What do you do when... UPDATED

you had a bad experience with a local business and it is virtually impossible to leave a bad review? I was taken off their mailing list, blocked on Facebook, and my reputation was smeared. Since I was blocked on Facebook, I couldn't leave a review.  I went on Yelp. I left a well thought out review (not a rant and even complimenting when credit was due) on Yelp, only to have them get it removed from Yelp. The Yelp legal department called it, "a conflict of interest," citing that I was a former employee. Sorry, Yelp, I was never an employee. 

Only rave reviews are left, some by relatives of employees.  Other positive reviews are given by sympathetic customers who listen to the sob stories.  Shouldn't the public have the right to read ALL reviews, both good and bad? We are talking about purchases that are worth thousands of dollars.

Going to the Better Business Bureau is not an option. They have been reported to the BBB through the years - not by me, but by others. 

My money is no good there. Oh yeah. They are always on the Mt. Lebanon tax lien list every year.  Even the IRS is after them. All public information and well documented. They may think that they won, but you can't keep treating your best customers like crap. It does catch up to you, sooner or later.

Update December 2, 2018 9:28 AM There is legislation which supports consumer rights and the integrity of critical feedback about products and services.

Yes, You Can Post That Negative Online Review, Says Congress

It's not as complicated as it looks.

Don't let this scare you.

I made it all the way to the end of the flow chart, but it did cost $7000 for the PA Supreme Court to tell me that they wouldn't hear the Petition for Allowance of Appeal. We don't have the Right To Know where lethal weapons are being discharged on Mt. Lebanon private properties. 

Lamb didn't sign

In threat to Pelosi, 16 Dems say they’ll back new leadership

U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-18, Mount Lebanon, who won the new 17th Congressional District seat on Nov. 6, did not sign the letter, although he has expressed his opposition to having Pelosi serve as Speaker. A Lamb spokeswoman said Monday that nothing had changed, noting that Lamb has repeatedly stated after the election that he would not vote for Pelosi in caucus or in a House floor vote.

Uptown Parking Meters

Mt. Lebanon will not be enforcing the parking meters on Thanksgiving, Black Friday nor Small Business Saturday. The garages will be managed on a regular schedule.

The Municipality will also be rolling out the "Courtesy Ticket Program" beginning Monday, December 10th and that will carry on till Wednesday, January 2nd. Customers are extended a 'grace period' of one hour after a meter expires as a Holiday courtesy. A green courtesy ticket is issued on expired meters that inform the driver of the bonus. After the one hour a standard ticket would be issued (i.e. with a fee).

All you need is a bachelor's degree in ANY subject

Have a bachelor's degree in ANY subject? You can join the team to provide the best education possible for each and every student!

Lebo Youth Field Hockey Fundraiser

This was their fundraiser last year.  Unwanted Paint Disposal ~ November 4th & 11th
and The best fundraiser ever - going on now and next week!

No more comments

You may have noticed a drop in comments in the past couple of months. I have not been accepting most of the ones submitted. The haters are having a field day here.

It is ending now.

Closurer?

Latest LeboAlert.

Don't forget to see how much is budgeted for the Public Information Office for 2019. Budget sessions scheduled are listed here. http://mtlebanon.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=871

After the election

Update November 7, 2018 7:00 AM

Oh my!

The Post-Gazette endorses Keith Rothfus. Keith Rothfus for Congress: The PG endorses Rothfus in 17th District

Wouldn't you know it? I switched parties so that I could vote for Ray for PA He was the only candidate who was against AR-15, the weapon of war. Conor Lamb ran an ad where he was firing an AR 15 and the voiceover was "Conor still loves to shoot."

I would love to know what his position is with assault weapons now. Robert Bowers used an AR-15, all purchased legally, at the Tree of Life Synagogue.

The Post-Gazette is also endorsing Scott Wagner. 145 comments of name calling followed the editorial.

The haters will come out of the woodwork for this one. And I don't care.

The first responders are heroes in my book. Thank you, Mr. President and First Lady for coming to Pittsburgh and thanking them. They deserved it.

This is what USC is doing.UPDATED

We live in a school district where the superintendent laughed when he heard about swastikas drawn in Washington Elementary playground mulch. This is what Upper St. Clair is doing.

From: Upper St. Clair School District <tvojtko@uscsd.k12.pa.us>
Date: Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 4:06 PM
Subject: USCSD: School counselors available
To: Upper St. Clair Families

Dear Upper St. Clair Families:

Our region, our nation, and the world are stunned by the horrific event that occurred Saturday morning at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill. For our families that have been affected directly or indirectly, please know we are here for you.

As adults, it is challenging to find the right words in the face of such adversity. Imagine how difficult it can be for our children. Below please find several resources for talking with children about tragic events.

• Talking with Children about Tragic Events, The National Center for Grieving Children & Families
• Talking to Children About Tragedies & Other News Events, American Academy of Pediatrics
• How to talk to children about difficult news, American Psychological Association

I hope these are helpful to you as we try to move forward together, while supporting our Jewish community and those who have been impacted by this senseless and unimaginable violence. Please know that our school counselors are here to help if your child shows any signs of distress.

Tomorrow and Tuesday are scheduled professional development days for district staff, with no school scheduled for students. However, school counselors will be in the buildings and available if your child needs them prior to returning to school on Wednesday. A full listing of the district’s school counselors, including contact information, is provided below. If you are unable to reach your child’s counselor directly, please contact the main office for assistance. 

We offer our deepest sympathy to those who have been affected by this tragic event. As always, our district staff will be there to support our students.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. John T. Rozzo
Superintendent of Schools

---

School Counselors

Baker Elementary
Kristin Rose: 412-833-1600, ext. 4010  |  krose@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Eisenhower Elementary
Amy Miller: 412-833-1600, ext. 8010  | amiller@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Streams Elementary
Leslie Smirniw: 412-833-1600, ext. 6010  |  lsmirniw@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Boyce Middle School
Amy Antonio, 5th Grade Counselor:  412-833-1600, ext. 5011  |  aantonio@uscsd.k12.pa.us
Tonia Autieri, 6th Grade Counselor:  412-833-1600, ext. 5010  |  tautieri@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Fort Couch Middle School
Jace Palmer, 8th Grade Counselor:  412-833-1600, ext. 3011  |  jpalmer@uscsd.k12.pa.us
Lauren Madia, 7th Grade Counselor:  412-833-1600, ext. 3010  |  lmadia@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Upper St. Clair High School 
(click here for counselor assignments)
Jennifer Kirk: 412-833-1600, ext. 2403  |  jkirk@uscsd.k12.pa.us
Jerry Malarkey: 412-833-1600, ext. 2401  |  jmalarkey@uscsd.k12.pa.us
Thomas Marquis:  412-833-1600, ext. 2406  |  tmarquis@uscsd.k12.pa.us
Gordon Mathews:  412-833-1600, ext. 2402  |  gmathews@uscsd.k12.pa.us
Kristin Pardini:  412-833-1600, ext. 2404  |  kpardini@uscsd.k12.pa.us
William Rullo:  412-833-1600, ext. 2400  |  brullo@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Update October 29, 2018 3:40 PM

In Response to the Tree of Life Shooting: Community Resources

Letter to Parents from Dr. Timothy Steinhauer

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.

Deer blood and fur on Safe Walking Route

These photos were taken this morning around 8:00 AM. Lots of blood on Washington Road, heading north, just before the light at Castle Shannon Blvd. Definitely the result of bow killing. This is horrible on so many levels!

Deer blood and fur in library parking lot.

Close up of blood on sidewalk on Mellon’s safe walking route.

From opposite direction. Note that all this blood is within the school zone.

Deer blood and fur in library parking lot.

Blood on Washington Road—from the parking lot steps, dwindling down just before the traffic light at Castle Shannon Blvd.

Announcements currently on the School District website

MTLSD appeals PA Office of Open Records' Final Determination

On April 17, 2018, Josephine Posti submitted a Right To Know to the school district, asking for "all electronic communications, including text messages, between and among school directors between December 2017 and March 2018 regarding support for or against the District's capital campaign or its rebranded effort titled "Lebo Gives."

The District partially denied Josephine Posti's request, so Josephine appealed to the PA Office of Open Records.

On August 24, 2018, the OOR issued a Final Determination. Posti's appeal was denied in part and granted in part.

MTLSD wants the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas to reverse the OOR Final Determination for the following reason:

Electronic communications sent among less than a quorum of the District's school board members on their personal devices and accounts are not records of the District.

I wish I could download the document. Here is the link to the petition.
https://dcr.alleghenycounty.us/Civil/CaseSearchByCaseNumber.aspx?CasID=SA-18-000773