Recent Stories

Articles by Tracey Ferguson

February 18, 2020

Ellwood City Council Hires Home Blood Services Company to Test DUI Suspects

Ellwood City Council voted to implement an agreement for services for blood toxicology testing following DUI arrests. Monday night council voted unanimously to hire Becky’s Home Blood Services at a rate of $50 per venipuncture. The move comes after the closing of the Ellwood City Medical Center. Since the closing of the hospital, local officers were forced to travel at least 30 minutes to area facilities for the DUI testing. Becky O’Neil, owner of Becky’s Home Blood Services, also provides home blood business services to residents. She has been providing service in the area since 2018 and has more than…

February 17, 2020

Ellwood City School Directors Approve Personnel, Spring Coaches

The Ellwood City School Board Directors voted during Thursday’s board meeting to approve personnel hires. Among the appointments were Michael Elmer who was hired as an instructional aide and David Poore and Megan Rosenberger were approved as mentors for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year and for the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year. Heidi Feltrop, secondary librarian was granted tenure. Board directors also voted to update the ACT 93 Agreement to include Paul Pishioneri and his salary increase to $72,000 for the 2020-2021 school year. Spring coaches were also appointed (Director Gary Rozanski Sr. abstained from the…

February 14, 2020

Ellwood City Area School District Board Votes to Revise Kindergarten Admission Policy

The Ellwood City Area School District Board voted to revise policy 201 during Thursday night’s meeting. A unanimous vote will put the revisions on display until the next board meeting where they will then be recommended for approval. The discussion regarding kindergarten admission has been ongoing since November by parent Megan Jones whosaid previously that 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 and that there was not an option for evaluation. The vote regarding kindergarten admission was tabled during the January…

February 14, 2020

Ellwood City Area School Board Meetings to Include Police Presence

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board voted 8-1 during Thursday’s meeting to implement a police presence at future school director meetings. Board President Renee Pitrelli motioned for the vote stating that the way the world is today, she feels it necessary. She added that with topics such as negotiations coming up, adding a police presence is the right thing to do. Board Director Jennifer Tomon voted “No.” “I don’t think the public should be paying for it,” she said. Ellwood City School District Police Officer Matt Smock was in attendance at last night’s meeting.

February 14, 2020

A Hometown Dream: Barber Opens 5th Street Fades, Accepting New Clients

A hairstyle and a haven. Two things Shawn Johnson can offer you at his barbershop 5th Street Fades. Johnson said his doors are open for those who want a cut or some conversation. “Anybody is welcome to stop in, get a cut, enjoy some TV and AC,” Johnson said with a laugh. “I like to entertain a room.” Johnson, a 2008 Riverside graduate grew up in Fombell and then North Sewickley Township. “Riverside is my family,” Johnson said. The new entrepreneur has been cutting hair since high school, but it all began a little before that. He said it was…

February 11, 2020

Ellwood City School Board Continues Consideration of Kindergarten Admission

The Ellwood City Area School District Board is set to consider a change to Policy 201 during its Thursday voting meeting. The vote regarding kindergarten admission was tabled during the January 21st meeting because the board wanted further input and consideration from the administration as to whether a viable process to evaluate students for early entry could be developed and implemented. After initial review, the administration, during the board’s January 13 committee meeting, recommended that the policy should remain as is, but not all board members agree with that assessment. During the January 21 meeting, Board President Renee Pitrelli and…

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…