The Almanac - April 12, 2026

AMERICA AT 250 A journey through time, told through our communities

What began as an experiment in self-governance rooted in personal freedom and liberty has grown into the world’s most unique and important nation: the United States of America. Here, we can, within the boundaries of the law, do, say and think what we wish; we can worship as we choose; we have taxation with representation; the American Dream remains a real, living concept; and so much more. As President Ronald Reagan so aptly said in describing America’s exceptionalism, we remain, in the eyes of the rest of the world, that “shining city on a hill.” But here at home, the mood has shifted in recent years. Too many of our friends and neighbors believe the American Dream — the idea that, through hard work, everyone can get ahead — no longer is attainable. We see our friends and family members protesting regularly over actions for which they do not agree.

But even that — the right to, without fear of reprisal, protest your government and its actions — is part of what makes America so unique.

This year marks a special milestone for our nation — and perhaps comes at just the right time to bring Americans together. On July 4, we will celebrate 250 years of America. What began as organized resistance to taxation without representation, unlawful searches and distant rule has become a nation that stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific, a country

shaped by many voices and backgrounds, a place where ideas and cultures converge into a great societal melting pot.

Two hundred and fifty years. Think about that. This July 4 will mark 91,310 days of America. A quarter of a millennium. What started officially with the Second Continental Congress’ signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and admitting the first 13 states has become a nation welcome to all — a nation that has been a beacon for the

world as its longest-standing democracy.

As we look at America from its beginnings in 1776 to today, we see a nation that has grown through bold ideas, has been tested through conflict and expansion, and been sustained by generations that believed in its promises. We see a nation that leads the world in innovation. We see a nation that, through its natural resources, its geography and most importantly, its people, has

SEE 250 PAGE A2

A national treasure

Fallingwater celebrates 90th anniversary

this year

ciated by the wider world.

By Brad Hundt Bhundt@observer-reporter.com

Rain was threatening at Mill Run on Oct. 29, 1963, and its sound would have created a kind of chorus with the waterfall nearby.

A tent was set up in case Gov. William Scranton and other dignitaries needed to escape an autumn downpour. With no way of imagining the horror that would unfold in Dallas, Texas, a little more than three weeks later with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, it was a day of celebration.

It was on that Tuesday that Fallingwater, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed, three-story vacation home nestled in an eastern corner of Fayette County, was turned over to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy so it could be preserved and opened to the public and appre-

“These buildings and these lands will be conserved,” Scranton said, according to Uniontown’s Evening Standard. “Not as empty shrines, but as a living vibrant agency for service to mankind.”

Those are pretty high-flown words for a house. But Fallingwater has never merely been a house. One of a little more than 1,000 structures Wright designed in his lifetime, Fallingwater is perhaps the most famous of the architect’s creations, along with the Guggenheim Museum in New York. Its one-of-a-kind design has terraces stacked over a waterfall that’s part of the mountain stream Bear Run. It is a National Historic Landmark and has joined UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites, which also includes the Pyramids in Egypt, Mount Fuji in Japan and Westminster Abbey in London.

Construction

The word “iconic” is overused, but Fallingwater fits that designation. And though it was once a symbol of modernity, it is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year.

“The house rapidly became a symbol of modern architecture,” R. Jay Gangwere wrote

By Karen Mansfield kmansfield@observer-reporter.com

An estimated 500,000 to 700,000 visitors are expected in Pittsburgh during the 2026 NFL draft, which will be held from April 23-25. And the city’s two largest health systems, Allegheny Health Network and UPMC, have been preparing for months for the influx of football fans and all of the medical issues that might occur – intoxication, fights, falls, heart attacks, or mass casualty events.

“We are fully aware that there will be people with attendant medical concerns, and on top of that, when you put a lot of people into an area, there is the possibility for bumps, bruises and scrapes, said Dr. Don Yealy, CMO and chair of emergency medicine at UPMC. “And we also have to think about, what if the unimaginable happens, if there is a big event from a mass casualty perspective. We prepare for all of that, and we are prepared for anything that happens. We think,’What do we expect today and what could be the worst that happens?’”

Yealy said Pittsburgh hospitals have been planning for the NFL Draft since November, and administrators have talked with hospital leaders in cities that have hosted the draft, including Green Bay, Wis., and Detroit, Mich., about their experiences. They also have been in conversation with the NFL about preparations.

“We’ve gained insight into what has happened in the last four drafts, from a medical perspective,” he said.

in Carnegie Magazine in 1999.

“Created in the midst of the Great Depression, the woodland retreat over the waterfall had a fast track into the American psyche. It was a personal escape into nature, produced at a time when Hollywood was

The number of visitors is projected to be more than 10 times Acrisure Stadium’s 68,400 seats, and more than double the city’s roughly 308,000 residents, so the health systems - both Level 1 trauma facilities - are expecting bumps and bruises, dehydration, intoxication, and other issues that are associated with large events.

The hospitals plan to set up tents, pop-up clinics, and command centers across the city to provide care for both minor issues like alcohol-related in-

cidents as well as more serious medical issues. Doctors, nurses, and medical school residents will be equipped to triage and to treat beyond basic first-aid.

UPMC will have tents and pop-up care sites in high-traffic areas like Market Square, The Point, and at Acrisure Stadium, near the draft stage itself. AHN is also setting up a clinic in Market Square and will have a command center at Nova Place on the North Side.

In March, AHN doctors, nurses and volunteers simulated a mass casualty event, in preparation for the draft.

AHN’s Downtown Express Care will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Wednesday, April 22, through Saturday, April 25. The walk-in clinic will serve as a first-response point for non-emergency medical needs, including common illnesses and injuries.

“In anticipation of the significantly increased demand for medical services, we are committed to providing prompt and accessible care and ensuring our hospitals, and our downtown clinic at nearby Point State Park remain optimally prepared to serve all members of our community,” said AHN President Mark Sevco. Pittsburgh is no stranger to events that draw large crowds, including the U.S. Open Golf Championship hosted in Oakmont, the annual Pittsburgh Marathon and the Three Rivers Regatta, and Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney concerts, among others.

AHN says patients with previously scheduled primary care appointments downtown during the draft and festivities will have the option to use video instead, which will help to alleviate foot and vehicle traffic.

Yealy said Pittsburgh is fortunate to have three Level 1 trauma centers and additional acute trauma centers in the area.

“Instead of one or two places having to shoulder the load, we have several hospitals within a short drive,” said Yealy. “I don’t think people realize how advanced the medical care we have available here is.”

emerged as the world’s leading superpower.

Let’s face it: when America’s sons and daughters put their mind to a task, it gets done.

To mark this anniversary, we will take readers on a journey through that 250-year-old story — not through distant accounts, but through the communities closest to home.

Beginning April 13, our America 250 series will explore the nation’s origins, growth and continued transformation by tracing history through the very places our readers call home. From George Washington’s earliest days on the frontier helping Lord Fairfax survey the western front to the rise of industry, energy and agriculture, this series will highlight how our regions helped define the American experience.

We will begin where so much of that story took root: Washington’s early years in Winchester, Virginia. Long before he became the nation’s first president, Washington’s leadership came on the frontier, where Winchester served as a critical military corridor and staging ground during the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary era.

From there, we move to Frederick, Maryland, a vital hub of supply routes and troop movements that helped sustain the fight for independence. It was communities such as Frederick and others that helped sustain the war against the British monarchy.

The journey then shifts west,

creating escapist fantasies of its own about avoiding economic hardship. Millions of Americans, including unemployed workers in western Pennsylvania, could dream about life in a private retreat created by the most famous architect in America.” Fallingwater’s life began as a vacation home. In the 19th and 20th centuries, it was not uncommon for Pittsburgh’s captains of industry and financial titans to have weekend and summer abodes well to the east of the city’s grit, grime and smoke. Andrew Carnegie had a summer cottage near Johnstown, the Mellon clan had homes in Westmoreland County, and Edgar Kaufmann, who operated Kaufmann’s Department Store, was similarly looking for a serene spot to take it easy. The site had been used as a getaway for Kaufmann’s employees, but Kaufmann decided to use it for himself. Because his son, Edgar Kaufmann Jr., was an architecture aficionado, the recommendation was made that Wright handle its design.

The design Wright came up with took into account Kaufmann’s appreciation of the waterfall on the property. Wright later explained, “He loved the site where the house was built and liked to listen to the waterfall. So that was the prime motive in the design. I think you can hear the waterfall when you look at the design.”

The relationship between Wright and Kaufmann was at times contentious but ultimately fruitful. Over a quarter-century span, the Kaufmann family commissioned a dozen projects from Wright. This in spite of letters exchanged between the

following the path of a young nation pushing beyond the Appalachian Mountains. In Washington and Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and into Wheeling, West Virginia, readers will see how the western frontier became a proving ground for expansion, settlement and new ideas about self-governance and opportunity.

Wheeling holds a unique place in that story. During the Civil War, it became the birthplace of West Virginia — the only state formed by separating from another in that conflict. It stands as a reminder that the nation’s history included difficult choices made in pursuit of its ideals.

As the series progresses into May and June, it will follow the country’s development through key moments and places — from early land surveys in the Northwest Territory to the founding of Marietta, Ohio. It will examine the National Road, which helped connect a growing nation, and later milestones like the transcontinental railroad, which, when the Golden Spike was driven in Utah in 1869, linked east and west.

The series also will highlight the rise of industrial centers such as Youngstown and Sandusky, Ohio, the energy resources that powered expansion, and the ag-

two about Fallingwater where Wright told Kaufmann, “I don’t know what kind of architect you are familiar with, but apparently it isn’t the kind I think I am. You seem not to know how to treat a decent one.” Kaufmann fired back, “I have put so much confidence and enthusiasm behind the whole project in my limited way, to help the fulfillment of your effort that if I do not have your confidence in the matter, to hell with the whole thing.”

Construction started on Fallingwater in April 1936. The June 5, 1936, edition of Uniontown’s Evening Standard contained a report on the front page about the city’s former mayor, William C. Hatfield, selling his home, and it noted, “That the Uniontown mountains continue to lure Pittsburghers was evidenced today when it became known that Edgar J. Kaufmann, president of the Kaufmann’s Department Store, has started construction of a palatial summer home here on

Bear Creek in Stewart Township.

While the cost of the residence is not known, it is expected to be one of the finest in the mountain district.”

The house was finally completed in 1939. It was given to Kaufmann’s son on his death in 1955, and he then gave it to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy in 1963. In the 62 years that the house has been available for tours it has become one of the commonwealth’s top tourist draws and is a key draw in the Laurel Highlands region, which includes Fayette, Westmoreland and Somerset counties.

A number of events are planned at Fallingwater this year to mark the 90th anniversary of its construction, including a gala celebration Aug. 29 and Fayette County Appreciation Day Nov. 22. For information, go online to fallingwater. org or call 724-329-8501.

ricultural communities that continue to feed the country.

Each week this journey will bring history closer to home, illustrating that the places we live were not merely witnesses to history, but active participants in shaping it.

As the nation approaches this 250-year milestone, this series offers a chance to look back — and to consider what comes next. The American story is still unfolding, written every day in communities like our own. We hope you join us over the coming three months as our nation prepares for America’s 250th anniversary.

BP Historical Society, Trolley Museum honored

The Bethel Park Historical Society and the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum will be among several organizations to be recognized at the PA Museums conference to be held April 19 at the Centre Furnace Mansion in State College. The two groups are recipients of the PA Museums 2026 Special Achievement Awards. Both have won Institutional Awards of Merit.

The Bethel Park Historical Society will be honored for its renovations to the Schoolhouse Center while the Trolley Museum garnered acclaim for its Trolley Cottage Reinterpretation in Washington County.

Regionally, the Westmoreland County’s Historical Society and the Museum of American Art are award winners along with the Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County for its Pennsylvania Maple Museum. The Westmoreland groups claimed distinction for its Cut From the Same Cloth and the Steel Valley Visions Exhibition and Immersive Experience.

For over 40 years, PA Museums has invited nominations from its membership and chosen institutions, projects, and individuals for recognition. This year, 11 organizations have won Institutional Awards of Merit, and one individual will receive an Individual Award for their outstanding contributions to the field.

PA Museums is Pennsylvania’s statewide museum association with 430 members across the commonwealth. PA Museums’ membership includes museums and historical organizations of many types and sizes, and in addition to providing professional development opportunities for museum professionals, the organization also leads advocacy campaigns on behalf of the museum community.

South Fayette junior perfect at PJAS event

South Fayette High School

junior Nithila Vijayan placed first with a perfect score at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) Region 7 Conference held recently at Baldwin High School.

Vijayan was recognized for her advanced scientific research conducted through the Hillman Academy.

PJAS is a statewide organization dedicated to promoting student achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through authentic research experiences.

Students in grades 7 to 12 design and conduct original research projects and present their findings before panels of judges, with top performers advancing to the state competition.

Vijayan’s project, “Exogenous Estrogen and Progesterone Regulate Skeletal Muscle in Female Mice in a

Dose-Dependent Manner,” investigates how externally administered estrogen and progesterone influence skeletal muscle structure and regenerative capacity.

Using a controlled mouse model, she examined how varying hormone doses affect muscle physiology, particularly markers associated with satellite cell activity and muscle repair. Through immunofluorescence staining and quantitative image analysis, she analyzed whether hormonal exposure produces measurable, dose-dependent effects on muscle tissue.

In addition to PJAS, Vijayan is involved in several science-focused initiatives.

Through Penn State PRO Wellness, she has engaged with researchers studying adolescent health, gaining exposure to public health and clinical research topics. She also contributed to a publication

with Deepa L. Sekhar in the Journal of Adolescent Health, gaining firsthand experience in scientific writing, peer review, and the rigor required to contribute meaningfully to academic medicine.

At South Fayette, she is a member of the Technology Student Association (TSA) and HOSA – Future Health Professionals.

Nithila is also involved in music, serving as a first violinist in the PYPO Philharmonic.

“Nithila’s achievement with PJAS reflects not only her academic excellence, but also her dedication, intellectual curiosity, and perseverance,” said Mary Quirk who has worked closely with Vijayan as the Enrichment Coordinator at South Fayette High School. “We are incredibly proud of the way she represents South Fayette through her research, leadership, and talents.”

Owner grooming Ace of Fades for success

By Rick Shrum

For the Observer-Reporter

BETHEL PARK – A longtime hairstylist with significant management experience, Christina Narby had an opportunity to break out on her own. She seized that chance in mid-December, a holiday gift to herself.

“This popped up and I checked it out,” Narby said of a location in Bethel Park where a hair salon, Heads Up, had operated previously. She said she bought the space from a man who had retired and began developing her entrepreneurial enterprise.

Narby launched Ace of Fades and Cuts LLC on Dec. 15 at 441 McMurray Road. Narby is the

owner and a stylist there, a destination catering mostly to males. “I’m more men’s hair, stylings and beards,” she said.

Three-plus months later, Narby is pleased with her decision. “Everything has lined up and has been great,” she said during a recent interview inside the second-story shop.

Ace of Fades and Cuts is in a business-friendly location, in the midst of a populous area that is convenient to motorists. The salon sits in a section of Bethel that is near or adjacent to a number of South Hills communities, including Peters Township, Upper St. Clair, South Park and Mt. Lebanon.

She signed ownership papers on Dec. 12 and soon embarked

on renovating her section of the building.

“I worked here on weekends because I wanted all of the renovations to be completed before our grand opening,” a weeklong fest planned for the beginning of March. The event unfolded on time and the large public turnout pleased her.

Narby, who resides in South Park, did not only oversee renovations in the 1,080-square-foot salon. She has a flair for design, which is reflected in the tasteful touches she applied herself. “I painted all of the walls, did flooring and put the mural up.”

Narby also added a mini-refrigerator that is stocked with beer for patrons.

Selecting an appealing name for the salon seemed to be a breeze, and Narby decided upon one that she believed to be unique. She found out that Ace of Fades and Cuts – a takeoff on

the playing card Ace of Spades – proved to be unique only in Bethel Park. Shops in Mars and Cranberry, north of Pittsburgh, have adopted the Ace of Fades designation as well.

“I thought it was a great choice,” she said. “Then I found 75 others wanted Ace of Fades,” Narby said, laughing. “It was a weird coincidence.”

Ace of Fades and Cuts was a valid branding nonetheless.

A native of DuBois, Narby has devoted nearly three decades to the hairstyling industry. She held management positions at multiple locations in the massive Sports Clips chain, which has more than 1,800 locations in the United States and Canada.

Narby has broken out of the chain, so to speak, running her own endeavor.

Narby is assisted by two staffers from Heads Up – sisters Jane Metz and Mary Beth Semencar. One stylist and one male barber will come on board in mid-April. That barber will handle straight razor shaves.

Ace of Fades and Cuts is open for business every day but Sunday. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

If your family has welcomed a little one recently, we’d love to include their photo for free, thanks to St. Clair Health! Photos will be featured in The Almanac and Observer-Reporter newspapers and on our websites on Sunday, April 26 Deadline to submit is Monday, April 20

Submit online at www observer-reporter.com/newarrivals Or fill out the form and mail a photo and self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Observer-Reporter, Attn: New Arrivals, 122 S. Main St., Washington, PA 15301

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY

sports

USC, CHAR VALLEY DOMINATE ALMANAC ALL-STARS

By Eleanor Bailey ebailey@thealmanac.net

Fans of television reruns and movie sequels would have enjoyed boys basketball this winter for the 2026 season was a virtual repeat of the 2025 campaign.

Upper St. Clair and Chartiers Valley reprised their success as both reached the semifinals in the PIAA state tournament. The Panthers and Colts also duplicated their showings on the local level, again capturing section banners and WPIAL championships.

With a veteran club, featuring four senior starters from a team that posted a 26-4 record in 2025, Corey Dotchin kept Chartiers Valley at the forefront in Class 5A. His Colts finished 26-3 overall after a one-point loss to West York, 45-44, in the state semifinals.

Under Danny Holzer, who has amassed over 500 victories and six WPIAL trophies since arriving on the scene in 1996, USC ended up 27-2 overall after falling to Central Dauphin, 55-52, in the semifinals of the Class 6A state semifinal game. The Panthers, who graduated eight seniors from a 26-3 squad in 2025, enjoyed a 23-game winning streak en route to capturing their third straight district banner and fourth WPIAL crown in six years.

So it comes as no surprise that the Panthers and the Colts dominated the 2026 edition of The Almanac’s boys basketball all-star team. Dotchin and Holzer have been named co-Coaches of the Year while USC’s standout center Ryan Robbins copped Most Valuable Player laurels. (See related article.) The all-star unit also includes two additional players from both USC and CV.

Julian Semplice and Luca Federico spearheaded the Colts’ efforts.

“They were our 1-2 punch,” Dotchin said. “They were equally important to our team and our success.”

Semplice embodied consistency. He averaged 14.7 points and dished up two assists per game. The senior also grabbed five rebounds an outing. An all-conference performer, he garnered Section 4 Player of the Year accolades.

“Julian was the motor that drove our team,” Dotchin said. “He was a great leader and made plays for us on both ends of the court.”

A sophomore, Federico led the Colts with a 15.8 scoring average. He also was tops in rebounding, pulling down six boards a game. He also dished up two assists.

Federico, who recently picked up a scholarship offer from La Salle, single-handedly controlled the action for the Colts during the WPIAL championship finals.

The 6-foot-5 center exploded for 31 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Chartiers Valley to victory against Thomas Jefferson, 63-37, at the Petersen Events Center.

“Luca shined when the lights were the brightest,” Dotchin said. “He got the other team’s best de-

fender but also would at times guard the other team’s best player as well.”

As dominant as Robbins was for USC, the Panthers relied on another key veteran as well as a newcomer to continue their reign at the Class 6A level.

A senior captain, Jake Foster ranked No. 2 on the team in scoring with 343 points. He averaged 11.8 points per game. Foster was the Panthers’ playmaker, dishing up 5.3 assists an outing.

A freshman, Andrew Gaither started every game for the Panthers. He averaged six points per game in garnering Almanac Rookie of the Year acclaim.

Dylan Donovan from Peters Township and Liam Sheely from Mt. Lebanon rounded out the first five on The Almanac’s allstar roster, which was selected with the input of the area coaches and with consideration of statistics as well as games played during the season.

A senior, Donovan leaves a legacy at Peters Township. In addition to surpassing the 1,000-point career mark this winter, Donovan became the alltime scoring leader in boys basketball history at the high school when he broke the record of 1,292 points scored by Eric Lang in 2000.

A four-year letter winner that played in two WPIAL championship games, Donovan averaged 19 points per game for the Indians, who posted a 16-7 record and qualified for the district playoffs. In addition to leading the Indians in scoring, Donovan led the team in assists with 2.5 an outing.

Liam Sheely was not only Mt. Lebanon’s top scorer but he was a leader in the WPIAL with a 21.3-point average. The senior scored a career-high 39 points, 24 off eight, 3-point field goals, during a win against Bethel Park this season. Sheely also scored more than 1,000 points in his career.

Carter Gould joins Sheely on The Almanac all-star list as a second-team choice. A senior guard, he averaged 11.7 points and two assists per game. Gould, like Sheely, was a threat to score from beyond the arc, as well as an All-Section selection. In fact, he fell two shy of the WPIAL when he converted 11, 3-pointers in an 86-36 win against Connellsville during the regular season.

Jake Wetzel joins Donovan on the all-star roster. A junior center, he averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds for Peters Township. Wetzel, like Donovan, was an all-section selection. Last year, he was The Almanac’s Rookie of the Year.

On any other team, Julius Best would be a starter but Chartiers Valley utilized this senior’s talent off the bench. And, Best delivered. He averaged 11.7 points per game. He also dished up two assists each outing.

“Julius was the Sixth Man of the Year,” said Dotchin. “He brought a spark and energy off our bench. He embraced that role and made us a special team.”

Tyson Wright from South Fayette completes The Almanac’s Top Ten. A senior, he started every game for the Lions for the past two years. He averaged 12 points and six rebounds.

“He led our team in every category, points, rebounds, offensive rebounds and blocks,” said South Fayette coach David Mislan. “He works hard all the time and he’s the best leader a coach could ask for.”

Robbins leaving large footprint at USC

Junior named Almanac MVP

By Eleanor Bailey ebailey@thealmanac.net

Ryan Robbins doesn’t mind following in the footsteps of others because that path has led to success.

Robbins hails from a talented basketball family but he’s likely to cement his legacy in football as his father did and as other Upper St. Clair High School alumni have. He is a 6-foot-7, 280-pound 3-star college prospect at offensive tackle that happens to be quite talented at basketball.

For that Robbins thanks his mother as well as his siblings.

During her playing career at Mt. Lebanon High School, the former Kim Seaver scored 1,849 points and grabbed 1,248 rebounds. She went on to star at Virginia Tech, setting records and attaining honors, while finishing among the Hokies’ Top 10 players in some offensive categories.

Kate and Tyler Robbins were 1,000-point scorers at USC. Kate helped USC to three WPIAL finals before matriculating to Marist University. Tyler led the Panthers to back-toback WPIAL championships before he moved on to Miami, where the Ohio

school finished as the only undefeated team during the regular season of college basketball this winter.

Seaver and Tyler both were recognized during their scholastic careers as Almanac MVP in basketball. Robbins joins the duo. The junior, who averaged a double-double every outing, and captained the Panthers to a three-peat as district champions, has been named the 2026 Almanac Most Valuable Player for boys basketball.

“I’m really honored to be selected,” Robbins said. “It’s a great achievement.”

Robbins added that it “feels great” to replicate the distinction of his mother and brother.

“My mom was the one who really built me up to be where I am right now,” Robbins said. “Definitely, my hoop skills come from her legacy. So it’s a great honor to accomplish something that she has.

“My siblings helped me a ton,” Robbins continued. “My brother led the way for me and I kind of filled in his position from last year to this year. It definitely made it so much easier for me just playing after him, backing him up and learning from him.”

Robbins learned from his father the sport that is at the forefront of his future. Tim Robbins played football at the University of Pittsburgh, first as a defensive lineman before transitioning to tight end. Eventually, he

Ryan

played all the offensive line positions.

“Like my mother, I owe my dad a lot,” Robbins said. “He developed me as a football player to where I am today. It definitely means a lot to be following in his footsteps.”

While Robbins says he can catch a football, he is a tackle being recruited for among other things his ability to play either on the right or left side.

Because of his physique, Robbins is a natural at the position.

“The guards and centers have to be more stocky and they have to be stronger and more powerful to move bigger guys off the line,” he explained.

“The tackle has to be more versatile. They have to be able to move. So they have to be longer and taller. Lucky for me I have that and good footwork.”

Basketball enhances his agility and makes him attractive to college recruiters. Currently, his parents’ alma maters are in the running for Robbins as are Penn State, Ohio State, Nebraska as well as Syracuse along with a plethora of southern ACC schools.

“Basketball helps so much with footwork in football and footwork definitely comes in handy because college coaches love to see that I can move as well as I can with being as big of a guy as I am. Footwork and how athletic I am are big pluses.”

USC boys basketball coach Dan Holzer agreed. He said that the ability to move around the basket and his skill level made Robbins “unstoppable” and that he benefits from being a two-sport athlete.

“The physicality and competitive nature you have to have in football was brought out on the basketball court. Ryan was so solid and consistent,” Holzer said. “His basketball IQ on both ends of the court are at a high level. He doesn’t jump out of the

gymnasium but he doesn’t get into foul trouble either.”

Holzer noted that Robbins, who led the Panthers in scoring and rebounding, took his game to a whole new level in the playoffs. He raised his scoring average from 15 points to 18 points per game during the postseason. In addition to scoring 442 points this winter, Robbins racked up 325 rebounds for an average of 11.2 a game. He also blocked 2.3 shots.

“He made such an impact. He even was a presence defensively. His leadership among his teammates was phenomenal, too,” said Holzer, who noted Robbins was elected a captain though he was just a junior. “Ryan was so determined that his teammates followed. Thanks to him, we were one possession away from Hershey.”

A state championship in basketball and a WPIAL title in football are on Robbins’ radar for his senior year.

“I definitely want to pick up my fourth WPIAL championship and I’d like to get one for my football team and my school,” he said. “So that would mean a lot. That would seal my career.”

And cement his legacy.

“I want to let everyone know that the Robbins family is a tough deal,” he concluded.

sights & sounds

Bethel Park native and ventriloquist records tune with the Ink Spots

By Brad Hundt bhundt@observer-reporter.com

Interviewing April Brucker is kind of a two-for-one proposition.

She’ll run through all the things she’s been up to lately, whether it’s working on three separate screenplays at the same time, appearing on her own streaming chat show or working on a music video. But while Brucker is talking, there will be an occasional interjection from May Wilson, her sidekick who also happens to

be a Valley Girl puppet. “I speak to a lot of reporters,” Wilson notes over the phone from Las Vegas. Brucker herself says, “I have been doing a lot of cool things.”

Indeed, the Bethel Park native and 2003 graduate of Bethel Park High School enjoys a pretty packed dance card. A ventriloquist, her resume has included performances at a handful of venues in Las Vegas, including the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. Aside from her streaming show, “April in Vegas,” she has appeared on network and cable fare like

“Entertainment Tonight,” “Inside Edition,” “My Strange Addiction” and “The Wendy Williams Show.” She also has two books to her credit – “Don’t Read My Lips!” and “I Came, I Saw, I Sang.”

Brucker’s most recent venture is a song with the Ink Spots, the vocal group that has been around in various permutations for close to a century. Brucker – in the form of May Wilson –teamed up with members of the group for “That’s the Way It Is,” a cover of a song first made famous as a duet between Ella Fitzgerald and the Ink Spots in 1945. It’s available on major streaming platforms and, as Brucker noted, has gotten some radio play in Greenland.

“It was great working with the Ink Spots,” Brucker said.

Recording a song with the Ink Spots is not, however, Brucker’s first brush with vintage pop culture. She first started to develop an interest in comedy and performing by watching Marx Brothers movies on TV, with “Duck Soup” being a particular favorite. When she was in high school, she was an active writer and performer,

appearing in school musicals, learning about television production, and working in community theater, where, Brucker points out, she frequently portrayed evil queens or wicked witches.

She also wrote for The Almanac, where she tackled “everything.”

“I’m grateful for everything,” Brucker said. “The thing that jumpstarted me was being from Bethel Park. It was great being involved with so many creative people.”

She went on to study acting at New York University and then earned a master’s degree in creative writing and screenwriting from Antioch University in Los Angeles. While she was in New York, Brucker appeared in cabarets, comedy clubs and off-Broadway productions and delivered singing telegrams.

Bison born at South Park Buffalo Preserve

By Paul Paterra

South Park Buffalo Preserve welcomed a new addition to the herd last month.

Rosie, the second oldest female bison at the preserve, gave birth to baby Denali at the end of March.

Tim Foster, of Friends of the South Park Buffalo Preserve, said Rosie was watched closely during the weeks leading up to the birth.

“We could tell it was coming,” he said. “There’s a certain stillness that settles in, a quiet knowing, and Rosie had been carrying it with her.”

Denali is Rosie’s fourth offspring. The birth brings the number of bison at the preserve to 13.

In typical fashion for a mother about to give birth, Rosie separated herself from the rest of the buffalo family just enough to have a quiet space to welcome the new life

what’s happening

PICKLEBALL

into the world.

“This herd is such a tight-knit family group that the others would normally stay with the mother,” Foster said. “Rosie attempts to walk the birth into happening. The buffalo were all up top in the grassy area and she came down by the feeders and that’s where she had the baby.”

Foster said the baby was a little shaky at first but found its footing quickly.

Big Head, the lone male of the herd, appeared to be proud following the birth. He continues to be a supportive papa to all of them, Foster said.

“He’s still a good boy,” Foster said. “He has come down to every feeding in the last six months. He always comes 10 to 15 minutes late. That’s his time. He walks down very deliberately, but he always comes down.”

Baby bison tend to be born from late March through May and are orange-red in color, earning them the nickname “red dogs.” After a few months, their hair starts to change

The Bethel Park recreation department will offer pickleball classes beginning April 14 at Millennium Park. The six-week courses run through May 23.

Adult cardio clinics are held from 8 to 9 a.m. Tuesday or Saturday.

Adult advance beginner clinics are offered from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday or Saturday as well as from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays.

Adult intermediate clinics will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday or Saturday as well as from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Fees are $150 ($160 nonresidents.)

A 3&Me adult clinic is offered from 111 a.m. to noon or 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays. Participants play with a pro and receive personalized instruction in a semi-private lesson limited to three to four players. Fee is $180 ($190 nonresidents.)

A junior pickleball clinic for ages 8 to 16 will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Fee is $150 ($180 nonresidents). Email kentjohnson412@gmail.com or call 412-818-3106 for more details or questions. Visit bethelpark.recdesk.com to register.

PLANT SALE

Pittsburgh Botanic Garden’s artisan market and plant sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 19. This event features a curated selection of local artists and artisans offering handcrafted home goods, garden décor, gifts, and one-of-a-kind creations inspired by the natural world. Explore the dedicated plant sale area, highlighting a wide variety of live plants with a strong emphasis on species native to the Allegheny Plateau ecoregion—perfect for

to dark brown and their characteristic shoulder hump and horns start to grow.

Bison have roamed South Park since 1927, when an Allegheny County commissioner purchased 18 and brought them to the area amid fear of extinction. They have been a staple of the area since. The American bison is the largest land animal in North America. The sex of the newborn has not yet been determined. That determination will be made by a veterinarian.

The name “Denali” means “The High One” or “The Great One” and is in keeping with a recent pattern of naming the newborn bison in honor of Native Americans.

“I thought this was fitting for Denali,” Foster said. “It seemed to describe mom and dad and their offspring Denali.”

Foster said the name speaks to quiet strength, steady presence and something that grows into its greatness over time.

“Because that’s exactly what we witnessed,” he said.

Her adventures belting out greetings form the basis of one of her three screenplays.

Some of the incidents that might end up in the script include an encounter with members of the Saudi royal family where she was told not to look them in the eye as she sang, an apology to a ballroom dancer whose girlfriend ran over his foot, and her arm catching on fire when she was delivering a lit birthday cake while decked out in a pink gorilla suit.

It may not have been the most romantic of gigs, but delivering singing telegrams “got me ready in so many ways for Las Vegas,” according to Brucker.

The number of people working professionally as ventriloquists is vanishingly small – some estimates have it that there are fewer than 400 people in the world who can

be classified as professional ventriloquists. To put that in perspective, there are about 30,000 accountants working in Pennsylvania alone. Brucker got started thanks to a how-to manual.

“I was basically self-taught,” she said. “I just kept doing it.”

There’s an active community of ventriloquists that keeps the art alive, according to Brucker, and “people are doing it more than ever.”

And ventriloquists have to keep working at their craft, she explained. That can involve daily practice, doing so in front of a mirror, and recording yourself.

“You have to work it constantly,” she said. More information on Brucker, her song with the Ink Spots and other projects is available at aprilbrucker.tv.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

The South Hills Chorale will present “Songs of Hope and Adventure” at 7 p.m. May 1 and at 1 p.m. May 2 at the Christ Methodist Church, 44 Highland Road. The group will be also collecting non-perishable food items and monetary donations for SHIM. The concert is an inspiring program of music celebrating imagination, storytelling, and adventure through a diverse selection of choral works. Tickets are $25 and are available online, at the door or from any chorale member. Visit www.southhillschorale.org for more information.

supporting local ecosystems and creating habitat-friendly landscapes.

Access to the market and plant sale is included with daily admission Visit pittsburghbotanicgarden.org/events for more information.

CONCERT

The Unity Presbyterian Church will present Brent Vernon and Sam at 5 p.m. April 25. The free concert will be held in the sanctuary of the church, located at 1165 Greentree Road. A free-will offering will be collected.

Since 1995, Vernon, who is a singer/songwriter/ventriloquist, and his pal Sam have

criss-crossed the United States, Ireland, Australia, Canada and the Caribbean sharing a ministry through a variety of concerts and presentations in churches, schools, and at special events.

SPEAKER

Bower Hill Church hosts author and scholar Andrew Root. He will speak April 22 on ways that religious congregations can maintain and build spiritual vitality in a climate of decline and fragmentation.

Root, a professor of youth and family ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., will speak at the second session of a three-

part speaker series. The session will run from 4 to 8 p.m. at Cefalo’s Banquet and Event Center, located at 428 Washington Ave. in Carnegie Dinner is included with the $35 registration. Root is author of “When Church Stops Working.” He is also author of the six-volume “Ministry in a Secular Age” series and hosts the podcast of the same name.

The series is part of Bower Hill’s 75th anniversary commemoration, inviting the community to join in a wide-ranging discussion about the future of American religion and congregational life. The series, in partnership with Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh Presbytery, will conclude with a panel discussion on May 13. Visit www.bowerhillchurch.org/speakerseries or call 412-561-4114 to register or for more information.

AQUA PARK

Season passes for the Peters Township Aqua Park can be purchased online at peterstownship.com or by visiting the recreation center. The facility is located at 110 Warriors Way in McMurray and is open Memorial Day through Labor Day.

A season pass, which includes admission for up to four people, is $50 for residents and $100 for nonresidents. Daily admission is $3.50 per person ($7 for nonresident).

The facility is also available for rentals with two-hour time slots with 30 passes. The party room fee is $225 ($450 nonresidents). Shelter fee is $175 ($350 nonresidents). Full facility rental is available from June 1 to July 31 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for residents only and for a fee of $1,000. Call 412-770-2025 for more details.

From swimming with sharks to shaping wire into words, Julie Cody has quite the resume.

The Peters Township woman has gone scuba diving with Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World, swam with sharks and cared for a Giant Pacific Octopus at an aquarium in Texas, only to return to Western Pennsylvania to launch her wire art business, Wire Creations by Jules. Her handmade creations range from bookmarks to pencil toppers to bridal hangers.

Her story begins with an interest in water that has its roots in her childhood, when she went on fishing trips with her father at Canadohta Lake in Crawford County.

“My dad would take me bass fishing and that got me hooked on fish,” she said. “I never would have imagined ending up working with ocean animals, but that’s where my passion with fish kind of came from.”

While a student at Penn State Behrend, Cody became intrigued by a fish room in the campus science building and eventually became the student to care for the fish. As part of an elective course, Cody became certified in scuba diving with dives in frigid Lake Erie.

That led her to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., where she obtained a professional internship at The Land, a pavilion

WATER TO WIRE:

at Epcot theme park.

“I actually got to work with shrimp, American alligators, striped bass and tilapia,” Cody said. “Essentially, my job was to care for all of these animals.”

The Baldwin native followed that stint with a six-month professional internship at The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Epcot, the second largest aquarium in the country. It was there she acted as a safety diver when Mickey Mouse went scuba diving. Cody refers to that as one of her Disney highlights.

“I know, it’s like a super cliche, but it was literally like a magical time in my life,” Cody said. “When I look back on it, it almost feels like it was a dream.”

She was eventually hired as an aquarist at the Sea Life Grapevine Aquarium in Grapevine, Texas, located about 25 minutes from downtown Dallas. While there, she transported sharks and stingrays to and from other aquariums, and was the primary keeper for a Giant Pacific Octopus. She was the go-to person for media requests during Shark Week, and swam with sharks while performing underwater tasks like feeding the stingray.

“Accepting that job is basically what shaped my life right now,” Cody said. “It was a smaller aquarium, so I really got to do my own things and bring my own ideas to this aquarium. That

is where I feel I really started to blossom.”

It’s also where she met her husband, Chris, and began to dabble in wire art.

“When I was at the aquarium, I knew that it wasn’t a forever job,” Cody admitted. “I knew when I had kids that I wanted to still be a contributing member of the family.”

In preparation for her wedding in 2015, Cody wanted to give her bridesmaids clothing hangers bearing their names. It was a costly bridal party gift so she decided to instead make them.

“They looked horrible, but my bridesmaids loved them,” she said. “When I look back on them, I don’t even think you could read what was on them, but they appreciated the gifts.”

She ended up getting a request to make the hangers for another wedding, and said those looked better.

That led to creating ornaments, book markers and other assorted wire creations.

“Somehow, it really flourished,” Cody said. “Family members or friends would share that I do this.”

The 2006 graduate of Baldwin High School longed to re-

turn to Western Pennsylvania, and moved back in 2019 after having the second of her four children.

“My husband had a remote job, and it was the perfect time to move back to Pennsylvania,” Cody said.

Her Wire Creations by Jules is flourishing: Her goods have been marketed by Personalization Mall and Things Remembered. She recalled receiving an order from a small business for 6,500 bookmarks bearing the word “hope” and said it took her six months to fill it.

Now that her children are a little older, Cody has been able to display her pieces locally, and recently appeared at the “Think Spring” Handmade Craft Show at Trax Farm Market in Finleyville.

“I’m so happy to be back here,” Cody said. “I feel like I’ve been able to get back out in the community and talk to people. I love letting the people watch what I do because I don’t think it’s something they’ve seen before.

“The business flourished out of the idea of having a real business at home. I honestly could have never imagined it would have become such a real business.”

Margaret A.

ATTENTION

PET OWNERS

COMPANION LAWN CRYPT Crypt for 2 at Forest Lawn Gardens, McMurray, Devotion section, Lot 117-B. $6,500, will negotiate. Call 386-416-9605

COMPANION MAUSOLEUM Space for 2, includes opening and closing. Notre Dame Mausoleum, Queen of Heaven, McMurray. $18,500 or best offer. 724-350-7941 or 724-416-7975

FOREST LAWN GARDENS 2 spaces in Garden of Devotion, 2 burial vaults, Tier #156-C, Level 3 and 4. Includes transfer fee.

$5,000 obo. 724-267-4858

JEFFERSON MEMORIAL

CEMETERY - Companion lawn crypt for 2, in the Garden of the Pillars of Faith, Lot #1270. $4,000. I will pay transfer fee and endowment fee. 412-831-0433

WASHINGTON CEMETERY Three plots, Section 12.

$2,200 each or best offer. Call for information, 727-831-9920

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Directions: Route19toLonguevueDrive,to161Longuevue Drive.

**CASHONLY!!PLEASEBRINGYOUROWNHELP!! MURDOCHESTATELIQUIDATION www.murdochestatesales.com

SAVE THE DATE!!

FABULOUS HIGH-END ESTATE SALE

Saturday, April 18 - Murrysville, PA 15668 4437 Twin Oaks Drive

9 am. to 3:30 p.m.

Cash or Zelle only!

Quality Stickley furniture, loads collectibles, Statton Americana dining table/chairs/buffet/corner cabinets, fabulous artwork, Persian handmade wool rugs/runners, Mid-Century Modern sculptures, signed/numbered posters by Adam Pobiak, Bokhara runner, unique chandeliers, Gloekler oak ice box, figural lamps, numerous new Mauvial copper cookware pieces, cast iron wine press, vintage cameras, desks, oak bookcases, European bayonets/rapiers, vintage toys, Ethan Allen sofa, MCM teakwood furniture, tools/tool chests, and tons more! Too much to list!

See website for full listing and pics. Lawestatesales.com

Parking by attendant only!! Please follow signs! No presales!

Antiques/Classics