Human Interest

Sidetracks Board Game Club Opening Saturday

Bored? Looking for a date night idea? Want to try a new game that you aren’t quite prepared to commit to buying quite yet? Want to learn rules of the games? Tired of endless scrolling and staring at your phone? Head over to Sidetracks Board Game Club at 205 Fifth Street. Monopoly, Life, all the classics, all the new games … which is your favorite? Owner Doug Smith is certain he has a game for everyone at Sidetracks. In fact, last he checked he had about 350 games. “I’m actually not sure I am going to be able to fit…


Ellwood City Fall Sports Q&A 2023

This is part one of a two part series featuring area athletes in fall 2023 sports. The start of fall sports is upon us, so we took the opportunity catch up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries and to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future. Ellwood City Athletes Colten Crizer Sport? Golf Grade? 12 How many years have you have played? I’ve been playing consistently for 3 years. What do you feel is your biggest strength? My biggest strength for me is…


Borough Council Extends Invite to ECASD Board of Directors to Discuss Softball Field Location Options

Speaking on behalf of the Borough of Ellwood City, Borough Solicitor Ed Leymarie said during Monday night’s meeting that the borough would be glad to meet with the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors to discuss an alternate location for the girl’s softball field. Leymarie said the borough has received numerous phone calls with complaints about the Ewing Park School property location, which is the site that was chosen unanimously by the ECASD’s Board of Directors. “We are prepared to enter into a long-term lease if the school is interested,” he said. That offer was a great idea…


Ellwood City Alumni Hall of Fame’s Inaugural Cars and Crafts Event to be Held Sunday

Love cars, crafts, food, and fun? Don’t miss Ellwood City Alumni Hall of Fame’s Inaugural Cars and Crafts Event. It will be held THIS Sunday, August 13th from 2 to 6 p.m. at 501 Crescent Avenue and will feature fun for the whole family. There will be food trucks, a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, vendors, cars, and DJ Music Monkey will provide entertainment. Dash Plaques will be provided for the first 100 cars. Prizes include: two rounds of golf at Olde Stonewall, gift cards for Shakespeare’s Restaurant, Christy’s Restaurant, oil changes at Napleton and more. The rear lot of…


ECASD Board of Directors Meeting: Ewing Park Residents Oppose New Location for Softball Field

Approximately 25 visitors attended Thursday’s Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors meeting—many to express their opposition to the location of the new softball field. During their July meeting the Board of Directors unanimously approved a plan to commit to improving district softball and baseball facilities, including a newly constructed softball field on the Ewing Park School property and renovations to the existing baseball field as recommended by the ECASD Board Athletic Committee at a cost of $3,329,000 (see a list of detailed costs in photos). Mike Smith, who lives on Beatty Street, said he recently received a threat…


Pickleball Court a “Hit” in Ewing Park

If you have noticed something new this year in Ewing Park … it’s probably the pickleball court. Councilwoman Judith Dici saw the sport growing in popularity and when she realized that it was a sport that many ages and skill levels could enjoy, she decided to bring the idea to Ellwood City Borough Council. Dici herself plays pickleball and said that her drive to get the courts came from having a friend who has Parkinson’s Disease as well as seeing the students at Lincoln participating in pickleball tournaments in the high school gym during lunchtime. “The kids loved it. It…


Carpenter’s Project Completes 52 Projects On 35 Homes

The Carpenter’s Project completed its 22 year of service last week with a long list of improvements to homes around the area. Steven Miller has been the director of the Carpenter’s Project for 12 years now, and during that time there have been plenty of other moments and words and gestures and celebrations that have kept him and the other volunteers coming back year after year to serve the community. “The homeowners are very appreciative,” Miller said. “Some of them are simply unable to do it themselves and some simply cannot afford to have the work done by an outside…


Ellwood City Mayor: “Beware of Scams Targeting Local Residents”

Local residents are falling victim to scams, according to Mayor Anthony Court. Court said recently an elderly Ellwood City woman was scammed out of $15,000 by an imposter scam. She was told her family member was being held in a foreign prison and $15,000 was required for release. She will not get the $15,000 back. She later found it that she was the victim of an imposter scam, and she will not get the $15,000 back. Court says although some scammers have been brought to justice, new ones are popping up everyday and it won’t stop anytime soon. He asks…


Borough Teaming Up with Kitchen Cabinet to Provide Welcome Signs

Ellwood City Borough Council approved a quote from locally owned Signs by Sam for the purchase of two Ellwood City Welcome Signs that will be placed at “entrances” to the city. The signs will cost a total of $7,000. Local nonprofit organization The Kitchen Cabinet will provide $3,500 of the amount in cooperation with the borough that will provide the other $3,500 from the L&N fund. The placement locations of the signs will be announced at a later date. Mayor Anthony Court commented after the meeting that he was thrilled to see the project go to a local Ellwood City…


JMI Hosting Drive Through Food Giveaway July 22

Giant FREE FOOD Distribution! Up to 1,500 families will be served! FREE FOR ANYONE IN NEED AT THIS CURRENT TIME! SATURDAY, JULY 22, 2023 FROM 8:30 AM UNTIL SUPPLIES LAST Please plan to come early! Jubilee Ministries International (JMI) Nourishing Others Well-being Project (N.O.W.) along with The Christian Chamber of Commerce of Pennsylvania (CCCP) is sponsoring a Drive-Thru Food Giveaway for up to 1,500 families on SATURDAY, JULY 22nd @ 8:30 AM UNTIL SUPPLIES LAST Location- The Towne Mall- (Cascade Galleria Plaza) 200 South Jefferson Street, New Castle, PA 16101 Each Family Will Receive: • Fresh Milk from Marburger Farm…