Recent Stories

Articles by Tracey Ferguson

July 30, 2021

Ellwood City Champion Returns to Basketball Court As Head Coach

Dena Noble has never been able to forget the feeling of being on a winning team. That adrenaline rush of hitting the basketball court is still a draw for Noble, who was recently named head coach of the Lincoln Girls Basketball Team. She wants to provide that feeling to a new generation of players. “I’m looking forward to getting the nostalgic feeling,” Noble said. “I love that feeling, that adrenaline rush especially on game day. I can’t wait to see the girls take what was taught to them and watch it play out.” Noble, the Ellwood native, is no stranger…

July 15, 2021

ECASD Board Director Resigns

Ellwood City Area School District Board Director Matt Morella has resigned from his board seat. In a letter to the board submitted on July 14, Morella stated, “I have relocated outside of the Ellwood City Area School District and no longer meet the residency requirement.” Morella said he relocated to be closer to his job at Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky Attorneys at Law in Pittsburgh. Morella joined the board on July 3, 2020 when he replaced former Director Leroy Cortez, who passed away in June of 2020. He also had served on the board from 2013 to 2017 and…

July 14, 2021

Borough Announces Yard Waste Collection Schedule

City residents are well into the new trash removal system. Ellwood City Borough Council awarded the bid for collection of refuse, recycling, and yard waste to Valley Waste during an April 19 meeting, with that contract came added opportunities to get rid of yard waste. Instead of nine yard waste removal days, residents will be able to get rid of yard waste twice a month from April 1 to November 30. Click Here to see a schedule of yard waste pick up days. “This expands our yard waste pickup significantly,” Allen said. Borough Manager David Allen said in April that…

June 30, 2021

Fireworks to Provide Flare for Ellwood City

Fireworks will light up the night sky on Friday, July 2, beginning at 9:45 p.m. The Zambelli display will be set off at Stiefel Park this year. Organizer Eric Rayner said the fireworks were made possible at the last minute by Visit Lawrence County, which donated $1,000, Ellwood City Forge with a $2,000 donation, the Ellwood City Area Chamber of Commerce providing a $500 donation, and the Festival Committee is picking up the tab for the police presence. He said Dan Vogler and Lawrence County Commissioners were monumental in helping him find the right organizations to make the event possible….

June 30, 2021

Local Man Lights Up Ewing Park with Decades of Service

That beautiful twinkle that you see in Ewing Park at Christmas time is a labor of love made possible by one man who remains dedicated to the weeks of effort to string the thousands of lights. For Sam Pawlowski, Christmas in the Park begins in October when he begins the tireless work to complete the massive display. He has been lighting up the park for 25 years. “I get a little done day by day,“ he said—noting he works from 10 a.m. until noon and resumes at 1 p.m. and works until about 3 p.m. Pawlowski, 84, is the only…

June 25, 2021

‘Operation Adopt a Block’ Seeking Volunteers for June 26 Cleanup

Operation Adopt a Block will be in full force tomorrow as local leaders, officials, and residents gather to clean up Ellwood City. Justin Neupauer, owner of Alborn Tire Sales and leader of the event, said he is expecting about 50 volunteers but more are always welcome. “I am always shocked by the response of people who are willing to take time out of their day to volunteer,” he said. Neupauer will be joined by co-organizers Councilman Caleb Cragle, Councilman Rob Brough, Councilwoman Judith Dici, Mayor Anthony Court, Matt Morabito of Morabito Mowing, and Eric Rayner of the festival committee. Members…

June 24, 2021

Ellwood City Area School District Students to Begin Fall Classes Mask-Free

Following more than a year of ups and downs, uncertainty, masks and social distancing, Ellwood City Area School District plans to begin the 2021-2022 school year on a normal note. During Thursday’s Special Meeting of the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors, District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley announced that the district’s ARP ESSER Health and Safety plan will not include masks for back to school. He said that his administration believes that learning is a social activity and as such requires students to interact without masks or social distancing. “We have every plan to open full-time, mask-free, and…

June 22, 2021

Ellwood City Council Urges Residents to Obey Traffic Signs, Property Ordinances

The resounding message provided by Ellwood City Borough Council on Monday was urgency from officials to follow the rules and the laws and to take pride in their city. Mayor Anthony Court warned residents that speeding and stop sign violations will result in citations. “This is the warning,” he said. Councilman Rob Brough addressed blight and said that violations of ordinances regarding yard waste and lawn maintenance will be enforced. Specific requirements can be viewed by clicking here. Borough Manager David Allen said because of incidents of vandalism, cameras will be installed in Ewing Park for monitoring. He also provided…

June 11, 2021

Dan Parson Named Northside Primary School’s Principal

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted Thursday night to officially hire Dan Parson as Northside Primary School’s Principal at a salary of $88,000. All board members voted yes with Directors Jennifer Tomon and Kathleen McCommons absent from the vote. Parson was named interim principal during an August 4, 2020 special meeting of the board, where directors accepted the early retirement of then principal Christine Gibbons. Before his official appointment, Parson discussed some of the initiatives, activities, and plans for Northside. He said plans are being made to transition the school’s library into a Student Learning Center….

May 7, 2021

Part Three: 2021 Primary Election Candidate Q&A

This is the third in a three-part series featuring a Q&A with the candidates for Ellwood City Borough Council and Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors. Today’s Q&A features Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors candidates Barbara Wilson and Claire Fauzey. Yesterday’s Q&A featured candidates Kathleen McCommons, Renee Pitrelli, and Kathy Tillia. (Candidates Norman Boots, JoEllen Eichler, and Kathy Pansera did not participate).  Primary Elections are just around the corner. Residents will be able to place their votes on May 18. To find your polling location, click here. To learn more about the voting process and how…