Articles by Jonathan Cortez

Lincoln Students Participate in National Student Walkout

At 10 .m. today, Lincoln High School students gathered outside to participate in a nation-wide protest against gun violence in schools. The Lincoln High School administration supported students’ right to protest, and the Ellwood City Police Department provided three officers for security. According to Principal Kirk Lape, the demonstration proceeded without issue. Although there was no exact count, he said a “significant amount” of students participated. Students gathered around the miniature State of Liberty statue for 17 minutes, one minute for each victim of Florida school shooting. Today marks the one month anniversary of the tragic.


Ellwood Resident Criticizes Borough for Failure to Comply with Right to Know Law

At Monday’s Ellwood City Borough Council meeting, visitor Dave McQuade criticized council for a slow response to his Right to Know Requests, for its decision to charge events recoup fees and for statements made on social media. McQuade filed two requests on the weekend of March 2 and said the borough had yet to respond. By state law, an agency has five business days to respond in writing.  The first request was for the current procedures for holding events in the borough. The second request was for the police contract. The requests were in response to council’s decision in February to…


Ellwood City Organizations Dismayed by Council Decision to Charge Events Recoup Fees

“I’ve been a volunteer since I was 19, and I’m choked up by what I’m seeing,” visitor Stephanie Muntean said to council during yesterday’s Ellwood City Borough Council agenda meeting. “As taxpayers, I want to have events, not bare streets. We pay taxes, give us something back.” Muntean’s comments echoed those of over half a dozen speakers and over 50 visitors, all protesting a decision by council to charge organizations for the costs of events held in the borough. In February’s meeting, council voted 5-2 to deny a request by the Ellwood City Relay for Life to hold their event…


Ellwood City School Board March Meeting Brief

The following is a brief synopsis of the Ellwood City Area School District board meeting held on Thursday, March 8: The meeting started with a moment of silence for Lincoln High School student Keaira Cunningham, who passed away on Feb. 14. Revenue/Finance The 2018-19 General Fund budget meetings were set for 6 p.m. on the following dates: Wednesday, April 18, Tuesday, April 24 and Monday, May 7. A motion was passed to discard old Jr. High Cheerleader uniforms that are not in use. Personnel A motion was passed rescinding the appointment of Sophia Koury as Middle School Volleyball Activity Sponsor….


Ellwood School Board Names Barb Wilson to Chair Security Committee and Hires Security Firm

At its regular meeting on Thursday, March 8, the Ellwood City School Board appointed board member Barb Wilson as chairwoman of an ad hoc security committee and arranged for a security firm to provide an assessment of the district’s four buildings. The committee is a response to the Florida school shooting on Feb. 14 and follows visitor concerns expressed at the agenda meeting on March 6. Wilson, who has security experience in her position as a director for a Jewish center in the Pittsburgh area, volunteered for the position and was unanimously appointed. “Congratulations, you have yourself a job,” board…


Visitors Request Security Improvements for Ellwood School District

The Ellwood City School Board agreed to examine forming a safety committee following visitor concerns during its agenda meeting on Monday. In the wake of last month’s Florida school shooting, several Ellwood school district residents bonded together to address safety issues with the board. Chief among concerns were improving internal security, entrance to the school buildings as well as individual classrooms, and reducing bullying. Visitors also requested the district to implement a safety committee, as Riverside School District has done. Visitor Bob Cunningham urged school uniforms to combat passive bullying toward underprivileged students. “Everybody wears a uniform when they go…


Riverside “Shrek – The Musical” Q&A with Lead Cast

The Riverside High School Theater will present the hilarious comedy musical, SHREK – THE MUSICAL on MARCH 1st through MARCH 4th in the high school auditorium. A cast of over sixty from the high school and middle school will participate in the production directed by Brent Rodgers. Performance dates are: Thursday March 1st 7:30 p.m. Friday March 2nd 7:30 p.m. Saturday March 3rd 7:30 p.m. Sunday March 4th 2:00 p.m. *MATINEE All tickets for these performances are $10.00 and can be reserved by calling the Musical Reservation Line at 724-758-7512 extension 2838. Riverside High School is located at 300 Country…


Borough Manager Application Open Through Feb. 28

At Monday’s Ellwood City borough council meeting, council president Judi Dici advertised the position of Borough Manager. Applications will be open until Wednesday, Feb. 28, and interviews will begin shortly after. The position has been open since Jan. 2 when the new council voted in a 5-2 decision not to renew Bob Villella’s contract. Dici, other borough representatives, and borough employees have been performing the manager’s duties. According to Dici, there were six applicants as of Monday evening. “Hopefully we can fill this position quickly,” Dici said.


Former Council President Criticizes Council for Wasting Electric Bond Funds

At Monday’s Ellwood City Borough Council meeting, former council president Connie MacDonald criticized the current council’s decision to stop construction on a new electric building. The building would have been located between Franklin Avenue and Park Avenue Extension and would have been paid for with a 2017 bond issue for over $2 million dollars. At a special meeting on Feb. 1, the new council voted 5-2 to suspend construction, with previous council members George Celli and Michele Lamenza casting the dissenting votes. According to MacDonald, the new building was designed, plans were finalized and the project was open for bid….


Ellwood City Borough Council February Meeting Brief [Updated 8 p.m.]

The following is a brief summary of the Ellwood City Borough Council meeting held on Feb. 19, 2018. **Updated Feb. 21 at 8:00 p.m. Visitors Brian Bush, of the Ellwood City Revitalization Committee, presented council with a check for $200,000 from the Hoyt Foundation. Connie MacDonald, current member of the Lawrence County Housing Authority and previous council president, protested the current council’s decision to stop the planned construction of a new electric building, claiming at least $120,000 in bond money had been “thrown away.” [see correction] Resolutions A motion was adopted amending the costs of street opening permits and curb…