Recent Stories

Articles by EllwoodCity.org Staff

December 6, 2019

PREVIEW: Tip-Off Tournaments Start Seasons For Local Basketball Teams

For the four area high school basketball teams tipping off their respective seasons this weekend, there will be a variety of ‘vibes’ for each team, nonetheless all looking to make their own improvements and reach the playoffs in the 2019-20 high school basketball season. Out of the local bunch, the Ellwood City girls basketball team (13-10) is coming off its best season in 15 years. The Wolverines reached the WPIAL playoffs for the first time in four seasons and return five of their top seven players, including junior forward Maria Ioanilli. “We’re coming off our most wins in over 15…

December 5, 2019

Ellwood City Medical Center Announces Layoffs

This afternoon, according to a Facebook Live video from PA State Representative Aaron Bernstine, it was announced that the Ellwood City Medical Center has laid off 92 of the 171 employees of the hospital. The layoffs are due to the recent closing of the emergency room as well as the inpatient facilities. Over the next several days, Mr. Bernstine’s offices will be coordinating with other healthcare facilities to set up a job fair, exclusive to those employees who have been displaced. Bernstine’s offices will bring in representatives from as many healthcare facilities as possible to meet the talented health care…

December 4, 2019

POLICE REPORTS: Criminal Complaints

The following are police criminal complaints filed at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Lawrence County office of Honorable Jerry G. Cartwright. According to a complaint, on November 20, at 7:21 p.m. officers were dispatched to Dollar General in reference to a retail theft in progress. Upon arrival, a store employee advised there was a female stealing numerous items and putting them in her brown purse.  Teresa Ritter, 25, of Ellwood City was taken into custody. When officers asked Ritter to open her purse, there were nine pieces of merchandise valued at a total of $37.75 including a $10.00 Lego Creator Drone….

December 2, 2019

Elton Hotel Firefighters Memorial Service Planned

It has been 30 years since the Ellwood City Volunteer Fire Department responded to a fire at 428 Lawrence Avenue in the borough, to the location of the now-former Elton Hotel. That December 4th call would change the lives of many. While crews worked to contain the blaze, a catastrophic collapse occurred, which left two firefighters trapped inside. David “Ernie” Martino and Paul Frederick gave the ultimate sacrifice that morning while protecting the borough and its residents. Now, this weekend, December 7th beginning at 11 a.m., a memorial service will be held to pay tribute to these heroes, 30 years…

December 2, 2019

Ellwood City Public Library Activities For Week Of December 2

The Ellwood City Area Public Library offers a variety of weekly activities. Information is available by calling the library at 724-758-6458. Activities taking place this week include WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4 10:00 a.m. – “Coloring for Adults,” a weekly program that is free and open to the public. It is designed to help reduce stresses of everyday life. All adults are welcome. 3:00 p.m. – “Creative Writing Workshop,” for students in seventh grade and up. This group meets twice each month to share their work and discuss writing tips and techniques. 6:30 p.m. – “Evening Book Group for Adults,” they will…

November 26, 2019

Mini-Casino Financing Problems Revealed To The State By Mount Airy Months Ago

According to an article published on PennBets.com website, the cancellation of Mount Airy Resort Casino’s plans for a mini-casino in Beaver County came as abrupt, unexpected news to the public, but the project had been doomed months ago by trouble obtaining needed financing. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, without objection from Mount Airy, voted last Wednesday to deny a Category 4 license to the Monroe County casino for the satellite operation it had wanted some 300 miles across the state. There was little discussion of the decision at the board meeting, just a brief, rather bureaucratic reference by the board’s staff to…

November 25, 2019

Ellwood City Public Library Activities For Week Of November 25

The Ellwood City Area Public Library offers a variety of weekly activities.  Information is available by calling the library at 724-758-6458. Activities taking place this week include WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 10:00 a.m. – “Coloring for Adults,” a weekly program that is free and open to the public. It is designed to help reduce stresses of everyday life. All adults are welcome. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28 The Ellwood City Area Public Library will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving. Normal hours will resume Friday, November 29. MEMORIALS: The following are memorial contributions received by the library during the month of November. Memorials…

November 20, 2019

PHOTOS: 2019 Halloween Contest Winners

Congratulations to this year’s winners of the annual EllwoodCity.org Halloween Costume Contest! This year EllwoodCity.org held two contests, its original Facebook.com contest as well as a new costume contest of entries from a Fearscape indoor trick or treat event in October. The grand prize winner of the EllwoodCity.org contest was Jasmine Blaze, 4, and our second place winner was Myla Blinn (not pictured). Blaze, dressed a Pennywise Clown, collected an unimaginable 1.3k likes (36 shares) over the duration of the online contest. EllwoodCity.org also offered a separate photo contest in partnership with FearScapes Indoor Haunted House. Brentlee Boots, dressed at…

November 18, 2019

Ellwood City Public Library Activities For Week of November 18

The Ellwood City Area Public Library offers a variety of weekly activities.  Information is available by calling the library at 724-758-6458. Activities taking place this week include MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18 1:30 p.m. – “Afternoon Book Group for Adults,” the group will be discussing the book “Clock Dance” by Anne Tyler. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19 10:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. – “Family Laptime,” designed for babies as young as 6 months of age, toddlers, and preschoolers. This is an interactive, family event and features stories, songs, games, finger plays and more. Registration is requested. 5:00 p.m. – “Food For Thought II Book…

November 16, 2019

Panthers Playoff Run Ended, Defeated by Avonworth

Riverside’s magical playoff run was thwarted Friday night, falling 41-14 to #2 seed Avonworth in the WPIAL Class 2A semifinal at West Allegheny Friday night. The vastly underseeded Panthers knocked off #3 seed Burgettstown and #6 seed McGuffey to enter the contest as the first No. 14 seed to reach the WPIAL semifinals since Central Valley did it in 2010. Riverside only trialed 13-0 at halftime, unable to capitalize on two possessions reaching inside the Antelopes 10 yard line. The Panthers were denied twice on fourth down from the Avonworth 2- and 4-yard lines. Josh Bishop had two interceptions defensively…