Franklin Township Blood Drive Scheduled For June 5th

The next Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department Community Blood Drive is scheduled for Friday, June 5th. Your blood donation can help save lives when seconds count. Donors who give blood between June 1–30 may receive a $15 Rewards gift card through Vitalant’s donor program. The event will take place at the Franklin Township Building, 897 Route 288, Fombell, PA 16123 **Appointments recommended** To schedule an appointment to donate: – Go to vitalant.org and search with Account Code UC5990039 – Call 1-877-25-VITAL If you need help scheduling you can also contact the Township Secretary at 724-758-9702 or twpsecretary@zoominternet.net. The township thanks…


Ellwood City, Riverside Baseball Teams Each Gain Opening Round Victories In WPIAL Playoffs

Both local baseball teams earned opening round victories in the WPIAL Class 3A Playoffs on Tuesday. LAKE DOMINATE, WOLVERINES SHUTOUT LIGIONER VALLEY Ellwood City defeated Ligonier Valley 3-0 on Tuesday at Pullman Park behind a strong pitching effort by senior Aaron Lake. Lake struck out six batters and allowed only three hits across his 6.1 innings. Nate Kennedy sat down the final two batters as Ellwood City advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals. The Wolverines were the first to get on the board in the first when Jake Biskup singled, scoring one run. A single by Matt Kelly extended the Ellwood…


ECASD Board of Directors Pass Preliminary Budget with Tax Increase; Consider Financing Plan for Budget Shortfall

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors passed a preliminary budget—which calls for a 4.9 percent tax increase—and authorized administration to work with PFM Financial Advisors LLC, as Municipal Advisor on a financing plan as the district faces a more than $1 million budget shortfall. (view the preliminary budget here) Board directors and school officials have a big financial job ahead of them in the coming months as they seek to increase revenues while decreasing spending to work toward a more structurally balanced budget. Melissa Maze of PFM said this financing plan is strictly a strategy for cash…


Ellwood City Area Historical Society Presents 2026 Scholarships

Four local high school seniors were awarded scholarships by the Ellwood City Area Historical Society on Monday evening. Erica Barlow (Lincoln High School), Christina Valencia (Riverside High School), Kiley LeViere (Lincoln High School), and Lucas Bleakney (Lincoln High School) each received $1,500 scholarships to assist with their continuing education. Barlow and Valencia were awarded Marlene Painter Scholarships for their essays titled, “Why I Want to Be a Teacher.” LeViere and Bleakney received the Robert and Janice Barensfeld Scholarships after submitting essays on “The History of Schools in Ellwood City.” The Robert and Janice Barensfeld Scholarships are endowed by the Barensfeld…


Ellwood City Public Library Activities For Week Of May 11th

The Ellwood City Area Public Library offers a variety of weekly activities. Information is available by calling the library at 724-758-6458. HOURS Hours are Monday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Please remember no one is available to take your calls unless it is in the hours listed above. Activities taking place this week include. MONDAY, MAY 11 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – “Interactive Play,” children can play hands-on with various items. TUESDAY, MAY 12 1:00 p.m. –…


Riverside Softball, Baseball Teams Each Qualify For WPIAL Playoffs That Begin Next Week

The Riverside girls softball team (8-5 Overall) has qualified for the Class 2A WPIAL Softball Playoffs, earning a #7 seed in the playoff picture. The Lady Panthers’ playoff journey will begin on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. when they travel to West Mifflin High School to play #10 Brentwood. “We don’t know much about our opening round opponent, but we know us,” says head coach Geri Cummings. “We will be ready to compete next Thursday.” The coach is appreciative that the WPIAL committee put all four Section 2A-1 teams in different wings of the bracket and it gives everyone a chance…


Bernstine Announces Upcoming Town Hall Meetings, Veterans Event

BUTLER – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Lawrence) today announced three upcoming community events, including two town hall meetings and a veterans event. Bernstine will host an Ellwood City Town Hall Meeting on Monday, May 11, from 6-7 p.m., at the Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department. “This town hall is about listening,” said Bernstine. “I want to hear residents’ questions, concerns and ideas so the voices of local families are reflected in the decisions being made in Harrisburg. These conversations are critical to helping address the challenges facing our communities and Pennsylvania as a whole.” Bernstine will also host a veterans event…


Wolverines Baseball, Softball Teams Pick Up Victories Thursday, Look Towards WPIAL Playoffs

The Ellwood City Wolverine boys baseball team and girls softball team each picked up victories Thursday afternoon, each have clinched and will next advance to the WPIAL Playoffs. The baseball team used a strong effort from senior Aaron Lake on the mound in its 3-0 shutout victory over Knoch. Lake tossed 6.2 innings of shutout baseball, striking out eight while allowing only three hits. Lake also doubled offensively for the Wolverines. Jordan Keller smacked two doubles and George Bokor added a double among his two-hit effort. The game was scoreless entering the bottom half of the fifth inning before an…