Recent Stories

Articles by Tracey Ferguson

June 29, 2022

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…

June 21, 2022

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….

June 10, 2022

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…

June 10, 2022

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,…

June 9, 2022

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…

June 8, 2022

Meet the Leos: Q&A with the New Community Leaders

Note: This is part two of a two part series featuring the Ellwood City LEOs Club. Part one was published yesterday. Part two is a Q&A with the members. [VIEW PART 1] The Ellwood City LEOs (Leadership Experience Opportunity) Club is a youth organization of the Ellwood City Lions Club and Lions International and promotes youth leadership and giving back to the community. Since its December 2021 inception, the club has really taken off and is now 17 members strong and growing. We wanted to take an opportunity to introduce the community to some of the youth making an impact…

June 7, 2022

Ellwood City LEO Club Developing Leaders, Serving Community

Note: This is part one of a two part series featuring the Ellwood City LEOs Club. Part two will be published tomorrow. Part one is a summary of the club. [VIEW PART 2] You’ve heard of the Lions but how about the Leos? The Ellwood City LEO (Leadership Experience Opportunity) Club is a youth organization of the Ellwood City Lions Club and Lions International and promotes youth leadership and giving back to the community. Since its December 2021 inception, the club has really taken off and is now 17 members strong and growing. The group is always accepting new youth…

June 6, 2022

Ellwood City Area Public Library Hosting Tea Party Fundraiser

If you’ve ever wanted to attend an authentic tea party, you will have your chance. On Saturday, June 25, the board of the Ellwood City Area Public Library and fundraising committee will be hosting the tea party fundraiser from 1 to 3 p.m. at Calvin Presbyterian Church. In addition to lovely and flavorful teas, there will be delicious finger sandwiches—including the classic tea party stunner cucumber, delectable deserts, and can’t resist cookies. There will also be basket raffles and a hat contest. “Hats aren’t required, but we encourage them,” said board member and event organizer Phyllis Conway. “People do wear…

June 2, 2022

Farmers’ Market to Begin Saturday

Ellwood City Farmers’ Market is set to hold its first event of the year Saturday June 4 from 8 a.m. to Noon. The event will continue each Saturday after through October 8 at the Beaver Ave Municipal Parking Lot, 500 Block of Beaver Ave. The Ellwood City Farmers’ Market features a variety of locally grown and produced products and is part of the Ellwood City Revitalization (ECR) project. In addition to vendors, there will be music from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. featuring Pure Harmony Strings. The vendors at the June 4 market include: 3D’s Produce Farm & Greenhouse (flowers, plants) Karen…

May 27, 2022

Wander Ellwood Night Planned for June 1

The Wander Ellwood Committee is counting down the days to their first big Wander Ellwood night on June 1. The event will be held from 5 to 8 and will feature music by Steel Mill Rising, vendors on the streets, and local businesses that will be open a little later than normal and offering specials. In addition open containers will be allowed on the streets during the event. The Facebook page for Wander Ellwood urged the community, “If you already have plans break them and come join us!” Brad Ovial, Ellwood City Borough councilman and president of Ellwood City Revitilization…