Lebanon, has estimated at tonight's commission discussion session that we have between 700-800 deer PER SQUARE MILE. We need to continue to kill deer in the daylight, but also add killing over bait at night with lights because our deer are smart and believe that it is only safe to come out at night.

We have gone from DeNicola's estimates from last year as 400-600 deer in Mt. Lebanon to...are you ready for this?...Cornell's expert estimates, based on the deer/car collision numbers, almost 5,000 deer in Mt. Lebanon. It doesn't matter that the Cornell guy never stepped foot in Mt. Lebanon. He is an expert. For Mt. Lebanon to have sooo many deer/vehicular collisions, we must have THAT many deer. No mention of pedestrians hit  - many within crosswalks, or bicyclists hit. Or cars clocked at 71 mph on Washington Road. No. No mention of that. We have to have up to 5,000 deer in Mt. Lebanon, not that we have bad drivers. We must continue to kill the deer.     F O R E V E R.

And nobody laughed.

Update Same Night 9:19 PM To put this guy's estimates in perspective, Mt. Lebanon School District publishes something called Third Day Enrollment annually. I looked on the MTLSD website and all I could find was Third Day Enrollment for September 2015. Last year, there were 5,361 children enrolled in the Mt. Lebanon Schools. There isn't a day that goes by when we don't see kids. Seriously, do we see that many deer in a day? I have gone weeks without seeing any deer. 219 deer were killed during the archery/"sharpshooting" seasons. Tony DeNicola left early last March because he ran out of deer to kill. How can anyone take this "expert" seriously?

Correction September 14, 2016 Well, I'm embarrassed. I am watching the discussion that the municipality had last night with Cornell's Paul Curtis. Curtis did not say that we had 700-800 deer per square mile, as I was told last night by a meeting observer. What he said was that we have approximately 700-800 deer in six square miles based on the number of deer/vehicular collisions. He is estimating that we have possibly 400 does dropping two or three fawns a year. He is also estimating 100 additional "immigrating" deer in the area. We need to kill many more deer for at least three or four more years. But don't walk away from it. Do it again and again.

Update September 14, 2016 I finally got around to hearing the citizen comments from last night's meeting. There were two against the deer killing and one for the deer killing. The second resident also heard that there were 700-800 deer per square mile, but none of the commissioners corrected her. I found that interesting. The third resident was commending the commissioners with their decision to move forward with more deer killing. She also pointed out that Professor Curtis "has no vested interest in the Mt. Lebanon program." Well, we now know that isn't accurate since he is a crony of Tony DeNicola.

Paul Curtis guestimates that there are between 700-800 deer in 6.06 square miles plus approximately 100 "immigrants" or transients from other communities. Taking his numbers:

700 / 6.06 = 115.5 deer per sq. mile

800 / 6.06 = 132.0 deer per sq. mile

900 / 6.06 = 148.5 deer per sq. mile

PA Department of Natural Resources, supported by Penn State research, claims there are 30 deer per square mile in Pennsylvania. The 2014 aerial survey indicated that we had 196 deer in 6.06 square miles. The aerial survey results for 2014 are here. This is right in line with the PA Department of Natural Resources numbers. But Tony DeNicola, who pays himself quite well from his "nonprofit" organization for killing deer, dissed the aerial survey.

Imagine going on a walk in Mt. Lebanon. Have you ever seen 148.5 deer per sq. mile? 132.0 deer per sq. mile? Or even 115.5 deer per sq. mile? Certainly this exercise is not as accurate as Paul Curtis', who never stepped foot in Mt. Lebanon, right? I didn't think so.

Mt. Lebanon, the Money Pit

Two articles have me shaking my head.

Mt. Lebanon Ice Center could be replaced next year

“I think we are on borrowed time,” said Commissioner Steve Silverman about the lifespan of the main rink and a studio rink, which have been damaged by buckling floors and a broken defrost system...An alternative favored by all of the commissioners would be total replacement of both rinks, which would take place during the off-season, between March and August of 2017. The cost is estimated between $1.7 million and $2.4 million...The municipality could pay for the project through capital funds, a bond issue or Regional Asset District funds through Allegheny County.

Costly public works project looms for Mt. Lebanon

“We need to do this, period,” said Commissioner David Brumfield. “We've known this for years. We've been working on this for years. Even with other costs, the fact of delaying this isn't a feasible option. It's not like if we didn't do this, we wouldn't be putting money into the public works yard over the next 10 years. We've all been in that building, and let's just say there are going to be a few dollars headed there no matter what happens. We need to figure out how to move forward.” 

A modified site plan for the facility, in which the prevention of flooding is a primary concern, estimates the total cost for the project to reach approximately $6.5 million.

So why the hell did we tear up two perfectly good fields to put in artificial turf at the cost of $1+ million. The turf is a year old. It has a life expectancy of 8 years or so. Are we putting away the required funds every year to pay for the replacement?

Why are we spending over $100,000 a year to kill deer which is intended to lower car/deer collisions, but has only tripled them? 

Mt. Lebanon spent $26,364 for parking sensors on Washington Road. Seriously, was that really needed?

Why was the greening of Rockwood Park rejected? Here is how Mt. Lebanon corrected the problem in Rockwood Park. 

Parking lot

Upper entrance to Rockwood Park

Entrance to Rockwood Park

More rails are falling off and deteriorating.

The patrolling has stopped again.

Ward 1 is going to keep their bricked streets. Ward 1 will continue to demand killing deer in Twin Hills Park. The lacrosse people in Ward 1 got their artificial turf. These are all pet projects of Ward 1 commissioner John Bendel. 

Ward 2 commissioner Steve Silverman wants more deer killing, was working to get an artificial turf field before he was sworn into office. He says that we are on borrowed time when it comes to the ice rink.

Ward 3's Steve McLean wants more deer killing. 

Dave Brumfield, Ward 4's commissioner wants more archery, just had to have the artificial turf, pushing for the public works project, was a big supporter of the swimming pool, had to have McNeilly Park, and wants to turf Mellon School's field.

I haven't spoken to Kelly Fraasch, Ward 5 commissioner in over a year, but I do remember how she was pushing for more property for Robb Hollow. We bought more parcels, for what? She voted for parking sensors. 

Mt. Lebanon has replaced former Assistant Manager Marcia Taylor when she retired with THREE full time people. 

At least three of these commissioners are numbers guys - running businesses, accounting, or banking. Don't they understand that there is just so much money available? When spending in one area, spending has to be cut in other areas. Basic accounting, Folks.

Phase 2 "Sharpshooting"

I hate to use the word "sharpshooting" because it is not. White Buffalo is the "nonprofit" company hired by Mt. Lebanon commissioners to coordinate the archers and now - Phase 2 - to do the shooting with high powered rifles in our community. They are not Navy SEALs, by any means.

The first private property identified for Phase 2 is

This may look familiar to some of the Lebo Citizens readers. It is behind Shady Lane. The Perri house is on the right. The golf course is to the left of the photo. Massachusetts resident Amy Castor was fined $1100 for walking on the path behind the Perri home and taking photos of the police officers and the dead deer. Evidently, the four deer that were killed early October were not enough for the Perri's. They are now part of Phase 2. What is troubling to me is that the shooting on the golf course is from 6 PM to 11:00 PM Monday through Friday. However, the location of the Perri tree stand facing the golf course permits shooting seven days a week from 4 PM in the afternoon since it is on private property. Our tax dollars are paying for this!

I am glad to see that killing these deer will reduce deer/vehicular collisions on the golf course. There have been far too many deer/golf cart collisions.

Hunting for Euphemisms

I've been doing some back and forth emails with our municipality regarding the latest round of killing deer. I purposely use the word "kill" and am always amazed at Mt. Lebanon's choice of words. 

From: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>To: kmcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>Cc: nschalles <nschalles@mtlebanon.org>; commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; alauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org>; TSteinhauer <TSteinhauer@mtlsd.net>; schoolboard <schoolboard@mtlsd.net>Sent: Thu, Feb 4, 2016 10:03 pmSubject: Re: out of sequence
Thanks for moving the hours of operation to the home page when the killing starts. I am learning so many euphemisms for killing. Removal, management, culling, activities, program...
Sorry for being snarky, but just an observation at how things are here in Mt. Lebanon.
Elaine

-----Original Message-----From: Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>Cc: Nicholas Schalles <nschalles@mtlebanon.org>; Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; Aaron Lauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org>; tsteinhauer <TSteinhauer@mtlsd.net>; schoolboard <schoolboard@mtlsd.net>Sent: Thu, Feb 4, 2016 3:18 pmSubject: Re: out of sequence
Good afternoon Elaine,
The information posted to the website today for the archery program represents the final deer removal numbers for the program. There will be another a final report that includes additional information related to the program. Since we have not yet received the report I am unable to provide you the specifics as to what that other information will be.
As to the sharpshooting program additional information will be provided as it becomes available. At this point the contractor is working with the Police Department to conduct the site assessments for the properties proposed for use in the upcoming program. Information regarding hours of operation for the program will be moved to the home page prior to the beginning of the removal activity.
Keith



On Thu, Feb 4, 2016 at 1:18 PM, egillen476@aol.com <egillen476@aol.com> wrote:Hi Keith,
Thank you for your quick response. To be clear, are you saying that the final archery program report that is posted here (http://www.mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/11433) is not the final final report?
When will you be prominently alerting Mt. Lebanon residents of the shooting hours on the municipal website? I have copied all the links below and don't see where that information is being prominently shared.
I hope you understand that the second link is out of sequence. It should come somewhere in the middle of the page in the third link. The information on December 11, 2015 should be listed with the other December 11, 2015 information on the third link. Perhaps Nick Schalles would understand what I am talking about. I copied him on this email.
Elaine Gillen



-----Original Message-----From: Keith Mcgill <kmcgill@mtlebanon.org>To: egillen476 <egillen476@aol.com>Cc: Commission <commission@mtlebanon.org>; Aaron Lauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org>; tsteinhauer <TSteinhauer@mtlsd.net>; schoolboard <schoolboard@mtlsd.net>Sent: Thu, Feb 4, 2016 10:50 amSubject: Re: out of sequence
Good morning Ms. Gillen,
The final report for the archery program is not yet available. Data and related information is still being collected from the volunteer archers. The report will be posted when it is received by the municipality. White Buffalo has indicated that the time frame for the final report is usually one month from the end of the season. 
As to the sharpshooting program additional information will be provided as it becomes available. At this point the contractor is working with the Police Department to conduct the site assessments for the properties proposed for use in the upcoming program.
Keith

I could kick myself. I forgot to mention one of Mt. Lebanon's favorites - harvesting. So many euphemisms for killing. I decided to do a search and found that there quite a few articles written about killing euphemisms.

Hunting for Euphemisms: How We Trick Ourselves to Excuse Killing 

Zander makes much of his desire to deliver a quick death. The blow, he explained, should be merciful. "I don't really want it [the hunt] to be evenly matched, I'm there to harvest my food ... I don't want to take a chance with [a weapon that is] under-powered or questionable. I want a sure shot that will take the animal out as humanely as I can." Most readers, I imagine, will applaud this logic, acknowledging Zander's compassion for the hunted. What initially strikes me, though, is Zander's language. Consciously chosen or not, his words mask the inherent brutality of his profitable hobby. 

Zander's claim that he entered the woods "to harvest my food" is a common expression among conservation-minded hunters. The primary meaning -- and clear implication -- of "harvest" is, according to the OED, "to reap and gather" a cultivated crop. Not until the 1940s did hunters begin to apply the term to animals. While technically correct, Zander's use of "harvest" is intended to soften hunting's violent edge. The act of unnecessarily shooting an innocent animal -- which is, when you reduce it to its essence, gratuitous violence -- is cloaked in the innocuous language of plant-based agriculture. Zander refuses to take a chance with an under-powered weapon. Clearly he feels the same way about an over-powered but deadly accurate word: kill.

More problematic is Zander's desire for "a sure shot that will take the animal out as humanely as I can." I get -- and respect -- the wish for a quick death (if one absolutely must hunt). But again, the terminology is worth unpacking. The most violent connotation I could find for "take out" was "the striking of an opponent's stone out of play" in the sport of curling. But anyone who watches mafia movies knows the deeper implication of Zander's use of "take out." It's to murder somebody. Brutally. In the Wikipedia entry for the Italian mobster Lucky Luciano, Vito Genovese -- Lucky's one-time underboss -- is said to have "wanted to take out" Lucky's competition. 

And boy he did. But no one would describe Genovese's mob hits as being done "courteously," "kindly," "compassionately," or "benevolently" -- all used by the OED to define "humanely." The whackings were cold and gruesome. Zander believes he can "humanely" "take out" a deer. But that's about as possible as Sonny Corleone getting humanely taken out at that toll booth in The Godfather. Do note, though, that high-powered weaponry delivering "sure shots" render theharvesting of Corleone masterfully efficient. Humane? Not so much... 

Nobody wants to cook "Five Spice Stew With a Mother Deer Shot With a High-Powered Rifle While Her Baby Slept Nearby." But what about "Five Spice Venison Stew"? Much more palatable.

There are so many examples that came up in my Google search for "Euphemisms for killing animals," that it is no wonder that Mt. Lebanon seems to come up with an endless supply of sugar coated words for killing.

George Carlin is rolling over in his grave. Our deer aren't being killed. Mt. Lebanon has turned into a Cervidae Terminal Marketplace.

Euthanize...dispatching...humanely taken...lethal means...safely taken... It makes me sick.

How about this teachable moment?

At Jody Maddock's recruiting meeting, someone asked about the impact of killing in front of children. Mr. Maddock said that we are at the top of the food chain and that if children see a dead deer during the archery season, it would be a "teaching moment." In talking with other members of the community, we find this offensive.

One Mt. Lebanon resident, taking Maddock's suggestion to the extreme, said that if we want teachable moments, why don't we just take our kids to Rockview, a Pennsylvania Department of Corrections prison ironically located in Benner Township so that they can witness an execution.

I placed another order of yard signs yesterday since the supply is dwindling. If you have a sign, thank you! Plant it in your yards, if you haven't already. When, not if, people ask you how to get one, you may give them my email address, EGillen476@aol.com.

Mt. Lebanon Commissioners will host archers in our golf course and public parks for five months starting September 19. Some Mt. Lebanon residents will be using their yards as killing fields. To avoid any confusion, these signs are available for your yards with a $5 donation.

Speaking of signs, remember this at the entrances to our parks?

Or this one at the golf course?

Mt. Lebanon will be posting new warning signs during the next five months. Private residents who are volunteering their properties to kill deer, will not.

LEBO PARKS FOR PEOPLE, NOT HUNTING

The following information has been submitted by Mt. Lebanon resident, Kimberly Schevchuk.

KIDS SOCCER & BOW-HUNTING DO NOT MIX. 

KEEP OUR CHILDREN, FAMILIES & PETS SAFE 

STOP THE BOW-HUNTING PROGRAM IN OUR URBAN PARKS & YARDS

ONLY YOU CAN STOP THE BOW-HUNT 

FAST ACTION ESSENTIAL – CALL, WRITE, & SPEAK AT COMMISSION MEETING

THE COMMISSION PLANS TO GIVE FINAL APPROVAL ON Tuesday, Sept 8^TH

^{Commission contact information – to be most effective, send your e-mail to all the Commissioners}

^{John Bendel (412) 559-2571 jbendel@mtlebanon.org Ward 1} 

^{Steve Silverman (412) 491-3794 ssilverman@mtlebanon.org Ward 2}

^{Coleen Vuono (412) 862-5422  cvuono@mtlebanon.org Ward 3}

^{Dave Brumfield (412) 596-4095 dbrumfield@mtlebanon.org Ward 4}

^{Kelly Fraasch (412) 580-7665 kfraasch@mtlebanon.org Ward 5}

^{The next Commission meeting this Tuesday night (August 11th) is critical} 

• ^{Deer management is scheduled to be discussed at 7:15 p.m.at the Commission Discussion Meeting which starts at 6:25 p.m. in Committee Rm. C in the Municipal Building. There will be contractors answering questions at this meeting. The public can listen, but not participate in Discussion Meetings.}
• ^{The Regular Commission Meeting in the Municipal Chambers in the Municipal Building starts at 8:00 p.m. Residents may make comments and ask questions only at the beginning of this meeting.  There is a sign-up sheet to speak as you enter.}

^{The Commission is already considering approving an $89,513 rifle-hunt contract to immediately follow the archery hunt, before even evaluating the outcome of the bow-hunt.  Municipal deer management is being driven by politics, not safety or scientific evidence of community need. Commission actions in fact reflect a disregard for prior experience and public safety.  The rifle shooting contract under discussion is with USDA APHIS Wildlife Services – which the municipality used before and resulted in a deer bleeding out in a family yard and the contractor lying to the police to cover up their mistake.  The excuse the “expert sharpshooters” used for their mistake was “they did not know that they had shot the deer.”  [Their excuse from a safety perspective is even more terrifying than admitting to be a poor shot.]  The Commission had such a bad experience, that Commissioners at the time swore they would never use the contractor again and they acknowledged the need to re-evaluate the assumed “safety” of using sharpshooters to manage deer.  Despite this knowledge, the current Commission specifically requested a proposal from USDA APHIS Wildlife Services and is seriously considering hiring them.  It is time for residents to tell the Commission that we are serious about not wanting lethal weapons in our parks & yards. Only resident voices can stop what is clearly a failure of the current Commission to recognize the danger of shooting arrows and rifles in one of the most dense communities in Allegheny County.  Members of this Commission have even stated that they do not think that residential density matters.  It is time for the Commission to apply common sense, stop use of lethal weapons in our community, and pursue proven effective non-lethal deer management alternatives.} 

• ^{Get more information on lebocitizens.com} 
• ^{Sign petition to stop bow-hunt on lebocitizens.com - signatures needed, but direct communication with Commission is essential}
• ^{Place a sign in your yard – look for sign-up on lebocitizens.com}
• ^{Tell your neighbors & friends living in Mt. Lebo & ask them to act quickly. –Residents do not know and have a right to voice their opinion about the use of lethal weapons in our community parks & yards.  GET THE WORD OUT!} 

*************

NOT IN MY YARD

No Bows & Arrows – No Hunting - No Way

APPROVED BOW-HUNTING IN MT LEBANON – GET THE FACTS

Contract specifics

• On July 14^th the Mt. Lebo Commission signed a contract with White Buffalo Inc. to promote & organize a hunting program with volunteer archers in Mt. Lebanon to start this September.
• Total program costs will be much higher than the $15,460 contract.  Additional costs include: municipal staff time for program administration and implementation as well as costs for Police response to resident concerns and injured deer not successfully killed by the first arrow.
• Bow Hunting will be permitted both in Mt. Lebanon Parks and in resident yards.
• Hunting will occur simultaneous with recreational park use, e.g. kids soccer practice & games, families in parks, runners, dog-walking, and playground use.
• Bow-hunting in Mt. Lebanon Parks can occur anytime during daylight hours throughout the entire deer hunting season. 
• State regulations permit bow-hunting  
• From one hour after sunrise to one hour before sunset
• During 5 months  (September, October, November, End of December, and January)
• Commission not making public in what yards hunting will occur.  Don’t we have a right to protect our families and pets and know what areas to avoid?
• Lethal weapons approved without due-diligence.  Bow-hunting program was approved & contract signed without specifics on location, times and safety issues.
• Allows Mt. Lebanon to become a magnet for bow-hunters statewide.  Once Mt. Lebanon opens the parks & yards to program hunters there is no coherent plan to keep non-approved hunters out.  Is the municipality going to patrol all our parks and all approved private properties for five months during all daylight hours to keep non-program hunters out?
• Modern deer management or open hunting season?  After one antlerless deer, male or female, the hunters are permitted to shoot whatever deer they want, e.g. antlered males.  Modern scientific deer management practices focus on females and include non-lethal deer management methods such as sterilization or contraception.  These alternatives have been proven effective.
• Arrows can kill and maim deer, people, and pets and can ricochet after nicking a tree, rock, or other solid structure.
• Arrows can travel the distance of 4 Mt. Lebanon houses, i.e. between 297 and 342 yards.
• Urban bow-hunting is not humane or safe.  Often bow hunters do not successfully kill on the first shot.  The program and state law requires hunters to follow & try to kill injured deer.  Now exactly how does that play out safely in our dense urban community?

The Commission will finalize the bow-hunting program on Tuesday, September 8th.

Call, write the Commission immediately & come on Tuesday and tell the Commission to 

STOP THE BOW HUNT.  URBAN PARKS ARE FOR PEOPLE, NOT HUNTING.

Our worst nightmare

Tuesday's Discussion Agenda

Item #5
1. Discuss USDA sharpshooting proposal
2. Discuss sterilization proposal with Dr. DiNicola Keith McGill will introduce Todd Puckett of USDA APHIS Wildlife Services and review issues that have been raised.

These are the bozos who don't count bullets, were chewed out by then president of the commission, Dan Miller for lying to our then police chief Tom Ogden, allowed a deer to bleed out and die in front of someone's home on Lindendale after traveling 100 yards from being shot, didn't have drug tests, couldn't recite answer four questions about gun safety and have been known to shoot themselves in the feet. Here is the safety report that I have had on my website, lebocitizens.com.

USDA APHIS Wildlife Services 2008 Firearm Safety Review

I shared this report with our current commission and heard nothing from any of them.

This is getting way out of hand. The Coalition for Coexistence has started a petition, not a pledge this time, that is short and to the point. Please take the time to sign it. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stop-mt-lebanons-violent-plan-to-kill-deer

The garden biddies hand carried their petition door to door and stood outside of Giant Eagle to collect signatures. It was rather long and residents relied on them to explain what was on the petition. A usual response was that it was to do something about the deer. Some said that they were unaware that deer were going to be killed. Our petition is one sentence long, and easily comprehended. A hard copy of this petition will be distributed tonight at First Friday, as well as downloading a copy here. 

In addition, I ordered these yard signs today. They should arrive in a week. Email me privately if you would like to order one.

Who are the archers? UPDATED

On September 8, 2015, eleven days before the start of archery season, White Buffalo will discuss the backgrounds of the manager and hunters. Will their identities be revealed? If not, the killing will be over after the usual 35 days that the municipality is legally allowed to take for a legal review to determine if what I would be asking in the Right To Know is public information.

From the municipal website:

White Buffalo representatives plan to attend the September 8 commission discussion meeting at 6:30 to describe the final program, including the backgrounds of the manager and hunters, the number of public and private properties to be used and the safety procedures that will be required. Click here to review the contract detailing the June 30, 2015 deer management proposal.

The Trib is reporting, as well as every other newspaper in the US, that Zimbabwe is blaming Murrysville doctor, Jan Casimir Seski of illegally killing a lion in April.

Archers will be killing deer in Mt. Lebanon NEXT MONTH. We will not know who or where the deer are being killed. I absolutely hate what Kristen Linfante has done to this community. She told me to seek psychiatric help for my anxieties and paint my basement with soothing colors in preparation for the next deer killing. Parents, I am 61 years old. I am having a tough time with this. I lived next to the deer killing in 2006-2008 and did not do well. How will your children deal with it? Please help me end this madness

Update August 3, 2015 11:54 AM More on the local archer from April's killing. Zimbabwean officials name local doctor in lion hunting probe I wonder if he made the list for the Mt. Lebanon killing next month. He is certainly experienced.

Archery hunt planned UPDATED

The agenda for Tuesday's Commission Meeting, to be held at the Mt. Lebanon High School Fine Arts Theatre, has been posted. Looks like an archery hunt is a go!

13. Consideration of a proposal for professional deer management services. 

White Buffalo, Inc. has submitted a proposal to select and train archery hunters and work with property owners on an archery hunt. The contract proposal totals $15,460. Recommended Action: Move to authorize the proper municipal officials to enter into a contract for archery management services, with the understanding that: (a) Dr. DeNicola and Jody Maddock will follow the rigorous screening and training criteria outlined in their proposal of June 30, 2015; (b) Prior to conducting an archery hunt, representatives of White Buffalo will attend the September 8, 2015, Commission meeting to describe the details of the final program including the background of the manager and hunters, number of public and private properties to be used, and safety procedures that will be utilized.

John Hayes at it again.

I called it. Another article from the PG's John Hayes full of misinformation. Hayes is the so called reporter who estimates that we have THOUSANDS of deer in Mt. Lebanon. Because we have thousands of deer, he has a photo of deer in Allegheny Cemetery. Our deer are so elusive that they can dodge press photographers.

Hayes writes in today's PG:

The public is invited to attend the commission’s work session at 6 p.m. Monday at Mt. Lebanon High School Fine Arts Theater. But they will not be permitted to speak. Or shout. Or chant and carry signs as did many during the protests prior to and during a controversial deer cull that was abruptly ended in March. So now we aren't allowed to carry signs either? Whose rule is that?

Hayes continues:

A few loose ends:
• In May, the Mt. Lebanon commission paid cull contractor Wildlife Specialists $3,000 — $500 for each of six deer killed in the 11 days of the aborted cull. 

And $12,000 to come up with Wildlife Specialists' plan. 

• There have been no arrests made in the vandalism and sabotage of contractor equipment, or for after-hours trespassing on park property during the culling program. 

From a Right To Know, police reports show that some of the police calls were for the silver truck that Benner's henchmen were using. Police reports also show that some of the calls included the killers trespassing on church property.

• Gardening expert Sandy Baker was paid $2,500 for several workshops and speaking engagements in April intended to help Mt. Lebanon residents deer-proof their gardens. 

Not $2,500, Folks. Sandy Baker was available the entire day at Earth Day in Main Park. She also gave three seminars at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library, lasting on average two hours each. Another presentation was made at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills. By comparison, Anthony DiNicola is charging Mt. Lebanon $2.000 to attend tomorrow evening's farce.

• Venison from deer killed during the cull was donated to Hunters Sharing the Harvest, a non-profit program that provides meat for food pantries and shelters. 

Sorry, John, it was donated to a virtual church in cyberspace, Link in the Chain Ministries. 

• $1,270 donated on a crowd-funding website to Citizens Against the Deer Cull was spent on supplies, food, a phone bank party and other support for anti-cull volunteers.

A phone bank party? Seriously? I had to fight with Kelly Fraasch to get reimbursed for the Sandy Baker dinner. Don't forget the 7.9% fee and 30¢ per donation, John.

• In April and May, 41 deer-related incidents were reported to Mt. Lebanon police.

Incidents are not accidents, John. Through a Right To Know, our former police chief said that the deer incident report is being used erroneously. 

 In "Mt. Lebanon to tackle deer problem again," our newest commissioner, who spoke as a private citizen during citizen comments in November that she was pro-kill is mentioned:

The latest wrinkle in the deer debate is the appointment in April of Coleen Vuono as a Mt. Lebanon commissioner. A former commissioner and president, she filled the seat of Kristen Linfante, who resigned in February for health reasons. Having watched from the sidelines as the community exploded in March, Ms. Vuono says she’s been updated on the details and is ready to roll up her sleeves.
“I was so disappointed and surprised at how this was handled. I want to have my input,” she said. “I think, yes, there is a deer problem. The goal is to reduce the number of traffic accidents caused by deer by 50 percent. Sterilization and some other things that have been discussed will not cut the deer population now. … We have all the information we need. It seems to me there is only one alternative and it’s to cull the herd.”
Ms. Vuono says she loves animals, but she loves her town more. The number of deer in Mt. Lebanon, she said, is many times higher than when she served on council from 1988 to 1991.
“People on both sides had some of the facts, but not all of the facts,” she said. “This is how it is now. There are just too many.”

Spoken as a true dictator. Where is the democracy? This is who your commissioners appointed unanimously, Mt. Lebanon.

Hayes interviewed a former New York Times reporter who has never been to Mt. Lebanon.

Jim Sterba says he’s seen it all before. Rancorous public meetings represented by at least 10 factions. Demands for a population count. Assurances that “too many” means deer are causing problems. Contradictory experts. Government dithering. Neighbor vs neighbor.
“And I’ve never even been to Mt. Lebanon,” said Mr. Sterba. A former New York Times and Wall Street Journal reporter, his coverage of many community deer conflicts led him to write “Nature Wars: The Incredible Story of How Wildlife Comebacks Turned Backyards into Battlegrounds,” published in 2013.
“These fights are far more widespread than most people imagine,” said Mr. Sterba, who lives in New York City. “They’re going on in literally hundreds — maybe thousands — of communities or townships or counties or state parks.”
In the late 1800s, when timbering and hunting were uncontrolled, there were very few deer in highly populated states, he said. Wildlife management agencies like the Game Commission were formed, and the habitat grew back in new configurations — lush suburban landscapes with no natural predators, no hunting and an unlimited supply of food. By the 1980s, urban deer populations had begun to grow out of control.
“Urbanites who didn’t grow up in rural areas generally don’t like killing the deer and are concerned about public safety with hunters out there,” he said. “Politicians, rather than upset voters on both sides, do nothing until the problem gets so out of hand, they’re forced to do something drastic.” 

So, how does the story end? 

“The same thing usually happens. The fights go on five or 10 years as they go through what will work and what won’t,” he said. “In most cases they fight on and on and on until they reach a tipping point, until they get past all the non-lethal means … and the people who don’t want to kill deer get an education in the consequences of a lack of civic responsibility. Finally, somebody makes a political decision and once they do, the kerfuffle dissipates fairly quickly.” 

So there you have it, Mt. Lebanon.  Our demands for a population count is just "kerfuffle." We will fade away. Soon, neighbors will be holding hands while sitting around our chimineas and singing "Kumbaya." The End.

The fix is in UPDATED

The commissioners' minds are made up. So made up that they won't even allow the suggestion that gardens could be improved to deter deer. How simple would that be? They also say another survey is out of the question, which indicates they don't want to know there are fewer deer, just proceed as planned - killing deer.

Sandy Baker a.k.a. the Deer Doctor emailed the following documents to all of the commissioners this afternoon. She also FedEx'ed it yesterday to arrive this morning by 10:30 AM.

Cover letter from Sandy Baker

Mt. Lebanon Deer Report

Mt. Lebanon Recommendations

While there are no non-lethal panelists for Monday's dog and pony show, Sandy's report is a timely voice for a safe, non-lethal, and effective solution. Monday's deer discussion forum is a complete and blatant sham. The panel is all pro deer killers. The purpose is to sell the Fall killing program. The fix is in. The Commission has already decided. There will be no citizen comments. Residents who are opposed to violence or guns in our neighborhoods are being silenced. Residents opposed to this killing program will just be annoying. With us censored, the commissioners can script and market this pro-deer killing forum to the public. 

The Post Gazette's John Hayes contacted a member of the Coalition for Coexistence. He said that aerial surveys are pointless and nobody uses them. Nobody counts animals, roadkill, or density. This is the same person who said that we have THOUSANDS of deer. Hayes is one of the clowns from our Public Misinformation Officer's media circus.

The fix is in, Folks.

Update June 19, 2015 11:07 AM A LeboALERT just went out at 10:55 AM. We have the honor and privilege to OBSERVE the deer killing vote on Monday. How many LeboALERTS is this now, Susan? Enjoy rubbing our noses in it?

This is an important notice from LeboALERT.


You may observe Mon. 6 pm
commission work session on deer at MLHS Fine Arts Theater. No public comment.
http://www.mtlebanon.org/DocumentCenter/View/11039

Update June 19, 2015 7:19 PM

Mr. Feller,

The folks who are attending the deer management meeting on Monday, Jeannine Fleegel, Jody Maddock and Anthony DiNicola…are they being paid to attend the meeting?

If so, what is the total compensation being paid to each of them.

Thank you,

***

Steve Feller's reply:

From: Stephen Feller [mailto:sfeller@mtlebanon.org]
Sent: Friday, June 19, 2015 3:48 PM
To:
Cc: Commission
Subject: Re: meeting

Only one of them, Dr. DiNicola, is being compensated by Mt. Lebanon.  I expect his total compensation to be $2,000.