PART 2: Top Stories of 2020

In following previous years’ tradition, EllwoodCity.org brings the 2020 calendar year to a close with the top 10 most popular stories of the year.

Today is our second part of our 2-part series featuring the top stories of 2020.  The year was certainly one not soon to be forgotten with the raging COVID-19 pandemic gripping the world, and trickling down to the local level with many obstacles faced by Ellwoodians.

We would like to thank all of our readers for contributing to our 1.5 MILLION plus page views this year. If you missed Part 1, please click here to view Part 1 of the series.

The EllwoodCity.org staff wishes everyone a safe and healthy 2021!

#5 NEW BUSINESSES
Ellwood City and surrounding communities welcomed many new businesses in 2020. Whether it was delicious food at Chive, refreshing ice cream and sweets at Katie’s Korner, a new dentistry in Ewing Park, unique meads at Fitzgibbon Meadery, Fifth Street Fades barbershop, a tattoo shop, or a one stop business hub, their was a well rounded group of offerings and services added to Ellwood City’s lineup.

With many restrictions put in place in 2020 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, small and local businesses were the first to feel the pains and, as a small town, Ellwoodians tried their best to continue to shop and dine local and support the many established businesses and new businesses open in town.

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#4 FBI RAIDS AMERICORE HOSPITAL
Ellwood City was brought to its knees when the Ellwood City Medical Center closed in December 2019 after the state banned the hospital from admitting patients for various health and safety regulations. The closure and other issues caused the owner of the hospital, Americore, to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The fate of the hospital only became more bleek in February 2020 when the FBI raided the hospital, leaving the community to wonder what would become of its beloved little hometown hospital.

This ongoing saga certainly does not look like a topic that will be leaving the minds of area residents in 2021.

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#3 LOCCISANOS CLOSES, RE-OPENS AS SHOP N SAVE
After a century in business, the Loccisano family closed the doors of their beloved local grocery store Loccisano’s. The grocery store closed after business on Sunday, August 16, 2020 and reopened as Dave’s Hometown Shop ‘n Save on Monday, August 17, 2020 under new local ownership.

For decades, the community flocked to Loccisano’s to purchase fresh meats. The Loccisano family gushed about how grateful to the community they were for the years of dedication. They said down to the last days that they will never forget their faithful customers and also those who traveled from out of town and state to pack suitcases and coolers with meat. “That in itself humbles us beyond words,” the family said.

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#2 ELLWOOD CITY SCHOOL BOARD
The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors faced a lot of challenges this year with COVID at the forefront of nearly every one of them. The board spent hours in meetings working to balance the district’s budget. They also faced changes in the board itself, including some board ethics very early in 2020 and later grappled with decisions between making cuts to programs or trimming administrative staff. Following elections in fall of 2019, the board added two new members: Jean Biehls and Gary Rozanski. Then in 2020 the board lost long-time Director Leroy Cortez, who passed away in June. Matt Morella was appointed to replace Cortez.

Over the summer Joe Mancini was replaced by Wesley Shipley as Superintendent.  Some readers called for it to be fixed now, while other readers pointed out the chaos. Moving forward into 2021, the board will continue to face challenges as COVID continues to plague the community.

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#1  CORONAVIRUS
Without a doubt, Coronavirus has been the number one topic across the nation and the world in 2020. It struck with fury; shutdown the community as the borough declared a state of emergency while Ellwood City closed its public parks in March; railroaded families with added stress, illness, and loss; robbed area students and kids of educational and athletic opportunities; and brought business leaders challenges and struggles that proved life changing.  Schools were forced to address the virus and with fall approaching, forced to offer multiple options for students

You could not turn on the television, scroll through social media, or surf the web without constant saturation of the virus and its aftermath. The school districts addressed the virus and borough addressed coronavirus early in March and later accepted funding. It’s of no surprise that Coronavirus was #1 on EllwoodCity.org’s top 10 most popular stories of the year: