the almanac J U LY 13, 2025
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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Dog-gone great day Jim Shooter, an influential figure in the comic book world and a Bethel Park High School graduate, has died at the age of 73.
Creative marvel
PHOTOS: ELEANOR BAILEY/THE ALMANAC
Wilson and Maxwell enjoyed front row seats, watching the Brentwood Fourth of July parade from the comfort of their stroller.
South Hills celebrates glorious Fourth of July
Milo and owner Julie Smith from Canonsburg enjoyed a Fourth of July celebration in Brentwood.
BP graduate was innovator in the comic book world
By Eleanor Bailey
By Brad Hundt
ebailey@thealmanac.net
bhundt@observer-reporter.com
Almanac Sports Editor
South Hills residents – the two-legged as well as the four-legged kind – celebrated the Fourth of July in grand fashion in Brentwood. For over 100 years, the borough has attracted throngs from around the country with a parade and fireworks as well as thousands of runners participating in the Firecracker 5K. In its 42nd year, the footrace attracted a record 2,342 runners. With her 10-month-old Cavapoo, Milo, cradled in her arms, Julie Smith of Canonsburg, watched the parade waiting for the Baldwin band to pass. She and her husband, Salvador, were hoping to spot their daughter. “We’ve never been to the Canonsburg parade. We’ve always come here. It’s a tradition. The best part of the day is watching the kids having fun and diving for the candies.” Elaine Rigatti from Peters Township also opted for Brentwood over the popular Canonsburg cavalcade, which
Staff writer
When Jim Shooter was in the first grade at Hillcrest Elementary School in Bethel Park, his teacher had each student get up in front of the class, say a word, and, as Shooter later recollected in a blog post, “for every classmate who couldn’t spell your word, you got a point – provided, of course, that you could spell the word.” Shooter’s word? Bouillabaisse. At first, Shooter recalled, his teacher didn’t believe he knew what bouillabaisse was, never mind how to spell it. But Shooter knew it was soup, and, in fact, he knew precisely how to spell the French word. He learned it from a Donald Duck comic book. Shooter’s boyhood fascination with the universe of comic book characters, superheroes and archvillains shaped him for the rest of his life. Shooter was just 14 when
ABOVE: A fire truck passes in front of a military unit during the annual Brentwood Fourth of July parade. RIGHT: Children race to pick up holiday beads thrown from passing floats during the Brentwood Fourth of July parade.
INSIDE
“This is a family tradition,” said Rigatti, who is originally from Whitehall. “We always Canonsburg parade come every year. We love it.” celebrates independence with Rigatti supervised Sydney pride and community spirit and Colbie Belardia as they See Page B2 watched their parents, Marissa and Michael, participate attracted more than 60,000 in the running race. Rigatti’s spectators and featured former daughter, Alicia Davis, also Pittsburgh Penguin Rick Keparticipated. hoe and KDKA weatherman SEE FOURTH PAGE A2 Ray Petelin as grand marshals.
SEE COMIC PAGE A6
America 250 PA kicks off yearlong celebration of semiquincentennial Interactive mobile unit appeared at Canonsburg Fourth of July parade By Mike Jones Staff writer
mjones@observer-reporter.com
With the Fourth of July in our rearview mirror, all eyes are now looking ahead and counting down the days to America’s 250th birthday next year. And what better place to celebrate America’s independence than in Pennsylvania, where it all began when the nation’s founders convened in Philadelphia in July 1776 to declare our separation from England. This area got a sneak peek COURTESY OF CASSANDRA COLEMAN of next year’s semiquincenA colonial reenactor and boy play a video game as part tennial celebration with an of the America 250 PA mobile unit, a vehicle that will be interactive mobile unit toutcriss-crossing the state over the next year and offer vising the patriotic anniversary itors an interactive exhibit of the state’s history and its SEE AMERICA PAGE A2 role in the country’s independence.
MT. LEBANON Memorial food drive set to end after five years of fundraisers PAGE A4 What’s happening, B3
Kayakers enjoy Peters Lake in this file photo.
JON ANDREASSI/OBSERVER-REPORTER
Judge denies residents’ appeal of Peters Lake development By Jon Andreassi Staff writer
jandreassi@observer-reporter.com
North Strabane Township residents opposed to a planned housing development along Peters Lake intend to continue their legal battle after a Washington County judge denied their appeal of the conditional use approval last week. Judge Brandon Neuman issued his ruling Thursday rejecting the appeal. Neuman
SPORTS Brentwood Firecracker 5K has something for every runner PAGE B1 Real estate transactions, A3,4
heard arguments from both sides in a May 15 hearing. The North Strabane Township board of supervisors approved the conditional use application for Laurel Communities last year. The developer is hoping to build a 41home, 35.5-acre development called The Collective. Linda Lopez, Matt Maniet and Pamela Maniet, all residents of North Spring Valley SEE DENIES PAGE A2
SIGHTS & SOUNDS Motorsport festival kicks off with rally PAGE B3 Classifieds, B4-6