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Human Interest

August 31, 2022

Morgan Gruber Performing at Farewell Event

Morgan Gruber is moving to Nashville! But not before starring in one last show on Saturday, September 3, at Koehler Brewery, 130 Wampum Ave, Ellwood City—her Farewell Event. Gruber, Fombell, was an American Idol season 20 contestant. The American Idol contestant was 13 when she started taking vocal technique lessons from local instructor Mary Ann Mangini. Before taking the American Idol audience by storm, she was singing locally at events such as It’s All About The Warrior functions at Shakespeare’s Restaurant in North Sewickley Township and also with the New Castle Playhouse Mini-Stars. “I just want to thank everybody for supporting me…

July 19, 2022

Carpenter’s Project Completes 50 Projects On 34 Homes

Two words: “I’m free.” Two words said years ago by a man in need of help and two words heard by a group of volunteers who helped make that freedom happen. It was a moment that Steve Miller will never forget. Those words were spoken and heard after the Carpenter’s Project volunteers converted two steps into a ramp for a man who was homebound. Miller has been the director of the Carpenter’s Project for 11 years now, and during that time there have been plenty of other moments and words and gestures and celebrations that have kept him and the…

July 1, 2022

Festival Entertainment: Part 3: Dorals to Take the Stage July 4

You know them. You’ve heard them. They are festival favorites. They are the Dorals. With Jim Lombardo on lead vocals and saxophone; Dave Audia on lead vocals and guitar, Jack Marshall on lead vocals and keyboard; Tee Sands on bass and background vocals, Steve Domeck on drums and background vocals; Rob Verone on lead guitar and vocals and sound engineer Patrick Benincase, the crowd will be rocked and rolled and will want to sing along on Monday, July 4 during the Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food, and Entertainment Festival. The Dorals are celebrating 34 years of playing music this year,…

June 30, 2022

Three New Inductees To Festival Hall of Fame To Be Honored Sunday

On Sunday, July 3, at 4:00, inductees into the 2022 Hall of Fame will be honored at a ceremony on Folino Entertainment Stage. Please be on hand to honor these individuals who have contributed substantially to the Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food, and Entertainment Festival. The Festival Hall of Fame was established in 2018. Hall of Fame souvenir booklets from 2018 and 2019 are still available, and contain stories of the previous inductees. Stories about this year’s inductees are published in the Festival tabloid, which has been distributed locally. It will also be available at the Festival Information Booth all…

June 30, 2022

Festival Entertainment: Part 2: Elmoz Fire to play Dance Favorites

A little bit Whitney a little bit Bruno Mars mixed with some Play that Funky Music and Brick House. It’s a recipe of Funk, R&B, and Dance music. It’s Elmoz Fire. The Pittsburgh-based band will play the Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food, and Entertainment Festival on Sunday, July 3rd from 8:15 to 9:45. The bands guitarist Dennis Trivilino lives in Ellwood, and he said the band is looking forward to playing the festival “We will get to play for all ages,” Trivilino said. “The dance music effects everyone whether 16 or 60. Everyone will dance to Brick House.” He said…

June 29, 2022

Festival Entertainment: Part 1: Cherry Radium: Unique, Untraditional Sound, Energy

Are you ready? … For something new? Something untraditional? Something unique? The power quartet Cherry Radium will channel the vibes of Fleetwood Mac and other rock favorites on Saturday, July 2nd at the Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food, and Entertainment Festival. The band will take the stage from 8:30 to 10 p.m. with New Castle-based musicians Gianna Cherry on lead vocals, Darrin Salzano on vocals and acoustic guitar, Zayne Strobel on bass guitar, and Greg Argiro on drums. Strobel said the band started in 2021. “We started as a three piece and have morphed into a quartet,” he said. “We…

June 10, 2022

New Business: Wanderland Piano Brings Love for Learning Music to Ellwood City

Charlene Hall wants to get music into the community, and to teach as many people as time will allow her. “Music is so beneficial in so many aspects of life,” she said. That’s why Charlene opened Wanderland Piano at 311 5th Street in Ellwood City. Since then, her list of students has skyrocketed. Charlene was teaching her students virtually during Covid, and with a growing list of students, she decided it was time to open her own studio. She really can’t remember a time when she didn’t play the piano. “When I was really little like around 3 or 4,…

June 9, 2022

Local Boxer Headed to National Golden Gloves

Local standout boxer Devon Siegfried is about to “Hit” the national stage. Siegfried made it to the National Golden Gloves, which will be held in Oklahoma August 15-20th. His journey to the national competition began with a knockout in the Western PA Golden Gloves Championship on April 2nd at North Way Christian in Wexford. “It felt amazing to win the Golden Gloves again in 2022,” Siegfried said. “Not only was it against a tough fighter, but it was local in Wexford, PA, which is where I work. A lot of my co-workers, family and friends were able to make it…

June 8, 2022

Meet the Leos: Q&A with the New Community Leaders

Note: This is part two of a two part series featuring the Ellwood City LEOs Club. Part one was published yesterday. Part two is a Q&A with the members. [VIEW PART 1] The Ellwood City LEOs (Leadership Experience Opportunity) Club is a youth organization of the Ellwood City Lions Club and Lions International and promotes youth leadership and giving back to the community. Since its December 2021 inception, the club has really taken off and is now 17 members strong and growing. We wanted to take an opportunity to introduce the community to some of the youth making an impact…

June 7, 2022

Ellwood City LEO Club Developing Leaders, Serving Community

Note: This is part one of a two part series featuring the Ellwood City LEOs Club. Part two will be published tomorrow. Part one is a summary of the club. [VIEW PART 2] You’ve heard of the Lions but how about the Leos? The Ellwood City LEO (Leadership Experience Opportunity) Club is a youth organization of the Ellwood City Lions Club and Lions International and promotes youth leadership and giving back to the community. Since its December 2021 inception, the club has really taken off and is now 17 members strong and growing. The group is always accepting new youth…