Innovation

In a town with its own magazine and fistfuls of bloggers comes Real Lebo.com, the newest blog on the block in Mt. Lebanon.

Neighbors Elaine LaBalme and Kristen Linfante, working moms who live several houses apart on Roycroft Avenue, hope to bring a fresh perspective and positive spirit to the community, especially in these contentious times when local political leaders and wordsmiths are waging their campaigns regarding the local high school renovation on the Internet.

Both LaBalme and Linfante stress that the blog will remain balanced and upbeat.

"My husband and I consciously choose to live here," says LaBalme, known to Pop City readers as New Girl in Town. "It's okay to accent the positive, raise questions when needed but be civil and create community."

LaBalme's first blog was MamasforObama, launched during the presidential campaign; the story of how she and her husband picked Mt. Lebanon in a nationwide search for the perfect place to raise their son appeared in Pop City.

"I've found that you have to work a little harder to make your own community when you weren't born here," adds Linfante, a professional freelance violist who moved here when her husband took a seat with the Pittsburgh Symphony.

The two have been active in their elementary school, the PTA and are regulars at school board meetings where they weigh in on the high school project. Funny thing--they could have met eight years ago when each gave birth to their sons who were born on the same day and same floor of a San Francisco hospital one hour apart.

Real Lebo invites commentary, but there are rules: Play nice. Be civil. No anonymous posts and if a thread goes on too long and no longer serves a positive purpose, it will be snipped.

After all, it's our blog, says LaBalme.

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Elaine LaBalme, Kristen Linfante and Mike Madison

Photo copyright Fen LaBalme

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