PART 1: Top Stories of 2022

In following previous years’ tradition, EllwoodCity.org brings the 2022 calendar year to a close with the Top 10 most popular stories of the year.

Today is the first part of our two-part series featuring the top news stories of the year based on analytics and social media reach. The year has been unforgettable to say the least, we as a community have faced the good, the bad, and the ugly this year but managed to come out on top of it all. [VIEW PART 2]

We would like to thank our valued readership that helped generated nearly 2 MILLION PAGE VIEWS this calendar year and our local businesses who support our website and help it stay free of charge. The EllwoodCity.org staff wishes everyone a safe and healthy 2023!

HONORABLE MENTION:

A STAR IS BORN: A star was born … or discovered. Morgan Gruber, 17-year-old Fombell Native emerged as a star on the twentieth season of the reality show singing competition American Idol. On February 27, 2022, Gruber took Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, American Idol judges by storm with her performance. Although Gruber wasn’t named the American Idol, she sure became an idol in Ellwood City playing at various bars and establishments including charity events for the Ellwood City Festival Fireworks. Gruber announced in Summer of 2022 that she was moving to Nashville to pursue her dreams.

#10 – LOCAL AUTHOR PENS STORY OF NEAR LOSS OF HER SON

For Marcia Cater 30 minutes seemed like forever because on a nearly heartbreaking October 24th day 4 years ago, she almost lost her son who was 14 at the time to sudden cardiac arrest. Cater never saw herself as an author of a book, although she spent many years writing as a journalist. But through community support and urgency and by the grace of God, she felt compelled to tell her story “Heartbeat from Heaven.” Her book is now available on Amazon. “One Sunday at church a very Godly woman told me I think you need to write a book about this,” Marcia said. “I knew I couldn’t ignore it anymore. It was truly a labor of love. I did it because I felt like I was being obedient to God. I knew nothing about book publishing, and I didn’t care to know. I just sat down and started typing and what came about was one long version of the story.” The book has gained widespread acclaim and has touched the lives of many in the Ellwood City Community and beyond. READ FULL ARTICLE – www.ellwoodcity.org/2022/10/13/heartbeat-from-heaven/

#9 – ECASD HALL OF FAME

The Ellwood City Area School District Hall of Fame Committee unveiled a new Hall of Fame to celebrate the professional achievements and athletic accomplishments of Lincoln Jr/Sr High School alumni on December 9, 2022, during the halftime of the boys’ basketball game against Hopewell. An initial HOF class was announced and new members will be inducted annually moving forward. The general public will be able to nominate any athlete or distinguished alumni when nominations open for the 2023 class. Nomination forms will be available on the Ellwood City Area School District website, or you can contact the district office for a nomination form when the nomination window is open.

#8 – LOCAL SPORTS

March was a busy month for some local sports athletes, teams, and organizations. Riverside Head Coach Dan Oliastro, the 54-year head coach who has four State Titles and 5 WPIAL Championships, earned his record 656th (and counting) WPIAL victory. Also in March, the co-op swimming team of Ellwood City and Riverside athletes claimed a PIAA State Relay Championship while Joseph Roth set a state record in the 100-yard backstroke.  And finally, the Riverside archery team earned a berth in its nationals in Kentucky in March.

#7 – BOROUGH MATTERS

Borough Manager David Allen announced in September of 2022 that he would be resigning his position and in November Ellwood City Borough Council hired Kevin Swogger to replace Allen at the salary of $70,000. For Swogger, community development and management have been a long-time staple in his career. The 1985 Ellwood City graduate is rounding out his wide range of experience with a hometown position that will allow him to invest in the future of his community. Swogger, who lives in the Ewing Park neighborhood, has the background necessary to keep the borough moving forward. He was in the Airforce for 23 years, traveled all over the world, and enjoyed a prestigious 10-year special duty assignment interior for Air Force One. “I worked under three presidents and got to meet a lot of dignitaries,” he said.

#6 – ALS VOTE

Ellwood City’s push for an Advanced Life Support program paid off when in November Ellwood City Borough Council voted to adopt an ordinance, creating an Advanced Life Support (ALS) Program and to advertise an ordinance creating a 1 mill tax for those services. Council was able to make the move following a voter referendum on November 8 during the election in which a majority of voters were in favor of the program. Council also added paramedics to staff the program including two additional part-time paramedics at the rate of $20.00/hour: Ernest Mallary, Jr. and Christopher Szymoniak. During the October Council meeting, The Ellwood City Community Health Foundation presented the Ellwood City Fire Department a check for $175,000. Council voted at that October meeting to advertise an ordinance creating the ALS program, as well as an agreement that the program would be partially funded by the Health Foundation’s funding. Council also began adding the manpower to make the ALS program a success at the October 2022 meeting. Dan Yoder was promoted from part-time firefighter to full-time paramedic captain. Brandon Magnifico and Jeff Magnifico were promoted from part-time firefighters to part-time paramedics. Dirk Baker, Brian Dambaugh, Johnny Douglas, Chad Kirkpatrick, Michael Kobbe, Alan Martino, Aaron Natali, Larry Price, Christopher Reed, and James Varzdel were all hired as part-time paramedics. The Ellwood City Fire Department posted their excitement on their Facebook Page in October, “We are proud to say that we are ready to provide the best care we possibly can to residents of our community!”