the almanac J U N E 28, 2026
SOUTH HILLS COMMUNITY NEWS
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COUNTIES START Parades, races, fireworks highlight FESTIVITIES EARLY Fourth of July celebrations By Eleanor Bailey ebailey@thealmanac.net
America celebrates its 250th birthday on July 4 and South Hills residents won’t have to travel too far to share in the festivities as Brentwood, Canonsburg, Mt. Lebanon and the city of Pittsburgh have planned daylong activities to acknowledge the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Brentwood and Canonsburg are widely recognized for their parades and this year, both boroughs have selected all-Americans as their grand marshals. According to the Canonsburg Fourth of July Celebration committee, it made the “special decision” not to select a single grand marshal. “As our nation prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, we are honoring the people who have made this country strong. In recognition of this historic milestone, we proudly dedicate this year’s celebration to everyone across our great nation. Today, we are all grand marshals.” Brentwood concurred. Its Fourth of July committee announced that “America 250” will serve the grand marshal. “As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, Brentwood will honor this historic milestone in a special way.” The parade will be led by the community’s next generation. Brentwood youth and their families will carry American flags as they proudly represent the future of the borough as well as the country. “Together, we’ll celebrate our country’s history, community pride, and the spirit that makes Brentwood such a special place to call home.” Both parades step off at 10 a.m. after a traditional military flyover. The Brentwood pageant starts at Sankey Avenue and continues along Brownsville Road to Brentwood Towne Center at Dewalt
Avenue while the Canonsburg parade begins at Cavasina Dr. (near Walgreens) and proceeds westward onto Pike Street ending at Bluff Street. Both communities also feature a footrace earlier in the day. At 43 years old, the Brentwood Firecracker 5K is one of the largest and longest running races as well as most celebrated in western Pennsylvania. More than 2,000 runners, joggers and walkers of all ages and abilities participate in the 3.1-mile race that travels the parade route. The race starts at 9 a.m. Runners must be registered in advance. Entry fees are $25 for ages 13 and older; $13 for ages 12 and under. A race-day shuttle is available from 7 to 11:30 a.m. to transport participants from Baldwin High School to the start/finish line. Visit run signup.com to register for the race or for more details. The 42nd annual Whiskey Rebellion 5K, sponsored by the Canon-McMillan cross country boosters, will start at 7:30 a.m. at Canonsburg Memorial Stadium. Entry fees are $40 for adults; $35 for ages 18 and under. Packet pickup is set for 5 to 7 p.m. July 3 at 1 North Jefferson Ave., which is outside the stadium and near the library. Raceday packet pickup will be held from 6:15 to 7:30 a.m. Visit run signup.com to register for either race or for more details on the runs. At 9 a.m. in Canonsburg the church bells will ring to signal the opening of ceremonies. Five minutes later, remarks will be given at the parade reviewing stand by Mayor David Rhome as well as Canonsburg Fourth of July Committee chairpersons: Carmina V. Vitullo and Robert A. Maceiko. Sound and music is provided by Bob Kobert. Bailey Rose will perform the national anthem and
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ELEANOR BAILEY
Red, white and blue will be the colors of the day as America celebrates its 250th birthday on July 4. The McWilliams family from Mt. Lebanon (Connor and Sydney and son, Jack) will have a prime spot along Brownsville Road to watch the Brentwood Fourth of July parade as they visit relatives for the day in the borough.
Washington and Allegheny County will kick off the celebration of the country’s 250th birthday one day early with two special events on July 3. “Red, White, and Wild” will take place at EQT Park. Festivities start at 4 p.m. Local musical artists Colby Wayne, Junior Guthrie, Jasperillo, and Coalfire Run will perform before the Washington Symphony Orchestra takes the stage. The evening concludes with a fireworks display. There will be activities for children in the kids’ area, and a number of local vendors will be present in the park. “This event will give folks who plan to stay home for the holiday another activity the whole family can enjoy,” said CEO of Sports Facility, LLC, Christine Blaine. “We are really excited and pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to our neighbors and look forward to having a lot of fun.” In addition to the stars, strings and fireworks, fans can enjoy concession food or make a reservation for a traditional family picnic. The cost is $5 a carload when purchased in advance ($10 at the gate). Tickets for the picnic and buffet option are $30 for adults and $20 for ages 12 and under. Reservations need to be made in advance by calling 866456-WILD or 724-250-9555. In addition to the Washington Observer-Reporter, the event is sponsored by The Washington Wild Things, Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency and Range Resources. Visit washingtonwildthings.com for more information on the baseball club or the event.
PSO AT SP
ELEANOR BAILEY
Children racing to pick up holiday beads and candy thrown from passing floats is a sure thing when parades pass by in Brentwood and Canonsburg this Fourth of July.
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) will perform on July 3 at the South Park Amphitheater located at 100 Farmshow Drive. The performance begins at 8:15 p.m. Admission is free. Because there is no covered seating at the open-air venue, spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. Local food trucks and beverage vendors will be available on-site. The PSO will also perform at 8:15 p.m. July 5 at Hartwood Acres. The show will also feature a synchronized drone show. For specific accessibility or seating assistance, call 412-392-4900.
Western Pa. revolutionized energy extraction with techniques, technology By Mike Jones
mjones@observer-reporter.com
Editor’s note: America would not be the nation it is today without its vast stores of natural resources. But those resources would have done us little good without individuals and companies willing to take risks. Much of that happened in Western Pennsylvania, where leading developments in the extraction of oil, coal and natural gas took place.
America would not be the nation it is today without its vast stores of natural resources. Coal, oil and natural gas have fueled America for generations. When it comes to coal, oil and natural gas, Western Pennsylvania has always played a pivotal role in creating revolutionary techniques to extract the minerals below our ground. A look into the recent past is all it takes to show the impact. More than two decades ago, a first-of-itskind natural gas well was drilled in the hills of Washington County, Pa., tapping into a hard-to-reach shale formation that unleashed a gold rush of natural gas extraction across
LOCATION USC shines at national speech and debate competition PAGE A6 What’s happening, B3
the nation. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, dated to the 1860s in the United States, and scientists for decades had known about the Marcellus Shale formation that runs through the heart of northern Appalachia. But in early October 2004, Range Resources Corp. utilized horizontal drilling on the Renz farm near Hickory, Pa., and fracked its first well, setting the table for the ongoing natural gas boom. The Marcellus is the second-largest natural gas formation in the world, with the play stretching 31,000 square miles from southern West Virginia past eastern Ohio through western Pennsylvania and extending to the Finger Lakes of New York. An estimated 489 trillion cubic feet of natural gas is captured
SPORTS Mt. Lebanon’s Keen on the right track PAGE B1 Classifieds, B4
in the shale formation, which would be enough to power the country for 20 years, according to studies. But before the Renz No. 1 Well first tapped into the bountiful Marcellus Shale, there was another famous well in Western Pennsylvania that changed the way the world is powered. More than a hundred miles or so north of Hickory sits the famous Drake Well near Titusville, Pa., where 145 years earlier, Edwin Drake struck oil, leading to the modern-day petroleum industry. Striking oil at a depth of just under 70 feet, the Drake Well wasn’t particularly deep, but it was immensely consequential. The natives and European settlers had known about petroleum SEE ENERGY PAGE B2
FILE PHOTO
A Marcellus Shale well is drilled in Washington County, Pa., in this undated file photo.
SIGHTS & SOUNDS 100-year-old brings cheer to Meals on Wheels PAGE B3 Real estate transactions, A4
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