Recent Stories

Articles by Tracey Ferguson

November 10, 2026

Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors Hold Regular Meeting

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors held its regular meeting on Nov 9 at 7 p.m. This meeting followed a Nov 4 Public Hearing to discuss a three-building configuration option as a means to reduce the district’s debt and stress on the fund balance in the days to come as well as into the future. Board Director Claire Fauzey said she had some time to reflect on the meeting, and suggested that the district host an informal “town hall” type discussion with the teachers to get their feedback and thoughts as to how the three-building configuration option…

November 5, 2026

ECASD Hosts Public Hearing Regarding Three-Building Configuration Options

Ellwood City Area School District and its Board of Directors hosted a public hearing Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the possibility of closing one of the district’s school buildings. During the hearing, District Superintendent Amy Anderson, presented the three-building configuration options, which are currently under active review. Anderson presented five options including two scenarios for closing North Side, one scenario for closing Perry, one scenario for closing Hartman, and also a scenario that she labeled status quo, which basically means no change to the District’s current building configuration. (See the presentation here). (Find information about District…

October 27, 2026

Pure Gold Showband to Headline Christmas Concert Benefiting Ellwood City Festival

The holiday season will get a spectacular musical start when the Pure Gold Showband takes the stage for a special Christmas Concert on Sunday, November 29, 2026, at the Lincoln High School Auditorium. The concert will serve as a fundraiser for the Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment Festival, bringing the community together for an evening of outstanding live entertainment while supporting one of the area’s signature annual events. Concertgoers can expect much more than a night of music. They can look forward to a full-scale entertainment experience built on decades of musical excellence, crowd interaction, polished choreography, and…

October 21, 2026

Council Approves Agreement with ECBFPO to Upgrade Women’s Softball Field at Stiefel Park

Ellwood City Borough Council voted to approve an agreement with the Ellwood City Ball Fields Project Organization (ECBFPO) delineating respective roles and responsibilities relative to upgrades to the Women’s Softball field at Stiefel Park. The agreement states that ECBFPO has proposed to undertake and fund, at no cost to the Borough, certain renovations and improvements to the women’s softball field at Stiefel Park and to donate the completed improvements to the Borough as a gift. The Ellwood City Area School District’s (ECASD) Board of Directors recently approved Stiefel Park as Location for 2026-2027 Girls Softball Team’s Season. They also voted…

October 12, 2026

ECASD Board of Directors Approve Stiefel Park as Location for 2026-2027 Girls Softball Team’s Season

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to approve a location for the softball team’s 2026-2027 season home games. A majority of the board (Board President Kathy Galbreath, Board Vice President Norman Boots, and Board Directors Kathy Tillia, Joyce Cirelli, and Nick Mancini) voted “Yes” to have the team play at Stiefel Park for the 2026-27 season if planned upgrades are completed or at a non-fee field if not completed. (Board Directors Jean Biehls, Erica Gray, and Jennifer Tomon voted “No.” And Board Director Claire Fauzey was absent.) The Board then voted to disclaim interest in funds…

September 25, 2026

Three Ellwood City Theater Veterans to Bring the Musical 1776 to Life on the New Castle Playhouse Stage

When history takes the stage, it helps to have a couple of seasoned storytellers in the room. Enter two Ellwood City theater veterans bringing years of experience, plenty of personality, and their own theatrical spark to the musical 1776, which opens tonight at The New Castle Playhouse. These hometown performers know their way around a stage—and they’re ready to trade modern-day life for powdered wigs, political intrigue, and a little revolutionary-era drama. Stage veterans Tom Bickert and Larry Kelly will thrill audiences in their historical roles At the helm is another familiar local face: a director whose résumé boasts a…

September 15, 2026

ECASD to Evaluate Three-Building Facility Configurations

Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted to authorize Superintendent Amy Anderson to investigate and evaluate potential three-building facility configurations for the Ellwood City Area School District, as an alternative to the district’s current four-building model. It was stated that the decision is for planning and informational purposes only and does not constitute a decision or commitment by the Board to close, consolidate, or reconfigure any district facility. The vote came following a Facilities Master Plan presentation by John Zahorchak, from EDM Consultants. During the presentation, Zahorchak said that his presentation isn’t a recommendation to close a building…

August 28, 2026

Fall Sports Q&A 2026: Part 4 Ellwood City Athletes

This is part four of a four-part series featuring area athletes in fall 2026 sports. The start of fall sports is upon us, so we took the opportunity catch up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries and to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future. ICYMI: Wolverines Football Team Under Direction Of New Head Coach Dante Venezie School you attend? Lincoln High School Sport? Golf Grade? 12 How many years have you have participated? 2 years What do you feel is your biggest…

August 27, 2026

Fall Sports Q&A 2026: Part 3 Riverside Cheerleaders

This is part three of a four-part series featuring area athletes in fall 2026 sports. The start of fall sports is upon us, so we took the opportunity catch up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries and to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future. RELATED: Q&A 2026 Part 1 – Riverside Football Players Q&A 2026 Part 2 – Riverside Volleyball Players Isla Connors School you attend? Riverside High School Sport? Cheerleading Grade? 12 How many years have you have participated? 12 What…

August 26, 2026

Fall Sports Q&A 2026: Part 2 Riverside Volleyball Players

This is part two of a four-part series featuring area athletes in fall 2026 sports. The start of fall sports is upon us, so we took the opportunity catch up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries and to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future. ICYMI: Q&A 2026 Part 1 – Riverside Football Players Abby George School you attend? Riverside High School Sport? Volleyball Grade? 12th How many years have you have participated? This will be my 6th year What do you feel…