From the beginning, the strategy behind The Lebo Beat was clear: Make it about Mt. Lebanon—but just as importantly, make it by Mt. Lebanon. The goal was to build a community newspaper powered by people who live here, love here and understand the rhythms of the community. That approach allows the paper to be authentic, transparent and genuine.
That goal has been met. The Lebo Beat is powered by a team of writers and contributors who bring deep professional experience, along with strong local ties, to telling Mt. Lebanon’s stories. Below are some of the people behind the paper. More contributors will be featured in future issues.
Stacey Reibach and her husband, Andy—an emergency room physician at St. Clair Hospital—moved to Mt. Lebanon in 2005 and have never regretted the decision. Their children benefited from what Reibach describes as an outstanding education and went on to attend their colleges of choice. Professionally, Reibach worked for three Pennsylvania state senators from 2013 to 2020, followed by roles in community affairs and freelance event planning.
Jennifer Ganser lives on Firwood Drive with her husband, Dave, and daughters Lily and Josephine. A North Hills native and North Allegheny graduate, she returned to the Pittsburgh area knowing Mt. Lebanon’s charm was the right fit for her family. Ganser earned a degree in communications media and journalism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and spent a decade as a broadcast news reporter and anchor in Johnstown, Pa.; Charlottesville, Va.; Austin, Texas; and Steubenville, Ohio. She enjoys telling human-interest stories that highlight people making a positive impact and is passionate about volunteering with the Mt. Lebanon Relay for Life, benefiting the American Cancer Society.
Lauren Cefalo Moore is a Mt. Lebanon native who now lives just two blocks from her childhood home in Mission Hills. A graduate of Mt. Lebanon High School’s Class of 1991, she went on to study advertising and creative writing at West Virginia University. Moore began her career in advertising and design before moving into corporate marketing, spending 12 years at PPG Industries. She now runs a freelance marketing business from home alongside her husband, John. The couple is raising their children, Charlotte, a junior, and Burk, an eighth-grader, in Mt. Lebanon and values the schools, athletics, businesses and neighbors that define the community.
Rick Shrum has been a professional journalist since 1975 and has lived in
Mt. Lebanon with his family for more than 32 years.
Sarah Core is a writer, editor and graphic designer who has lived in Mt. Lebanon for more than a decade. A longtime newspaper reporter, she has covered stories ranging from murder trials to presidential campaigns. Core earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of Wooster and a master’s degree in journalism from Indiana University Bloomington. Her father’s family has lived in Mt. Lebanon since the 1960s, and she recently published her grandmother’s memoir, Zelie Girl, which chronicles growing up in Western Pennsylvania.
Laurie Garvey is a lifelong Mt. Lebanon resident with deep roots in the community. She built her professional career in the customer experience space, shaping customer journeys at global pharmaceutical company GSK and later at innovative startups including BodyMedia, 4moms and GAMMA Sports. Garvey is committed to giving back and volunteers her time to causes that matter to her. She has served as an active board member of the Friends of the Mt. Lebanon Public Library since 2022.
Scarlett Sweeney is a senior at Mt. Lebanon High School and has lived in Mt. Lebanon her entire life. She is a co-founder of Mini-THON, an organization that supports childhood cancer research; editor in chief of the high school newspaper, The Devil’s Advocate; manager of the girl’s lacrosse team; a Medallion Ball recipient; and a Future Business Leaders of America national qualifier. She also works at a hair salon and as a nanny. Sweeney plans to study business with a concentration in marketing and a minor in communications, and she hopes to write for her college newspaper.
Marilee Kline has lived in Mt. Lebanon since 1998. She began her sports photography journey covering Mt. Lebanon freshman football in 2018 and expanded to additional high school sports in the years that followed. Highlights of her work include covering the 2021 state championship and photographing the Case Western Reserve Spartans, where her son, James, recently concluded his football career. She received the Blue Devil Club Youth Appreciation Award in 2022 and works as a freelance photographer for Mt. Lebanon Magazine.
Ken Lager is a Mt. Lebanon-based photographer with a passion for many aspects of the craft. His work includes covering fires for the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department, taking portraits for the Mt. Lebanon Police Department, photographing real estate throughout Mt. Lebanon and the greater Pittsburgh area, and creating family portraits for friends’ holiday cards. He began his photography career covering the New York City Marathon and endurance races such as Tough Mudder while living in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Ken has lived in Mt. Lebanon since 2015 with his wife and high school-aged son. The family serves as dedicated foster volunteers for Animal Advocates and has helped place more than 50 cats into permanent homes.
Together, The Lebo Beat’s contributors bring decades of journalism, photography, communications and community experience, along with a shared commitment to telling the stories that matter most to Mt. Lebanon.
Interest in contributing to The Lebo Beat continues to grow, and all inquiries are welcome. Those interested in working with or contributing to the newspaper may email me at info@lebobeat.com.
