Recent Stories

Articles by Tracey Ferguson

January 31, 2020

Gordmans to Open Ellwood Location in February with Grand Opening Brand Bash

Apparel and home décor retailer Gordmans will replace Peebles in Franklin Plaza on Route 288 and will open its doors on February 18 at 9 a.m. The grand opening festivities will kick off with a ribbon cutting and follow with a $1,000 donation presented to Riverside Beaver County School District. The opening is one of 23 in Pennsylvania for the retailer. Gordmans will also open on the same day in Neshannock Township where the former Peebles used to be. “We are proud to be part of so many Pennsylvania communities, helping to sustain jobs, quality of life and economic growth….

January 30, 2020

Fireworks Benefit to Feature Live Music, Comedy, Food, Prizes

An explosion of entertainment, food, and fun will kick off this year’s Fireworks Benefit. The event will take place at Koehler Brewery, 130 Wampum Ave, from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday February 8. The benefit will raise money to sustain the annual fireworks display at the Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, and Foods Festival and is being organized by Eric Rayner, the Ellport man who lead the community in an effort to save the display last year. “This year I decided I wanted to do the fireworks fundraising a little bit different. Instead of asking for donations, I wanted to…

January 28, 2020

Art on Skin: The Tattoo Shop Open for Business in Ellwood City

Life stories sketched in skin. Love, loss, tributes, symbols, statements, art. Mike Kwaczala of The Tattoo Shop has done them all. His love of body art began a long time ago, but he recalls the true beginning 15 years ago when he started working in a shop. He stayed there for 8 years before getting out of it to try something new. But something inside told him he’d probably return to tattooing. “I knew if I ever tattooed again,” Kwaczala said, “it would have to be me doing it in my own shop.” Fast forward to 2016. Kwaczala found himself…

January 24, 2020

Ellwood City School District Board Collides Over Ethics

Ellwood City School Board Directors passed a Board Resolution: “Principles for Governance and Leadership” during their recent meeting but not without a discussion regarding ethics. Part of those principles, set by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), encourage board directors to “Act Ethically.” Director Jennifer Tomon challenged whether fellow board members appointed to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Negotiation Committee have a conflict of interest when it comes to their duties. The PSBA Resolution, in its section regarding ethics, states that board members should “act to avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest.” According to Tomon, the three directors…

January 23, 2020

Ellwood City Area School District Directors Recognized

In honor of school board’s commitment to students, schools and communities, January is once again designated School Director Recognition Month. As part of this recognition, Ellwood City Area School District Directors Renee Pitrelli, Gary Rozanski, Jean Biehls, Leroy Cortez, Jennifer Tomon, Kathleen McCommons, Erica Gray, Barbara Wilson, and Norman Boots were praised during Tuesday night’s school board meeting. Each board member was given a certificate of appreciation by Superintendent Joseph Mancini. “We appreciate everything you do for this district,” Mancini said. According to a press release from the Ellwood City Area School District, Pennsylvania public schools educate nearly 2 million…

January 22, 2020

Council Hires Law Firm for Representation in Medical Center Bankruptcy Filing

In a unanimous vote Monday night, council hired the law firm Hamm, Milby & Ridings, PLLC out of London, KY, as representation in the Ellwood City Medical Center bankruptcy filing. A retainer of $1,500 and an hourly rate of $175 were approved. Ellwood City is seeking $300,000 in unpaid electric and sewage charges as well as $100,000 in property taxes that the Medical Center racked up before closing its doors on December 10. The closure of the facility came after the state Department of Health shut down its emergency room and inpatient services on November 27 for serious violations. Since…

January 22, 2020

School Directors Table Policy Regarding Kindergarten Admission

The Ellwood City Area School District Board tabled a vote regarding Policy 201 during its Tuesday, January 21st meeting. At the December 5th meeting the board voted to have administration review the policy, which pertains to kindergarten admission at Ellwood City Area Schools after a parent spoke out at the board’s November 14th meeting. New parent to the district Megan Jones said she was disappointed to learn that her child who has already invested two years into preschool would not make the August 15 cutoff for kindergarten registration. She said her daughter will turn 5 on August 23, just days…

January 17, 2020

There’s A New Choice in Primary Healthcare in Ellwood City

Primary Health Network’s Ellwood City Health Center at 304 Evans Drive is now open for business and accepting patients. According to Drew Pierce Primary Health Network’s chief executive officer, PHN is a community health center that aims to serve the underserved population who have limited access to care including Medicaid patients and those in rural areas—although all are welcome. After over 30 years of service, PHN has grown to become the largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Pennsylvania. The Ellwood City Health Center provides pediatric, internal medicine, and behavioral health services. Although their office on Evans Drive is in…

January 14, 2020

Ellwood City School Board to Vote on Kindergarten Admission Policy

The Ellwood City Area School District Board is set to vote on whether to make changes to Policy 201 during its Tuesday, January 21st meeting. At the December 5th meeting the board voted to have administration review the policy, which pertains to kindergarten admission at Ellwood City Area Schools after a parent spoke out at the board’s November 14th meeting. New parent to the district Megan Jones said she was disappointed to learn that her child who has already invested two years into preschool would not make the August 15 cutoff for kindergarten registration. She said her daughter will turn…

January 9, 2020

Butler Health System to Open Facility in North Star Plaza

Butler Health System announced it will be opening a location in Ellwood City in the North Star Plaza. Officials with Butler Health did not offer comment on the announcement and would not confirm what type of services will be offered there, but they did say they would be adding primary care. “Butler Health System has provided health services to the community of Ellwood City for many years, and remains committed to doing so,” said Jana Panther,  “In addition to cardiology services, which have been available in Ellwood City for years, BHS will soon be adding BHS Primary Care, located in…