Recent Stories

Articles by Tracey Ferguson

April 9, 2019

Holy Redeemer Cancels Annual Bazaar

Love those Holy Redeemer Pepperoni Puffs? Unfortunately, this year fans are going to have to rely on the Festival to get their fix. Holy Redeemer announced over the weekend that they are canceling their beloved bazaar this year. Citing a lack of attendance and financial success, Fr Mark Thomas announced in a letter that the decision was not made without consideration. “As you can imagine, planning for future events must begin very early to insure success,” Thomas said. “Over the last months, the parish staff, pastoral council, finance council and various committees have come together to prayerfully plan our future…

April 8, 2019

Local Man Gains Support in Plan to Save Festival Fireworks

He’s a man on a mission to keep the traditional Festival Fireworks display shining bright. Eric Rayner, 25, Ellport, will have his chance to lead a community-wide effort to raise funds to keep the fireworks display. Humble about his plans, Rayner insists that he just stepped up because he saw a need. “This isn’t about me,” he said. “This isn’t a me thing. It’s a we (community) thing.” Rayner was just not ready to settle for a festival without its beloved fireworks. He found out during Monday night’s Ellwood City Area School District Committee Meeting that use of Helling Stadium…

April 8, 2019

Festival Committee Cancels Fireworks

The beloved Ellwood City Festival Fireworks have been canceled. The announcement came from Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Foods and Entertainment Festival Committee. “The Festival budget exceeds $60,000 each year, and as you probably know, prices don’t come down, they go up,” the committee said. “The total budget covers police protection, trash pick-up, porta-johns, cleaning service, use of the park, fireworks, entertainment, advertising, insurance, and more. With rising costs, the past decade has seen the committee cut expenses wherever possible to keep the Festival a reality for the community.” Although the festivals other features including vendors will still be part of…

April 3, 2019

Governor Wolf Appoints Council President to Advisory Committee

Ellwood City Council President Judith Dici was recently appointed to Governor Wolf’s Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC). The Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) provides municipalities, legislators and the business community an opportunity to have an open dialogue to discuss the impact legislation is having on local governments as well as creates a forum to communicate and converse about the needs and challenges facing local governments throughout Pennsylvania. Dici will represent Ellwood City and 957 other boroughs until 2023. Out of a handful of borough officials, Dici was chosen by Wolf to serve on the committee. The Local Government Advisory Committee…

April 2, 2019

Ellwood City Meals on Wheels Speeding Ahead

Juicy meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and corn: Can you smell what Ellwood City Area Meals on Wheels has cooking? Monday’s April 1 reopening of the beloved program was also its 45th anniversary. With a new dedicated headquarters and cook, Terri Crespo, Meals on Wheels board member, said the program is completely back in business and ready to serve those in need. Monday’s inaugural delivery came after about a month’s delay in service. “We’ve gotten so many compliments about how good the food was and how glad residents were that we are back in business,” Crespo said. “Everything went wonderful, and better…

March 21, 2019

Borough to Apply for Grant: Funds Earmarked for Stiefel Park

Ellwood City Council members unanimously voted to adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to DCNR in an amount of $250,000 for improvements to Stiefel Park. According to Borough Manager, David Allen, the grant will require matching funds by the borough. He said showing the matching funds to the DCNR will not be a problem with help from Marcellus Shale funds as well as the Park Improvement Fund. Allen said much of borough’s obligation to match the $250,000 will be able to be offset with use of borough labor and equipment. He estimates that 50 to 70%…

March 20, 2019

Council to Hold Hearing Regarding Hospital/Medical Zoning District

A public hearing regarding a possible hospital/medical zoning district will be held on April 8 at 5:45 p.m. at the municipal building, 525 Lawrence Ave. The hospital, which was bought by Americore Health LLC in 2017. Not long after that deal was inked, hospital employees complained that they were not being paid. Numerous news outlets have been reporting on the situation, which has been a topic of controversy in Ellwood City for more than a year. Officials and residents fear that if Americore decides to file bankruptcy and sell the property, Ellwood City might lose it’s hospital. Following the April…

March 20, 2019

Council Votes to Not Appeal Ruling on Facebook Page

Ellwood City Council voted Monday night to not appeal an Office of Open Records ruling regarding a Facebook page run by two council members. The page, “Ellwood City Council-Rob Brough and Lisa Guerrera,” which is run by council members Lisa Guerrera and Rob Brough, recently came under scrutiny when resident Jan Williams filed a Right to Know Law request with the borough. Williams wanted access to deleted comments, as well as a list of blocked and banned users. The page mentions votes casted by council members regarding various topics from hiring of personnel to the recent and ongoing Ellwood City…

March 15, 2019

Visitor Commentary Sparks Debate Over Field Usage

Ewing Park baseball field usage came into question last night during Ellwood City Area School District’s Board meeting. During visitor comments, Bill Garroway, coach of the Jr. High girls softball team and assistant coach of the girl’s varsity softball team requested the board consider the usage of Freidhoff Field in Ewing Park for the girl’s games. “First class softball teams deserve the use of a first-class field,” Garroway said. According to Garroway, the success of the softball teams and their championship streaks are enough of a reason for them to be able to use the field. He said the teams…