On Sun, Jan 31, 2016 at 12:26 PM, Aaron Lauth <alauth@mtlebanon.org> wrote:
Ms. XXXXXXX,
All safe walking routes are recommended routes of travel that are established using public streets and their adjoining sidewalks (where appropriate). No safe walking routes recommend that children walk through private property during their travels to and from school. Also, none of the public properties identified for use during the sharpshooting activities are recommended for travel by the established safe walking routes.
Since the established safe walking routes encompass nearly all of Mt. Lebanon, you are correct that some of the private properties that have been selected for culling activities may be adjacent to public streets and sidewalks where these recommended routes exist.
As you are aware, the MLPD has been tasked with evaluating the safety of the culling activities throughout the program. As part of this safety analysis, specific criteria and a site inspection team have been established. The site inspection team consists of White Buffalo professionals and two Mt. Lebanon police officers who have extensive training as police marksmen and have participated on our regional Critical Incident Response Team. They will evaluate each potential location based on a variety of factors, including shooter position, elevation to be used, sight lines/obstructions, proposed weapons (.22/.223), minimum/maximum target range, backdrop selection, potential for human activity, proximity to any safe walking route and compliance with the 1000-foot Gun Free School Zone criteria applicable to public properties.
As I'm sure you are also aware, safety zones and setbacks are not required for a sharpshooting cull permitted by the PA Game Commission, however all efforts will be made to eliminate the potential for any human conflict at any of the proposed culling locations. Based on our preliminary discussions with White Buffalo, locations will be selected mostly because they are isolated from any potential conflicts that could have an influence on safety or the culling activities.
As is evidenced by the established protocols listed above, safety will always be the top priority of this culling program.
Thanks,
Aaron V. LauthChief of PoliceMt Lebanon Police Department555 Washington RoadPittsburgh, PA 15228
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 sequenceI 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.
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
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.
Mt. Lebanon has released the results of the archery hunt conducted for the municipality through White Buffalo Inc., along with reports from hunters on private properties.
Total Deer Harvest: 104
Hunter Cooperative – 20; White Buffalo Hunters - 84
Antlered – 8; Antlerless – 96 (10 male, 86 female)
Total Female Harvest - 86; Total Male Harvest – 18
Percent Female Harvest – 83%
Hunter Cooperative Harvest Information
Deer Harvested – 20
Male – 4; Female – 16
Antlered – 2
Antlerless – 18 (male – 2, female – 16)
Percent Female Harvest – 80%
White Buffalo Harvest Information
Deer Harvested – 84
Male – 14 Female - 70
Antlered - 6
Antlerless – 78 (male – 8, female – 70)
% Female Harvest – 83%
Public Property Harvest – 43 Private Property Harvest - 41
Deer donated to Hunters Sharing the Harvest (HSH) – 63
% of White Buffalo harvest donated – 75%
Estimated meat donated based on HSH formula – 2,520 pounds
Charities Benefiting From Donations: Bethany Presbyterian Church, Jubilee Soup Kitchen, Greater Washington Food Bank, Link in the Chain Ministries, Monongahela Food Bank, West Hills Food Pantry
Dear Mt. Lebanon Alumni,
This is just a reminder that your membership to the Mt. Lebanon High School Alumni Association is going to expire in 30 days.
Please visit the site to renew your membership: http://www.mtlalumni.org Username: XXXXXX
Thanks!
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Hi Keith and Aaron,
Keith wrote, "The Police Department is the department tasked with ensuring the safety of the public, which includes this program. As such I will defer to Chief Lauth or Deputy Chief Gallagher for any additional response to your questions related to public safety."I am still waiting for answers to my questions asked nine days ago. I looked on the MLPD website and saw nothing about the deer "sharpshooting." I did see the warning about the IRS scam, but nothing about deer. As I consider myself as one "who has an interest in the issue," I am unable to find the information.Since this is time sensitive, I really don't want to file a Right To Know, knowing that it would take 35 days. I am interested in:1. Setback requirements for "sharpshooting."2. All types of "fixed elevated locations" used for MTL "sharpshooting."3. The justification for having two different start times for "sharpshooting" in public vs. private properties.4. The hours that the "sharpshooters" have permission to enter all properties for both baiting and "sharpshooting."5. CurfewsElaine Gillen
Aaron:
My issue with sharpshooting is concerning school dismissal. Mellon Middle School dismisses at 2:58PM. My daughter walks home to Sunset Hills from Mellon. Occasionally, she must stay after school for various reasons. (After School Activities, meeting with a teacher, etc.) In those cases, she will be walking home starting at 4:00PM. How can I be certain that my daughter will not encounter a sharpshooter?
I'm all for hunting, but in areas that are not densely populated.
Concerned mother
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| Entrance to Robb Hollow |
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| Public Works |
Officials have not identified the hunters or properties where deer hunting occurred, despite an open-records push to do so.That is a quote from the Trib's Mt. Lebanon deer culling to resume on Monday. The open-records push reference? That would be me. My case is on February 26, 2016.
Tim,
Thank you for sending out the following announcement.
"The information is in regards to a municipal deer management program"
"Please note the activity is scheduled to occur..."
"Program" and "activity" are all safe words. Why are you avoiding words such as "killing" or "shooting" to describe the municipal deer killing that will start on February 1? Even "management" is just sugar coated for killing.
Why aren't you taking some responsibility for this? Shouldn't you be able to provide answers to concerned parents? Instead, you are passing it on to the municipality and Mt. Lebanon police. Mt. Lebanon police are being asked to protect bait, keep smokers out of parks, and follow up on 911 calls for gun shots and drug deals.
I do want to commend you for actually mentioning the hours that the killing will occur. Our municipality is of the belief that if a person is truly interested, he or she will dig for answers.
Incidentally, the commission has learned from the school district that concerned residents do not deserve a response. Bravo, elected officials. Bravo.
Elaine Gillen
