Bloggers

For more than 10 years, Mt. Lebanon residents, students, expats and those connected to our community have shared stories on the LeboLife blog. Some are professional writers, some are not. But they all have a love for our community and want a place to share their perspectives. LeboLife bloggers have covered everything from the best bars and restaurants in town to personal stories of growing up, finding a career path and raising a family.

Below you’ll find a list of our current bloggers. If you’re interested in joining the ranks, let us know. Email Rachel Windsor and include 2-3 writing samples, along with ideas you’d like to write about.

 

young woman in black long sleeve shirt with arms crossed leaning on a tan wall smiling with long brown hair

Adrienne Cahillane is a Mt. Lebanon 2022 graduate and Lebo native. She completed the Public Information Office internship in 2024. Adrienne is a senior at Pitt majoring in Public and Professional Writing and Political Science. She enjoys writing event coverage, blogs and feature stories. Adrienne often finds inspiration through an Orbis Latte and a walk outside.

 

woman with shoulder length hair and a black shirt smiling, black and white background behind her

Ann Cipriani is a Mt. Lebanon resident and retiree with a BA in Journalism/Advertising from Penn State University. She previously owned the Sheraton Hotel gift shops and Woody’s Dog Wash & Pet Boutique in South Park and worked as a freelance copywriter. She volunteers as a reading tutor at various Pittsburgh Public Schools through Oasis and Pittsburgh Literary Council and is a huge dog rescue advocate. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, particularly to Italy, the Caribbean, and US beaches and national parks. She is married, with two adult children and three grandchildren.

 

woman with long hair and blue short sleeve shirt smilingLizzie Diller is an attorney and mother of three wild and wonderful boys. She is a proud graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University School of Law. Lizzie loves living in the Pittsburgh area and has no plans to leave, ever! She is passionate about Mt. Lebanon and feels at home in this community. Lizzie and her husband are big supporters of the Mt. Lebanon schools, and she is active in the PTA at Washington Elementary. On the weekends you can find her working at The Seesaw Center, a local non-profit play place for children and their families. Lizzie is always looking for new blogging ideas and feedback about what she’s written so far. You can reach her at ldiller6@gmail.com.

 

headshot of woman with brown hair smilingJennifer Ganser is originally from the North Hills, but moved to Mt. Lebanon in 2020 with her husband, Dave. They have two young daughters, Lillian (7) and Josephine (4). Jennifer studied Communications Media and Journalism at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, then went on to work in broadcast news as a news reporter anchor for nearly a decade in Johnstown, PA, Charlottesville, VA, Austin, TX and Steubenville, OH. She produced weekly segments titled “Shining Stars” where she highlighted people in the community making a positive impact.  While she covered her fair share of hard news over the years, bringing attention to unsung hometown heroes was the most rewarding, which is why she was called to the LeboLife Blogs. When Jennifer is not spending time with her family, taking her girls to various activities and play dates,  you can find her volunteering for their schools, running with her husband, watching reality TV, or exercising at BURN Boot Camp Bethel Park, where she started working in 2024. She is also passionate about volunteering for the Mt. Lebanon Relay for Life. If you know someone with a story to highlight, she would love to hear about it! Please feel free to email her at jenniferlynnblack@gmail.com.

 

woman with sunglasses and short hair smiling in front of a lakeAbigail Schade Gary grew up in Mt. Lebanon, went away to college, and lived for decades in the New York area, where she raised three sons and three greyhounds and wrote copy for major ad agencies. She and her husband recently retired to Mt. Lebanon, where she appreciates the low housing prices, restaurant scene and lack of traffic. She’s still getting used to the Pittsburgh accent, however.

 

woman with short blonde hair and black shirt smiling

Karen Gottschall wrote her first blog by happenstance after she was hired as the administrator for Mt. Lebanon’s Public Information Office, and she couldn’t be more pleased how things worked out. She grew up in Baldwin Township, then after college lived in Northern Virginia, working at the Washingtonian Magazine, and Philadelphia before moving back to Pittsburgh to raise her children. Settling in Dormont, she was a stay-at-home mom for 17 years, then spent 7 years at the circulation desk at the Mt. Lebanon Library, followed by several administrative positions. Karen enjoys staying active with exercise, live music, microbrews, spending time with her adult children (wherever they happen to be living at the time), and travel near and far.

 

A woman with curly hair and glasses smiles, wearing a floral-patterned top.Cathy Kaplan grew up in Upper St. Clair and eventually made her way over to Mt. Lebanon, where she now resides. She graduated from Duquesne University with a Bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Communications. She works for the Mt. Lebanon High School’s Athletic Office and also has spent time on the Steering Committee for Foundation Fighting Blindness Vision Walk. Cathy squeezes in as much writing as she can at night. She lives with her husband, daughter, a dog and three cats … and of course, fish. When not writing or working, Cathy and her family spend the weekends hiking, camping and being outside. They do anything they can with their dog, Nukka.

 

woman with short dark hair and a white top smiling with closet doors in backgroundThespine Kavoulakis, a nearly life-long resident of Mt. Lebanon, moved to a new home in La Jolla, California last year when her husband became Chancellor of UC San Diego. Thespine spends the school year in California with two of her three children, but commutes back to Pittsburgh with them during school breaks and summer vacation to catch up with her friends, family and older child, whose job it is to ship regular supplies of Mineo’s pizza, chipped ham and Utz pretzels to California. Along with raising three children, Thespine has spent the last 25 years as a freelance writer, both in corporate and business communications as well as magazines. In her dreams, she would like to be organized and have a clean car, but at the moment she is distracted with a variety of endeavors that mostly focus on what each of us can do to make this world a better place for everybody.

 

A smiling person with curly hair is facing the camera against a dark background.

Maura Linehan is a native of Mt. Lebanon and a graduate of Robert Morris University with a degree in Psychology. Outside her coursework, Maura has had a long interest in journalism and has been a student journalist at both Mt. Lebanon High School and RMU. Her journalism has been recognized by organizations that include the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation, the Pennsylvania News Media Association, and the Society of Collegiate Journalists. Since graduating, Maura has returned to her home town and started her career with UPMC Asbury Heights and is now the Activities Director for Concordia South Hills.

 

young woman with brown and blonde hair in blue shirt smiles with trees in background

Ella Magaw is a Mt. Lebanon Class of ’23 graduate and a current student at The Ohio State University majoring in Public Affairs and pursing a combined Master of Public Administration degree. Ella is also a former intern for the Public Information Office and Mt. Lebanon Magazine. Her parents and adorable dog still live in Mt. Lebanon, where they moved from North Carolina in 2014. Ella loves to write about the many incredible aspects of the Mt. Lebanon community from the people, to the food, to the schools and more.

 

A smiling woman with long, wavy brown hair is wearing a dark green sweater against a plain white background.

Molly McNamara grew up in Upper St. Clair before attending Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where she majored in Marketing and English Professional Writing. After college, she moved back to Pittsburgh and now works for DICK’s Sporting Goods in the Vertical Brands Department. Molly loves living in the walkable and friendly community of Mt. Lebanon and was thrilled to start writing blogs, as reading and writing are among her greatest passions. She also loves dining locally, spending time with friends and family, traveling, and reading as many books as possible.

 

headshot of young person with short hair and grey/blue long sleeve shirtBrynn Murawski is a Mt. Lebanon alumnus and a student at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in film production and nonfiction writing. At Pitt, she’s the assistant opinions editor for The Pitt News, head writer for Pitt Tonight, the PR chair of Steel City Entertainment Networking Entity (SCENE), and an editor for Forbes & Fifth. When she’s back in Lebo you’ll find her at home with her miniature dachshunds or at Mullett’s eating beer cheese fries.

 

headshot of woman with short hair and glasses smilingCarrie Moniot is an Emmy award winning broadcast journalist and former content creator for Mt. Lebanon Magazine who’s gone the freelance route. She spent most of her career at KDKA-TV and WPXI-TV, before becoming student media advisor at Robert Morris University, and teaching at both RMU and her alma mater Point Park University. Moniot is a member of the Board of Governors for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences mid-Atlantic region. In her spare time, you can find her rooting on Pittsburgh’s sports teams, especially the Pittsburgh Pirates, helping to “roadie” her husband Drew’s many musical gigs and caring for their two-year-old rat terrier Emmy.

 

woman with short brown hair, glasses and black jacket smiles in front of green treeNichola Moretti is an instructor for Axios Tutoring of the South Hills and a former adjunct professor at Robert Morris University and the Community College of Allegheny County’s North and West Campuses. Among other roles, she has worked as a photographer, writer, editor and blogger. In 2005, she moved with her two boys and their dad to Mt. Lebanon, where Anthony and Nichola are now exploring the glories of an empty nest.

 

man with buzz cut and mustache wearing sunglasses and purple t shirt smiles in front of brick wallRob Papke moved to Mt. Lebanon from Denver in 1995. Prior to becoming a stay-at-home parent for the past 17 years, he spent 20 years in the restaurant industry. In those two decades, he developed a love for cooking, especially with fresh seasonal ingredients and knowledge of French, Italian and Californian wines. As a stay-at-home parent, he learned how to give a piece of furniture a second life by rescuing discarded items from the trash and transforming them into works of beauty. When his children started high school, the volunteer work within the PTA began to wane, so he decided to re-enter the work force and took a job in the fashion world. His time in the world of fashion has given him a new understanding of the interplay of colors, patterns and fabric. He enjoys cooking, gardening, photography, music, art, non-fiction, history, politics, visiting museums, environmental concerns and hiking.

 

headshot of woman smiling with glasses and long brown hair

Lindi Pastorius grew up in North Carolina, but when she moved to Pittsburgh in 2009, she knew Lebo was the place she would call home. She holds two master’s degrees: one in journalism and one in English. She is also a wife, a mom to her two children and stepson, and she spends her days working as a freelance writer.

 

professional headshot of young woman with blonde hair smiling

Tess Reinhart is a 2022 Mt. Lebanon High School graduate, born and raised in Mt. Lebanon. Tess completed the Public Information Office internship in summer 2024, and is currently a junior at the University of Notre Dame pursuing a degree in American Studied and Journalism, Ethics, and Democracy. Tess and her parents, two younger sisters, and two dogs, Jackie and Frankie, have called Mt. Lebanon home for her 20 years of life.

 

man with short grey hair and blue jacket sitting in chair poses for photoAl Vrabel was born in Clairton, PA, to a family of 11 children. Though he has lived in Mt. Lebanon for 39 years, he remains proud of his Clairton roots and often writes about growing up in a steel town where everyone’s dad worked in the mill. Al attended Duquesne University where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in English in 1975 and also attended graduate school. He pursued various career paths throughout his life, including being an insurance agent, stockbroker, and piano salesman. An avid runner and fitness enthusiast, Al has competed in the Pittsburgh Marathon and has run in every Great Race since that event started more than 30 years ago. Besides writing poetry, essays and short stories for his own enjoyment, Al loves music, singing, composing songs and playing both the piano and guitar. Now retired, Al enjoys golfing, traveling, spending time with his wife Diane and son Mark, and taking classes at the University of Pittsburgh’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

 

woman with long wavy brown hair and purple top smiles outdoorsDiane Vrabel is a Pittsburgh native who has lived in Mt. Lebanon for 36 years. A baby boomer, she grew up during the ‘60s in the nearby neighborhood of Brookline. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in journalism from Duquesne University, she started working for the Internal Revenue Service in 1977. Throughout her 36-year career, she held various positions within the agency, including tax specialist, manager, instructor, newsletter editor, and training coordinator. She also obtained a master’s degree in communications from Duquesne in 1991. Since retiring in 2013, Diane has been immersing herself in a wide range of fun activities. She does freelance writing, volunteers at the Mt. Lebanon Library’s Book Cellar, takes art and exercise classes, and is learning to play the piano. Other things she enjoys are reading, drawing, traveling, hiking and bicycling. She has been a volunteer for the Mt. Lebanon School District PTSA and is an active member of the National Treasury Employees Union. Diane lives on Arden Road with her husband, Al, and son, Mark. She is thrilled to contribute to the LeboLife blog since writing is her biggest passion.