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Human Interest

August 28, 2026

Fall Sports Q&A 2026: Part 4 Ellwood City Athletes

This is part four of a four-part series featuring area athletes in fall 2026 sports. The start of fall sports is upon us, so we took the opportunity catch up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries and to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future. ICYMI: Wolverines Football Team Under Direction Of New Head Coach Dante Venezie School you attend? Lincoln High School Sport? Golf Grade? 12 How many years have you have participated? 2 years What do you feel is your biggest…

August 27, 2026

Fall Sports Q&A 2026: Part 3 Riverside Cheerleaders

This is part three of a four-part series featuring area athletes in fall 2026 sports. The start of fall sports is upon us, so we took the opportunity catch up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries and to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future. RELATED: Q&A 2026 Part 1 – Riverside Football Players Q&A 2026 Part 2 – Riverside Volleyball Players Isla Connors School you attend? Riverside High School Sport? Cheerleading Grade? 12 How many years have you have participated? 12 What…

August 26, 2026

Fall Sports Q&A 2026: Part 2 Riverside Volleyball Players

This is part two of a four-part series featuring area athletes in fall 2026 sports. The start of fall sports is upon us, so we took the opportunity catch up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries and to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future. ICYMI: Q&A 2026 Part 1 – Riverside Football Players Abby George School you attend? Riverside High School Sport? Volleyball Grade? 12th How many years have you have participated? This will be my 6th year What do you feel…

August 25, 2026

Fall Sports Q&A 2026: Part 1 Riverside Football Players

This is part one of a four-part series featuring area athletes in fall 2026 sports. The start of fall sports is upon us, so we took the opportunity catch up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries and to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future. ICYMI: Fran Ramsden returns for his second stint leading the Riverside football program Andre Rippy School you attend? Riverside High School Sport? Football Grade? 12 How many years have you have participated? 1 Year What do you feel…

August 21, 2026

Q&A: Ramsden Returns For Second Stint As Panthers Head Coach

Fran Ramsden returns for his second stint leading the Riverside football program ahead of the 2026 season which sees the Panthers return 14 seniors playing this year. Ramsden enters his 15th season coaching and returns to the head coach position after a two year stint in 2021-2022. Riverside finished its 2025 regular season 5-5 Overall and 4-3 in Midwestern Conference, earning a 10-seed in the WPIAL 2A Playoffs but was stymied 28-7 by #7 Apollo-Ridge and fell in its opening round contest last October. The Panthers open up its regular season hosting cross town rival Ellwood City on Friday, August…

August 18, 2026

Council Approves Bid Process to Upgrade Women’s Softball Field at Stiefel Park

Council voted to authorize the Borough’s engineer to prepare/advertise bids for the upgrading of the Women’s softball field in Stiefel Park. The vote was unanimous and follows a consistent commitment to the Ellwood City Area School District to work with them to help provide the girls’ softball team a dedicated home field. They first offered an olive branch in August of 2023. Speaking on behalf of the Borough of Ellwood City, then Borough Solicitor Ed Leymarie said during that August 2023 meeting that the borough would be glad to meet with the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors…

August 18, 2026

Riverside Second Grader Takes the Stage for The First Time in Law & Order: Fairy Tale Unit

All it took was a show at Disney for Lyam Hooke to realize that he wanted to be on stage. The Riverside second grader has made his stage debut at the New Castle Playhouse production of Law & Order: Fairy Tale Unit. We caught up with Lyam, to learn more about him and to wish him luck for his first time on stage, for a Q&A::: Meet Lyam Hooke Part in Play: I am Doc and he’s a basketball player. Current Grade: I’m going into second grade. Been in musicals/plays since: This is my first time doing a play. Previous leads/musicals you’ve…

Business

August 13, 2026

Homegrown Leadership Brings Keller Williams Steel City to Ellwood City

Real estate is about more than buying and selling homes—it’s about building relationships, investing in communities, and helping people find where they belong. That’s exactly the vision behind the new Keller Williams Steel City office, now open at 237 Route 288, Ellwood City, under the leadership of local Realtors Katelyn Dominelli and Amy Chisholm. The July 2026 opening marks an exciting milestone as the first Keller Williams office in Ellwood City, bringing one of the world’s most recognized real estate brands together with hometown leadership that knows the community inside and out. For Dominelli, opening the office wasn’t simply a…

July 31, 2026

A Legacy of Helping Hands: Carpenter’s Project Marks 25 Years of Service

For five days in July, hammers rang, paintbrushes swept, and neighbors came together with a shared purpose as the Carpenter’s Project celebrated its 25th consecutive year of transforming homes—and lives—across the Ellwood City area. From July 13-17, the volunteer-driven mission once again provided free exterior home repairs for local homeowners in need, continuing a quarter-century tradition of compassion, service, and community pride. “The whole community teams up to help others,” said Director Steven Miller. “The crews persisted through the heat and smoke from the wildfires. It was a really smooth year.” Typically, planning begins in April with volunteers and homeowner…

July 14, 2026

Riverside Alumni to Hit the New Castle Playhouse Stage in Footloose

For many performers, the stage is where passion, creativity, and confidence come to life. For several alumni of Riverside School District, that passion has led them back into the spotlight as cast members of Footloose, the high-energy musical based on the beloved 1984 film. Filled with unforgettable songs, dynamic choreography, and a story about standing up for what you believe in, Footloose continues to captivate audiences decades after its debut. Set in the small town of Bomont, Footloose follows teenager Ren McCormack as he adjusts to a community where dancing has been outlawed. As Ren challenges long-held traditions and inspires…