Human Interest

Food Vendors—Tempters of the Tastebuds—to be Inducted into Festival Hall of Fame

Sausage sandwiches, elephant ears, apple dumplings, lamb dinners, pepperoni puffs, meatball sandwiches … hungry yet? For some Festival goers, the best part of the event is the food. “Some people just go to the Festival for the food,” said Raylene Boots, Festival Chairwoman. “Everyone has a favorite.” There are some “booths” that are well known … maybe even famous around Ellwood City’s Festival. Festival Hall of Fame Inductees Wolves, Rotary, and First United Methodist are truly among those daydream-worthy booths that push the salivary glands into overdrive. But more than just mouthwatering foods, these booths have a mission to give…


BC3 At Lawrence Crossing To Showcase Need For Medical Assistants

(New Castle, PA) BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing, the only of Butler County Community College’s five additional locations to offer a two-year degree and one-year certificate program for a profession whose salary averages $33,610 and expects 29 percent job growth, will host hands-on activities and presentations during its first Spotlight on Medical Assistant event July 10. Scheduled from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing, 2849 W. State St., New Castle, the event will introduce prospective students in Lawrence and Mercer counties to career paths in clinical and administrative health care available through BC3’s medical assistant program, said…


Larry ‘Hoss’ Crable —Cherished Crafter—to be Inducted into Festival Hall of Fame

That unmistakable sound of the hammer hitting the anvil is a sound that will resonate forever in the hearts of the family, friends, and Festival-goers who were lucky enough to know Larry “Hoss” Crable. “You could hear it the entire way across the park,” said Crable’s daughter Laura Goehring. “I remember when I was little walking to the grounds and knowing the greatest weekend of the year has started when I heard the distinct hammer sound,” Niece Jillian Court recalls. “I knew that I’d find him, my aunt and cousins if I followed the sound.” That sound is one that…


Pat Marinaccio—Champion of the Arts—to be Inducted into Festival Hall of Fame

Bittersweet. It’s a feeling that Lee Marinaccio knows all too well. Lee lost his father, Pat, mid January shortly before his dad would have celebrated his 93rd birthday. That’s the bitter part that Lee lives with. Losing a parent is a tragedy that stares into the face of thousands on a daily basis, but for each person that loss is something personal, something that no one else can possibly understand. Then, a sweet surprise came in the form of a Festival Hall of Fame induction that will honor Pat Marinaccio’s Festival legacy forever. You see, Marinaccio was a part of…


Eric Rayner —Face of the Fireworks—to be Inducted into Festival Hall of Fame

He will forever be known as the man on a mission to save the Festival fireworks. Eric Rayner, 26, of Ellport wasn’t going to let the 2019 Festival go on without the beloved fireworks. He refused to settle for it. So Rayner rallied the community with a goal of raising $5,000 to save the display. Not only did he meet the goal … he more than doubled it, raising $11,230. His charismatic approach to inspiring others was not lost in the dollars and cents and money matters of the fundraiser. His step-up-and-do-something attitude earned Rayner an induction into the Ellwood…


Joe Ferrara—A Founding Father—to be Inducted into Festival Hall of Fame

Joe Ferrara is no stranger to the stage, and that charisma and charm is what made him the perfect person to lead and organize the entertainment at the Festival. Ferrara one of the Festival’s founders was there from day one and even before that. Festival Chairwoman Raylene Boots revealed a little history and told a story of a pre-Festival entertainment event that Ferrara helped to organize. It was a musical revue thought up by 2018 Hall of Fame Inductee Mary Wiley. She presented the idea to Denny Schill and Ferrara, who gave a thumbs up. She suggested that the revue…


Festival Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

The Ellwood City Festival Committee has announced this year’s 2019 Festival Hall of Fame Inductees. Honored will be: Joe Ferrara, nominated by his daughter Lauranne Ferrara Pat Marinaccio, nominated by his son Lee Marinaccio Larry “Hoss” Crable, nominated by his niece Jillian Court Eric Rayner, nominated by Blanche Novak Ellwood City Wolves First United Methodist Church Ellwood City Rotary Also recognized will be the 2018 Hall of Fame: Mary Wiley, Tom Martz, Dom Viccari, Brok’n Pic, and No Money Down The Hall of Fame ceremony will be Saturday, June 29, at 1:00 following the awards for the 10K race. Nominations for…


Fireworks Fundraiser More Than Doubles Goal: $11,230 Raised

The fireworks fundraiser earned double plus its $5,000 goal tallying out at a final number of $11,230. A goal which started with one concerned 26-year-old Ellport man, Eric Rayner, turned into a community wide effort and gained the support of residents and businesses across the Ellwood City area. “To know that we raised over double what we needed is mind blowing, considering that we didn’t ask any business or groups for donations,” Rayner said. “To see how many business and groups reached out to us, along with all the members of the community who donated and bought shirts truly shows…


Ellwood City Festival Releases Entertainment Schedule

        Below is the entertainment schedule for the 2019 Festival. Friday, June 28 11 am Flag Raising National Anthem, vocalist Richard Agey 11:15 am Little Miss Firecracker 12:30-1:00 Tribute to Veterans vocalist Richard Agey 2:00-3:30 Wash Board Tony and Son 4:00-5:00 Wine and Spirit 5:30-6:30 Dance Expressions dancers 7:00-8:00 Hat Trick 8:30-10:00 Brok’n Pic Saturday, June 29 11 am Flag Raising National Anthem, vocalist Lee Corfield 11:15-1:00 Trophies for 10K Race 2:00-3:00 Studio P dancers 3:30-4:30 Harmony in Song 5:00-6:00 Ellwood City Civic Chorale 6:30-8:00 Trevolta Band 8:30-10:00 Elmo’s Fire Sunday, June 30 11 am Flag Raising…


Festival Announces Little Miss Firecracker Participants

On Friday, June 28, Ellwood City’s Folino Stage will again ‘light up’ as 17 young ladies vie for this year’s title of Little Miss Firecracker. The 5th annual pageant is the kick-off for the 39th Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food, and Entertainment Festival and will begin at 11:15 am. The three-day festival will take place in Ewing Park, Ellwood City. Pageant participants range from ages 5-7 and live within a 15 mile radius of Ellwood City. They will be judged on their stage presence, patriotic outfits, and interviews. The 2018 reigning Little Miss Firecracker is Dia Greco. Becky Guisler, pageant…