"'Peril'...sell the fear."

Thank you, Jason Robi, whoever you are. That was his comment to Linda Wilson Fuoco's article Rabies, coyotes and ticks, oh my! Perils abound in the backyard this summer I wonder when the PG's deer hunter John Hayes, who wrote on February 1, 2014: "With thousands of white-tailed deer causing what has been called a public safety hazard in Mt. Lebanon.." will write his BS about deer for the obvious media blitz going on in time for the June 22 Commission Discussion Session on deer "management."

Fuoco, who responded with a comment on Lebo Citizens  was just part of the "media circus" as described by Susan Morgans. Somehow, Fuoco subscribed to the theory that there are 400 deer in Mt. Lebanon. Morgans defended her on Facebook.

The municipality is so entrenched in this prokill movement, that the two donated planters of deer resistant plants outside of the municipal building are dying from lack of water. Thanks to Barbara S., the planters got a healthy drink of water last night. Driving by today, I don't think MRTSA can revive one of them.

To be fair, I am starting to think it is the commission, being bullied by the power brokers. In the latest Right To Know, our former police chief wanted to end the deer incident report.

It was crazy how our commissioners expected our police force to protect corn. As far as the deer incident report, I have been saying all along that it is bogus. I never filed that August 20, 2014 report. I have never been able to remove that entry from the report. Now, I see that the report has many gaps of information. Yes, Coleman, the report is being used erroneously to push a personal agenda. Originally, we were told that the goal was to reduce deer/vehicle collisions by 50% in 3-5 years, from 2% to 1%. Our commissioners are relying on a deer killer's estimates while ignoring FLIR aerial surveys. They are now depending on an incomplete deer incident report, often confused with a deer accident report.

Our public misinformation office is busy at work contacting her clowns, gearing up for Round 2 of the media circus and the June 22, 2015 Commission Discussion Session featuring deer killer Tony DeNicola. All part of selling the fear.

Consider the following

Tomorrow's protest will start at 5:30 in front of the municipal building, across from Sesame Inn. The Commission Discussion Session begins at 6:30. According to the Commission Discussion Session Agenda, Commission President Bendel has allotted himself another thirty minutes to discuss goals. At the previous discussion session, John scheduled forty five minutes to discuss goals and allocated a whole FIVE minutes for Commissioner Fraasch's presentation on non-lethal methods of deer management. He then cut her off because they were running short on time. Tomorrow's agenda is void of any deer discussions. In light of recent events concerning deer, John's lack of transparency has left many residents feeling outraged and unrepresented.

Those from both in and outside Mt. Lebanon who opposed the deer kill have lived a tough lesson in Constitutional Law. Threats of arrests and fines by the Mt Lebanon Police Department persisted throughout the culling period, for the sole purpose of suppressing activists’ civil liberties. John Bendel has denied non-residents the ability to speak during Citizen Comments, pulling the non-resident sign up sheet minutes before the last meeting. To Mt. Lebanon business owners, not living in Mt. Lebanon: You're out of luck. Mr. Bendel permitted non-residents to speak in two consecutive meetings prior to March 10, 2015. Non-residents have been permitted to speak on several occasions in the past. Cutting off Kelly during her presentation during the March 10 Discussion Session is unconscionable. Mr. Bendel, by pissing off residents over sidewalks, turf, reassessments, and now permitting a firm to inhumanely fire eleven shots to kill three deer, I predict that your chances of being reelected as a Ward 1 commissioner are bleak.

For the Public Information Office to decide what residents need to know is appalling. “We see no value to Mt. Lebanon residents of releasing daily reports,” said municipal spokeswoman [Public Misinformation Officer] Susan Morgans. She said officials worry about inflaming those opposed to the culling and don't want them to “put themselves in harm's way” to protest or disrupt the program. She continues to spew out unsubstantiated claims as to how many deer are in Mt. Lebanon, when Feller himself admitted he had no idea. The PIO perpetuates Benner's stories of vandalism to the media, yet quickly crushed Benner's accusation of Mt. Lebanon Police scaring off four deer. We are tired of your continual misinformation. Where is the LeboALERT announcing the end of the deer cull? Perhaps you should consider following Tom Kelley and Coleman McDonough's lead, Mrs. Stroyd Morgans.

Steve Feller, you've got to go. Lying to a commissioner by telling her that the corrals were being relocated, instead of reporting the end of killing, is grounds for a pink slip. You have been deceitful to residents and frankly, we've had enough of it. Surely, you can see the handwriting on the wall.

Kristen Linfante, please resign. You have done considerable damage to Mt. Lebanon. If you are too ill to serve, then resign. Flight attendants warn passengers, “In case there is a loss in cabin pressure, yellow oxygen masks will deploy from the ceiling compartment located above your head…” We are to take care of ourselves before trying to help others. Learn from that, Kristen. And no, I'm not into you. In fact, I have more than enough evidence to personally sue your sorry ass.

Dave Brumfield, you are a disgrace. You told us that you would never permit guns to be used on deer. Thanks to you, six deer died horrific deaths. For some strange reason, you permit Feller and Linfante to manipulate you. What do they have on you, Dave?

Steve Silverman, while we have you to thank for limiting Benner's fee to $500 per deer, it did cost taxpayers $15,000 for this yayhoo's "expertise." You claim that this was the number one issue when you were campaigning. I don't think what you approved was what your constituents had in mind. Do you think hearing reports of keeping deer trapped in corrals for an average of ninety minutes and then being tortured with multiple gunshots (eleven bullets to kill three deer) will make our Junior Commissioner proud? How about getting those twenty or so Deer Crossing signs sitting at Public Works installed? Open your mind to non-lethal methods for a change. At tomorrow's meeting, how about sitting up and looking at the public for a change. Directly answer a question when asked, for once.

Coleman McDonough, thank you for your years of service in Mt. Lebanon. I don't think guarding corn, allowing Benner to blame your police force for chasing away four deer, falsely accuse residents, who you are paid to protect, of vandalism, being manipulated by Kristen Linfante, and encouraging residents to have private hunts were the best decisions you ever made. You have turned Mt. Lebanon into a war zone. Unfortunately, this will be your legacy.

This cull has left our community deeply divided and will taint its reputation for years to come.

Just like Commission, PG is irresponsible

In today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, there is a correction.  Outdoors notebook: Hunting an option for Mt. Lebanon deer control

First, a correction. Mt. Lebanon's proposed Deer Management Archery Program on public properties -- suspended when Wildlife Management Unit 2B antlerless allocations sold out prior to the hunt -- included a provision stating, "Before an archer can harvest an antlered deer, he/she must harvest at least one antlerless deer." A December story wrongly stated that rule did not exist.

I am surprised that the troll cop from 9:16 PM who wrote this:

Also, Fraasch is incorrect about the need to seek Game Commission approval to hunt on private property.

sounds very much like:

"That's absolutely correct," said Mt. Lebanon police chief Coleman McDonough. "The Game Commission is accurate. If nobody is violating state game laws, hunting on private property is legal."

Do you suppose 9:39 AM from Lebo neighborhood has taken matters into their own hands and said:

Ok If you get it then stop whining about it. Also, before you or others get any ideas, It is specifically unlawful for anyone to interfere with or hinder a legal hunter while he or she is hunting.

And said:

The aformentioned law is what is to stop you.

knows Chief McDonough?  Why didn't 9:16/9:39 troll cop correct the PG when they made that statement?

The "good" news is now the PG is telling everyone that you can use any type of firearm on your property. Castle Shannon, Scott, Greentree, do you hear that? It isn't just in Mt. Lebanon. It is anywhere in the state. Feeling safe?

On the Tuesday, January 13 Discussion Session Agenda, there will be a thirty minute discussion on deer management.

6:30 P.M.
2. Follow-up on deer management.
Purpose: Review status of three applications for archery, trapping and sterilization to PA Game Commission and RFP for trap/euthanize services
Presenter: Tom Kelley, Coleman McDonough
Description: Provide commission with status update

I hope this will bring residents to the meeting. I don't know what else will.

Since the Chief and the PA Game Commission are advocating private hunting, I would like to see the $68,000 from the 2015 Budget and $12,000 from the 2014 Budget allocated for deer management removed and put into infrastructure. We should thank Kristen Linfante for dropping this bomb on us at the January 5 Discussion Session. We don't need funding anymore for deer management. Neighborhoods are taking matters into their own hands. Kristen, I know you wanted $100,000 set aside in the Budget for deer management. Thank you for being resourceful and finding a way to kill all of your deer for free.

Commissioners did not actually vote on the archery component

Finally, something truthful from our commission president. Mt. Lebanon calls off controlled deer hunt

Commissioners did not actually vote on the archery component, Ms. Linfante said.

Kristen is on a roll. A major, major roll.

“This is a major, major safety issue we’re dealing with,” Mt. Lebanon Commission President Kristen Linfante said.

The PG article continues with:

Since 2011 there have been 765 reported incidents involving the herbivorous menaces in the municipality, ranging from dead and injured deer to deer stuck in fences to deer “tearing up” a yard, according to an online tracker.

The "765 reported incidents" is a fictitious number. Deer sightings are being included as "reported incidents." For some unknown reason, I am included as one of those residents who reported an incident. That is a goddam lie. I NEVER REPORTED ANY INCIDENT!  How do I get that removed?

Kristen continues on Facebook.

Where the hell did 600 deer in Mt. Lebanon come from, Kristen? If deer are such a "major, major safety issue" in Mt. Lebanon, and there are "765 reported incidents," shouldn't you be reporting a negative number of deer? When filing Right To Knows, Lebo Citizens, please keep in mind that social media communication is to be included. That is why I ask for ALL communication, but Mr. Feller never includes that. Seriously, why do we have mtl Magazine on Facebook?

Kristen continues with the PG reporter by throwing Kelly Fraasch under the bus with another lie.

“On one hand I really hold some of my colleagues responsible who were resistant to coming up with any kind of deer plan at all,” Ms. Linfante said. “At least one of my colleagues is very happy that this thing fell through. I find that unfortunate.”

That colleague would be Ms. Fraasch, who favors a sterlization [sic] approach and said she had proposed a plan in 2012.

“I’ve obviously had concerns about doing anything lethal in Mt. Lebanon because of the density of the population, so I thought this was actually a bit of a relief,” Ms. Fraasch said. “I think it’s good for Mt. Lebanon to take a moment and make sure this is the right way to go with dealing with our deer-management issue.”

From Kelly Fraasch's December 7, 2012 blog posting, Deer in Mt. Lebanon,  Kelly met with over 30 people (some pro-cull, some anti-cull, and some in-between) trying to find mid ground. This year, Kelly has been working with six communities to institute a regional deer management plan to include sterilization. Kristen is well aware of that.

Many residents have concerns about doing anything lethal in Mt. Lebanon, especially on the golf course and in passive parks adjacent to elementary schools. The golf course was to remain open for business during the archery program, in hopes to collect additional revenue. In addition, the golf course attracts many families, who enjoy sled riding there, when there is snow on the ground.

What about our Public Information Officer?

Ms. Morgans said she “knew nothing about it.” She added that she learned Friday afternoon from the municipal manager about the lack of licenses. It is not clear why it took a week after the news release announcing the hunt for the municipality to learn that no licenses were available.

And the question we have all been asking, "Wouldn't the municipal staff who volunteered be licensed archers already?"

Some Mt. Lebanon employees who planned to volunteer for the bow hunt might already have licenses.
But, Chief McDonough said, “just because of the very small number of deer tags available we decided it wasn’t worth taking four or five.”

It's a Christmas miracle!

The archery program has been canceled. 

Pay no attention to what is on the Mt. Lebanon website home page as of 11:47 AM. 

No LeboAlert. 

The Trib's Matt Santoni published this today, December 22, 2014 at 10:06 AM. Archery hunting in Mt. Lebanon called off for now

The Post-Gazette published this December 22, 2014 at 10:24 AM Mt. Lebanon cancels deer archery cull

Lebo Citizens Blog:

Well, this is another fine mess.
Elaine

December 21, 2014 at 10:21 PM

Update December 22, 2014 12:05 PM Ahh, there it is.

Update December 22, 2014 12:06 PM All is calm. All is bright on the municipal website.

Update December 22, 5:04 PM The Almanac published this today, December 22, 2014 at 11:39 AM.  Lebo deer management hunt cancelled 

Chief McDonough said despite the cancellation of its Deer Management Archery Program, the township still has some options to reduce its deer population – including Capture and Bolt, a harvesting program, or a sterilization program. He declined to go into detail about either plan and said the issue will likely be addressed at the Jan. 14 township meeting.

“It does not mean the commission is stepping back,” from the deer problem, said Susan Morgans, a township spokesperson. “There was only a short period of time to get this together.”

And that is her story and she is sticking to it. Chief McDonough did get it together in time. In addition, the commission meeting is on January 13, not January 14, 2015.

Important message from Chief Coleman McDonough

CALL 9-1-1!!!  

An important reminder from Chief Coleman McDonough….

As a relative newcomer to Mt. Lebanon (I’ve only been the Chief of Police here for five years), perhaps I’m just not yet familiar with some of the customs or traditions that have evolved here over time. Many Mt. Lebanon residents pride themselves on their welcoming attitude toward strangers, and go out of their way to welcome new people to their neighborhoods. Based on recent events, I can only assume that as an extension of that spirit of hospitality, some of our residents are apparently NOT alarmed when they run into strangers inside their own homes. Were our residents suitably alarmed, one might assume they would CALL THE POLICE when they encounter intruders in their homes.

Recently we’ve had at least two occasions when Mt. Lebanon residents have discovered strangers inside their homes. In both cases, the residents waited literally hours to call 911 to report the intruders.   Another resident discovered a strange man attempting to turn the knob on the front door; she too failed to call the police for several hours. Two of these three incidents occurred on the same day and in the same neighborhood as another successful burglary.

The Mt. Lebanon Police can help deter crime here, but without citizens taking common sense steps to assist us, our mission is much more difficult.  Compare the failure of our burglary/trespass victims to call 911 to a recent robbery victim’s actions; by immediately dialing 911, the robbery victim ensured we were able to quickly respond and take two suspects into custody within minutes.

If you believe a crime may be occurring, or if you simply think something is suspicious, please don’t hesitate toCALL 911 IMMEDIATELY. If it turns out to be just a “misunderstanding”, we’ll sort that out when we get there. Better to apologize to someone who mistakenly enters your home than to allow a burglar to walk away and return to your neighborhood to prey on you and your neighbors.

If you suspect something isn’t right, here’s the short version:

What NOT to do:

-          Wait for your wife or husband to come home?         NOPE

-          Call Aunt Myrtle for advice?                                          NOPE

-          Email your Mt. Lebanon Commissioner?                   NOPE

-          Call the maintenance man at your church?               NOPE

-          Post a query on Facebook?                                             NOPE

What to DO:

                                       CALL 911

                Repeat after me .  . .       CALL 911 !!!!!!

"Schools, the Role of the State, Parent and the Community" UPDATED

mtl -- Mt. Lebanon Magazine shared a link.

September 10

mtl -- Mt. Lebanon Magazine

State Rep. Dan Miller invites you to attend a public hearing with between five and 10 state representatives, Tuesday, Sept. l7, from 2 to 4 in tMt. Lebanon Municipal Building. The discussion is titled "Schools, the Role of the State, Parent and the Community. " Many local people, including Dr. Tim Steinhauer, Commissioners Kristen Linfante and Kelly Fraasch, Police Chief Coileman McDonough, PTA President Julie Daubner, School Director Jo Posti and MRTSA's Todd Pritchard will testify. For detailed information, visit http://www.pahouse.com/Miller/

From Dan Miller's website:

Please join state Rep. Dan Miller and members of the House Democratic Policy Committee for an upcoming public hearing in your community.

EXPECTED TESTIFIERS/PARTICIPANTS:

Part 1: State-School Relationship

Dr. Tim Steinhauer – Superintendent, Mt. Lebanon School District
Dr. William Stropkaj – Superintendent, Keystone Oaks School District
Ms. Nancy Rose – Superintendent, Bethel Park School District

Part 2: Parent-school Relationship and the Parental Involvement Leave Act

Julie Daubner – President, Mt. Lebanon Council PTA
Kristen Linfante – Parent and Mt. Lebanon Commissioner
Cindy Duch – Director of Parent Advising, Peal Center

Part 3: Community-School Relationship

Coleman McDonough – Chief of Police, Mt. Lebanon Police Dept.
Josephine Posti – Mt. Lebanon Drug Taskforce and Director, Mt. Lebanon School Board
Kelly Fraasch – Mt. Lebanon Drug Taskforce and Mt. Lebanon Commissioner
Todd Pritchard – Mt. Lebanon Drug Taskforce and Chief, Medical Rescue Team South Authority