the almanac A P R I L 12, 2026
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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AMERICA AT 250 A journey through time, told through our communities
COURTESY OF ALLEGHENY HEALTH NETWORK
Allegheny General Hospital held a mock mass casualty training on Thursday. The event, which is held twice a year, was conducted ahead of the NFL Draft, which will take place in Pittsburgh from April 23-25.
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.
Pittsburgh’s hospital systems prepare for the NFL Draft By Karen Mansfield
kmansfield@observer-reporter.com
AP PHOTO/JOHN MCDONNELL
Two visitors look at exhibits beneath a large wall mural showing the signing of the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington.
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 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-
ciated by the wider world. “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.
LOCATION Owner grooming Ace of Fades for success PAGE A6 What’s happening, B3
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY
Construction started on Fallingwater, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in Fayette County, 90 years ago.
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
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 SEE TREASURE PAGE A2
SPORTS Robbins leaving large footprint at USC PAGE B2 Classifieds, B5
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. 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.”
SIGHTS & SOUNDS Native records tune with the Ink Spots PAGE B3 Real estate transactions, A3
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