Human Interest

The Riverside Hall of Fame: Dan Oliastro, Winningest Coach in WPIAL History

NOTE: This is the second in a three-part series featuring The Riverside Hall of Fame’s first class, all coaches. The inductees will be honored at the First Annual Hall of Fame banquet at Shakespeare’s Restaurant this Saturday, May 4th, from 6 to 10 p.m. Attendees will celebrate the esteemed inaugural class of: Dan Oliastro, Karl Florie, and Royann Winfield. He may be the winningest coach in WPIAL history, but winning isn’t everything to Coach Dan Oliastro. “It’s more than just baseball,” he said. “One of the things you have to do is build relationships … good relationships with the kids.”…


Ewing Park to Get ADA-Compliant Update: New Facility to Feature Adult Changing Table

There are some major conveniences that we take for granted. Like going out for the day and not having to worry about finding a restroom that is easily usable. We don’t always think about the struggles that others endure … we simply don’t even think about it. Councilwoman Jan Williams thought about it. She thought about the individuals that frequent Ewing Park that need special facilities with features that again most of us never think of. Williams is on a mission to bring a specialized facility to Ewing Park, specifically a facility that offers an adult changing table. Her idea…


The Riverside Hall of Fame: Karl Florie Built Powerhouse Team and Family of Football Players

NOTE: This is the first in a three-part series featuring The Riverside Hall of Fame’s first class, all coaches. The inductees will be honored at the First Annual Hall of Fame banquet at Shakespeare’s Restaurant this Saturday, May 4th, from 6 to 10 p.m. Attendees will celebrate the esteemed inagural class of: Dan Oliastro, Karl Florie, and Royann Winfield. Karl Florie, wasn’t the school board’s first choice to coach Riverside’s football program, but it came to pass that he was he was the right choice. Although his first season produced zero wins, he went on to build a program that became a powerhouse in…


Ellwood Area Family Center offering FREE Pickleball Clinics for Pickleball Month

John DiBuono has a passion for pickleball. So much so that he is instructing some pickleball clinics at the Ellwood Area Family Center, 311 College Street, Ellwood City,  just in time for April’s National Pickleball Month. Although pickleball has picked up recently in popularity, it has been around for decades. 2024 marks the 59th anniversary of pickleball. It was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, by three enterprising dads – Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. It evolved from the original handmade equipment and simple rules into a popular sport throughout North America and…


Beyond Compression Offers Occupational, Lymphedema Therapy and Treatment

Chelsea Brown never imagined that she would ever open her own business, but when the opportunity presented itself, her drive to help people in this area as well as a great need for her services prompted her to move ahead as an entrepreneur. Brown, a Lincoln High School graduate who grew up in Ellport, is an occupational therapist and a certified lymphedema therapist and owner of Beyond Compression LLC. Although Beyond Compression has been in business since 2022, she just recently began operations at her new location at 638 Portersville Road in Ellwood City. She previously provided services at Air…


Reality ONE Group Ultimate Looking to Add Agents, Clients in Ellwood City and Beyond

Realty ONE Group Ultimate is ready to help you when it comes to all “things” real estate. Co-owners Christina Hoffmeier and Anthony Gennuso opened their first location in Ellwood City at 315 7th Street in September of 2023. “Ellwood City is the first of many coming locations,” Hoffmeier said. “The New Castle office is scheduled to be opening this spring once renovations of the historic Straitmasters building is complete, and expansion for an office in New Brighton is scheduled for late summer of this year.” Hoffmeier is an Ellwood City native who attended Riverside High School and her partner Gennuso…


Lincoln Graduate Accepted to Prestigious Drum and Bugle Corps

Zion Bunney is making his Drumming Dreams come true, but he needs a little help from his friends … the Ellwood City Community. The 2022 Lincoln High School graduate was accepted to the world class drum and bugle corps “Jersey Surf,” a group that competes in a circuit called Drum Corps International (DCI). Now, the quad line section leader at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Zion cannot wait to pick up his sticks and hit the road with his fellow drummers. “This has been a dream of mine ever since I was 9 years old,” Bunney said. “I am proud to…


Get Your Tickets NOW for Riverside High School’s Musical The Adams Family

The Riverside High School Theater will present the musical, The Adams Family on March 21-24 in the high school auditorium, 300 Country Club Drive, Ellwood City. A cast and crew of over 100 students from the school district will participate in the production directed by Brent Rodgers. This is the 61st Anniversary of Theater at Riverside. “We hope you can join us for this landmark show,” said Vaughn Hudspath, producer. In its typical kooky, mysterious, and spooky fashion, the ghoulish Addams family is visiting the graveyard for an annual gathering of all family members, living dead, and undecided, to celebrate…


Love Letters to Open Tonight at New Castle Playhouse Featuring Ellwood City Talent

Do you have a love for those special art forms that seem to be long lost? Love Letters  just might give you the nostalgic and romantic feeling you’d love to find again. Love Letters , a play by AR Gurney is truly bringing the love into the air at the New Castle Playhouse’s Annex Theatre, 202 E Long Ave, February 9, 10, 15, 16, & 17 at 7:30 p.m. and February 11 & 18 at 2 p.m. And Ellwood City’s own Michael Cavalier is directing the show that will also feature Ellwood City native Robert Hazen in the role of Andrew…


PART 2: Top Stories of 2023

In following previous years’ tradition, EllwoodCity.org brings the 2023 calendar year to a close with the Top 10 most popular stories of the year. Today is the first part of our two-part series featuring the top news stories of the year based on analytics and social media reach.  The year saw positive changes in the Ellwood City area, and plenty more twists and turns. EllwoodCity.org has been right there, keeping members of our community updated with the best information possible! [VIEW PART 1] We would like to thank our valued readership that helped generated nearly 3 MILLION PAGE VIEWS this calendar…