Recent Stories

Articles by Tracey Ferguson

December 17, 2019

EC Electric Customers to See Savings in 2020

Borough residents could start to see savings on electric bills. Borough Manager David Allen announced the possible decrease in a council meeting Monday night. Councilman Rob Brough asked when those savings could be passed on to residents and Allen said as early as January. Council voted to adopt a resolution establishing a stabilized purchase power adjustment (PPA) for the 2020 electric usage as $.00988/kwh. He said customers should definitely see some savings since the previous PPA was more than two cents. Allen said the PPA will be locked in for a year and that the amount of savings will vary…

December 17, 2019

Council Passes 2020 Budget: Will Not Include First Responder Command Vehicle

In a three to four vote, Ellwood City Borough Council passed the $15.47 million 2020 budget. Before casting the votes, Councilwoman Lisa Guerrera urged council to consider adding in the purchase of a new first responder command vehicle. Fellow council representatives Rob Brough and Judith Dici agreed with Guerrera, which led to their vote of “No” on the 2020 budget. Guerrera said with the recent closing of the Ellwood City Medical Center, the time to upgrade is now. “This is our only line of defense to keep someone alive,” she said. “We are on our own here.” According to Guerrera,…

December 12, 2019

EC Student Reaches Goal for Water Filling Stations

Makena Hall, Lincoln High School junior, has succeeded in her mission “to come together to create a better tomorrow.” Hall led a thriving fundraiser to implement the installation of water bottle filling stations at Lincoln. She had a goal to raise $5,000 which is enough to cover three of the stations. Her motto: “One school, one community, one planet” has a two-fold motivation. One is filtered, good tasting water to keep students hydrated and the second is less plastic bogging down our environment. Hall attended the December 5th school board meeting to announce that she raised $3,547 to implement the…

December 11, 2019

Meals on Wheels Looking for Volunteer Drivers

Meals on Wheels, the beloved program that offers nutritional meals to those in need who are unable to prepare their own meals, needs your help. The program, which just reopened on April 1st of this year is looking for drivers. Terri Crespo, Meals on Wheels board member, said they recently lost a few drivers and that the commitment is minimal. A driver only needs to be available once every three weeks for about one hour, sometimes an hour and a half. She said the drivers take the same route each time. Going strong after 45 years, the program is as…

December 11, 2019

Administration Directed to Review Kindergarten Admission Policy for Ellwood City Area School District

The Ellwood City Area School District Board during its December 5th meeting voted to have administration review Policy 201, which pertains to kindergarten admission at Ellwood City Area Schools. During the board’s November 14th meeting, new parent to the district Megan Jones spoke during the visitor’s section. 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. The board voted to amend the policy in July. She said her daughter will turn 5 on August 23, just days after the cutoff. Jones…

December 10, 2019

Annarumo Resigns as Ellwood City Medical Center CEO; Community Rallies

Hope. It’s what the Ellwood City Community and Officials had in 2017 when a deal was inked with Americore Health, a company that touted itself as a new healthcare company focused on saving and revitalizing rural communities through the acquisition and management of rural hospitals across the United States. Americore hasn’t been a savior for the hospital in Ellwood City, and hope is running out. Following the acquisition by Americore Health and its leader Grant White, there has been nothing but turmoil, halts in service, lawsuits, payroll issues, a nearly $300,000 unpaid electric bill owed to the borough of Ellwood…

December 10, 2019

Rozanski to Stay as Head Coach of Wolverine Softball

Gary Rozanski Jr. will remain the head coach of the girls varsity softball team at Lincoln High School. During the November 14th Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors meeting, a group of parents—many of whose children are involved in a youth program not affiliated with the district and have not been coached by Rozanski—demanded consideration of a new varsity softball coach. It was announced at the December 5 directors meeting that Rozanski will stay on as coach. Board President, Jennifer Tomon made the announcement. “We don’t discuss personnel,” she said, after visitor Bill Garroway questioned the board’s decision,…

December 10, 2019

“Feel The Love Of Christmas” to be Featured at Cathedral in New Castle, Will Benefit Special Olympics

This will be the final season for a tradition started by the late musician B.E. Taylor, as his son B.C. Taylor conducts the final “Feel The Love Of Christmas” tour. Taylor will perform on December 14 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in New Castle. This year he will be joined by a group of Special Olympics athletes who take to the stage for a song. A tradition loved by the athletes and the audience. “The athletes look forward to it every year,” said John Maielli, Special Olympics basketball coach and fundraising chairman. According to Maielli, the tradition began about 15…

December 9, 2019

Mayor Proclaims December 7 Joseph Gasper Day

Ellwood City Mayor Anthony J. Court proclaimed December 7, 2019 as “Joseph Gasper Day.” Court presented a proclamation to Gasper, a Pearl Harbor Survivor. Gasper is our area’s last World War II Pearl Harbor Survivor. “Mr. Gasper is a War Hero,” Court said. The mayor was joined in the presentation by Samuel Teolis, a main representative of all veterans in Ellwood City. Teolis is also former Mayor of Ellwood City. “God Bless these Veterans and all Veterans,” Court said. “They are all hero’s in my eyes!” Gasper, who has lived in Ellwood City ever since he was discharged from the…

December 6, 2019

Ellwood City Area School Board Holds Reorganization Meeting

Ellwood City School Board swore in newly elected directors and reorganized Thursday evening during its combined meeting. Jean Biehls and Gary Rozanski were sworn in with current directors Leroy Cortez, Erica Gray, and Jennifer Tomon. Renee Pitrelli was elected board president with the support of current board members Kathleen McCommons, Barbara Wilson along with newcomers Rozanski and Biehls. Cortez, Tomon, and Gray voted no. Rozanski was voted vice president with the support of all board members except for Tomon. Two outgoing members thanked their fellow board members, administrators, and the community. Michael Neupauer spoke about the great administration at Ellwood…