Articles by Tracey Ferguson

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…


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…


Celli Named Ellwood City Council President

George Celli will serve as Ellwood City Council president for 2020-2021. During its reorganization meeting Monday, council voted 4-3 to elect Celli. Councilman James Barry will serve as vice president following a 4-3 vote. Councilman Rob Brough and Councilwomen Lisa Guerrera and Judith Dici voted “No” to both nominations. Newly elected council members Celli, Caleb Cragle, and Dici were sworn into office. Council also set the meeting schedule for 2020. Committee of the whole meetings will be held on the second Monday of the month at 6 p.m. Regular Council meetings will be held the third Monday of the month…


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…


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,…


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…


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…


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…


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…


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,…