Castor fined $1100

The Trib reported 

 "We don't want to offend anybody and we don't want any surprises, so we do the best we can to inform people," Maddock said.

Like telling Mt. Lebanon officials how many deer you have killed? Uh...protecting the identities of property owners who "donated" use of their properties? I love how a related link to my Right To Know appeal appeared following the quote. They do their best to inform people, but don't share any emails that might eliminate the element of surprise.

Massachusetts woman convicted of trespass, interfering with Mt. Lebanon deer cull

WTAE showed a reporter walking the same path that Amy Castor walked and shot the same footage that Amy Castor photographed, yet Blaise will reduce her $1100 fine to $200, if she removed her photos from social media. Hmm.

Caster's attorney, Nita Fandray, said the Commonwealth didn't present a strong enough case. Fandray went as far as saying that the judge made up his mind before her arguments were heard.

"I think this was decided long before we went into the courtroom, and this is what we expected would be the outcome," Fandray said.

Woman fined $1,100 after incident stemming from Mt. Lebanon deer culling program Judge says Amy Castor can get fine reduced if she removes pictures from social media pages

Meanwhile, across the street...

Hayes vs. Santoni re: coverage for tonight's meeting

John Hayes is the reason why I canceled my PG subscription. At one time, he said that we have thousands of deer in Mt. Lebanon. Matt Santoni has been doing some investigative reporting and not relying on Susan Morgans for information. Both men lurked on my blog. Neither one has asked to be invited. Neither one has been invited.

Matt Santoni: Deer culling back on table in Mt. Lebanon

John Hayes: Mt. Lebanon may use archers to control deer

Santoni: The proposed contract with Connecticut-based White Buffalo Inc. and Jody Maddock of Whitetail Associates would have them vet archery hunters and work with property owners to assemble areas where they would be permitted to hunt the community's deer herd, which the commission wants to thin in the hopes of cutting car crashes.

Hayes: Commissioners are expected to authorize a $15,460 contract with White Buffalo, a Virginia-based nonprofit conservation organization that researches deer control and provides management options.

Santoni got the right state. It is Connecticut. He also mentioned that Jody Maddock is with Whitetail Associates. Neither mentioned that Maddock is project manager for White Buffalo. Santoni wins this one.

Santoni: The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Fine Arts Theater at Mt. Lebanon High School.

Hayes: With expectations of a big crowd, the meeting will be held at the Mt. Lebanon High School Fine Arts Theater at 7 Horsman Drive. The discussion session starts at 6 p.m., and the commission meeting begins at 8.

The discussion session starts at 6:30 PM. Another win for Santoni.

Santoni: Residents and animal welfare activists protested that cull, and a new organization called the Mt. Lebanon Coalition for Coexistence has issued statements opposing the planned archery cull.

Hayes: But Nita Fandray of the Mt. Lebanon Coalition for Coexistence, which advocates a nonviolent problem solution, cited another Mt. Lebanon Police Department statistic; From 2012 to 2014, Mt. Lebanon experienced 1,803 total vehicle crashes. Of those, 144 — 8 percent — were deer-related.

Even though Hayes messed up on Nita's quote a bit, (Deer are not the problem), I'm giving this one to Hayes because he actually interviewed Nita. A win for Hayes.

Santoni: Though Maddock previously told the commissioners he took more than a year to secure owners' permissions to hunt in other communities, McGill said he was reasonably confident they could set up a program for Mt. Lebanon in a few months.

Hayes: not available

Santoni demonstrated that this is another boondoggle in the makings. Maddock needed 18 months or so to do it correctly. McGill is confident that we only need a few months. This one definitely goes to Santoni. 

Santoni: They have not yet approved resubmitting an application to the game commission to control the deer population with sterilization, McGill said.

Hayes: not a word about sterilization 

Because Hayes never mentioned sterilization, Santoni wins again. 

I just did an interview with Maria Gabriel from KDKA Radio. Snippets will be played throughout the day. I was half asleep when she called. Keeping my fingers crossed that I sound OK. Ugh.

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.