Articles by Tracey Ferguson

Borough to Seek Residents for Comprehensive Plan Committee

Ellwood City Borough Council voted to accept letters of interest from Borough residents willing to serve on the Comprehensive Plan Committee. The Comprehensive Plan Committee shall consist of three Council members, Borough Manager David Allen, and five Borough residents. Community planning, according to the American Planning Association, is “a process that seeks to engage all members of the community to create a more prosperous, convenient, equitable, healthy, and attractive place for present and future generations.” One of the fundamental responsibilities of local government is to plan for future growth and development of the community. The guidance document that results from…


HHSDR Provides Helling Stadium Update, Presents Proposal for Perry Lower Renovations

Representatives from HHSDR Architects/Engineers announced during Thursday night’s Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors meeting that construction is on track at Helling Stadium for the proposed September 28 completion date. They said that all the “in the mud” type work is finished. They expect the turf work to begin after Aug 8, which is the expected arrival date of the materials. In addition, they mapped out a plan for a complete renovation of Perry Lower Intermediate. HHSDR said the project will have an overall cost of $9.6 million. Included in the project will be all new electrical, HVAC,…


Festival Entertainment: Part 3: Dorals to Take the Stage July 4

You know them. You’ve heard them. They are festival favorites. They are the Dorals. With Jim Lombardo on lead vocals and saxophone; Dave Audia on lead vocals and guitar, Jack Marshall on lead vocals and keyboard; Tee Sands on bass and background vocals, Steve Domeck on drums and background vocals; Rob Verone on lead guitar and vocals and sound engineer Patrick Benincase, the crowd will be rocked and rolled and will want to sing along on Monday, July 4 during the Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food, and Entertainment Festival. The Dorals are celebrating 34 years of playing music this year,…


Mascot to be Named at Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food, and Entertainment Festival

The Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food, and Entertainment Festival will kick off it’s 40th Anniversary with something new: A mascot! The patriotic eagle is a great addition to the Fourth of July Festival tradition. And the committee held a contest to name the mascot. There were five finalists, and the winner and name of the mascot will be announced on July 2 at 4:30 p.m. Finalists include: -Issac L (After Issac L Ellwood, Creator of Barbed Wire, and whom our town is named after) submitted by Donna Ann Hope -Ellwood The Eagle submitted by Kevin Swogger -Long Crested Woodrow (But…


Festival Entertainment: Part 2: Elmoz Fire to play Dance Favorites

A little bit Whitney a little bit Bruno Mars mixed with some Play that Funky Music and Brick House. It’s a recipe of Funk, R&B, and Dance music. It’s Elmoz Fire. The Pittsburgh-based band will play the Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food, and Entertainment Festival on Sunday, July 3rd from 8:15 to 9:45. The bands guitarist Dennis Trivilino lives in Ellwood, and he said the band is looking forward to playing the festival “We will get to play for all ages,” Trivilino said. “The dance music effects everyone whether 16 or 60. Everyone will dance to Brick House.” He said…


Festival Entertainment: Part 1: Cherry Radium: Unique, Untraditional Sound, Energy

Are you ready? … For something new? Something untraditional? Something unique? The power quartet Cherry Radium will channel the vibes of Fleetwood Mac and other rock favorites on Saturday, July 2nd at the Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food, and Entertainment Festival. The band will take the stage from 8:30 to 10 p.m. with New Castle-based musicians Gianna Cherry on lead vocals, Darrin Salzano on vocals and acoustic guitar, Zayne Strobel on bass guitar, and Greg Argiro on drums. Strobel said the band started in 2021. “We started as a three piece and have morphed into a quartet,” he said. “We…


Borough Council Approves Proposed Referendum for 1 Mill Tax Increase on November Ballot

Ellwood City Borough Council plans to request that the Lawrence County Election Board place a referendum on the November 2022 ballot asking the electors of Ellwood City to approve a one (1) mill tax for ambulance, rescue, and other emergency services to provide advanced life support. Council voted 6-1 in favor of the plan. Councilman James Barry voted no and Councilwoman Judith Dici was absent from the meeting. Barry said he doesn’t believe this is a good time to add financial burden of any kind to the residents of Ellwood City with the rise in gas prices and other goods….


ECASD Board of Directors Hires Boys Basketball Head Coach

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors hired Scott Dibble to serve as the head boys basketball coach. In 2019, Dibble stepped down after serving for two seasons as Bishop Canevin’s girls basketball head coach and two years previously as an assistant. The Crusaders won WPIAL titles three of the four years and were state runners-up in 2017 and 2018. He also coached the girls teams for three seasons at New Castle and a dozen at Erie’s Villa Maria, where his teams reached the finals six times. In addition, High School Principal John Sovich, and School Police Officer…


New Business: Wanderland Piano Brings Love for Learning Music to Ellwood City

Charlene Hall wants to get music into the community, and to teach as many people as time will allow her. “Music is so beneficial in so many aspects of life,” she said. That’s why Charlene opened Wanderland Piano at 311 5th Street in Ellwood City. Since then, her list of students has skyrocketed. Charlene was teaching her students virtually during Covid, and with a growing list of students, she decided it was time to open her own studio. She really can’t remember a time when she didn’t play the piano. “When I was really little like around 3 or 4,…


Local Boxer Headed to National Golden Gloves

Local standout boxer Devon Siegfried is about to “Hit” the national stage. Siegfried made it to the National Golden Gloves, which will be held in Oklahoma August 15-20th. His journey to the national competition began with a knockout in the Western PA Golden Gloves Championship on April 2nd at North Way Christian in Wexford. “It felt amazing to win the Golden Gloves again in 2022,” Siegfried said. “Not only was it against a tough fighter, but it was local in Wexford, PA, which is where I work. A lot of my co-workers, family and friends were able to make it…