Recent Stories

Human Interest

July 12, 2021

New Recording Studio Now Open In Ellwood City

Mix, Equalize, Layer… MASTER! Music will reverberate in Ellwood City thanks to October Recording Studio. The studio has just opened its doors and consultations are now available to artists and bands of all musical levels. Rick Fleischer, who has played in multiple bands and has been playing music for 25 years now, and has toured the United States, Canada and Germany, has decided to open a recording studio to the community. “My band has always recorded music on our own so it seemed fitting that we create a space where not only we can record music, but other musicians from all…

June 30, 2021

Local Man Lights Up Ewing Park with Decades of Service

That beautiful twinkle that you see in Ewing Park at Christmas time is a labor of love made possible by one man who remains dedicated to the weeks of effort to string the thousands of lights. For Sam Pawlowski, Christmas in the Park begins in October when he begins the tireless work to complete the massive display. He has been lighting up the park for 25 years. “I get a little done day by day,“ he said—noting he works from 10 a.m. until noon and resumes at 1 p.m. and works until about 3 p.m. Pawlowski, 84, is the only…

June 28, 2021

New Day Care Center To Open In Ellwood

With COVID restrictions beginning to be lifted, more and more people are starting to head back to in person work. A lot of working class people have children at home to worry about and some don’t always have people to rely on for child care. This problem is something that Mary O’Connor Bailey thought about when she decided to bring O’Connor’s Day Care to Ellwood City. Bailey currently has five other locations in the New Castle area but wanted to bring her business to Ellwood City to help the working community here. Bailey graduated college with her business degree and…

June 9, 2021

“Friends Of The Park” Help Fix Up Wampum Community Park

Wampum Park is a local park that over the years had began to get run down and was in need of repairs and updates and when Karen Goebel saw this, she knew someone needed to do something. So she did it. Goebel. a local of the area, talked with the borough in the fall of 2020 and asked if there was anything they could do to help. The borough did offer some help and with that Karen began to get to work. In April of 2021 “Friends of the Park” was created. The group, put together by Goebel, is made…

May 21, 2021

Back 2 Back: Upcoming Annual Summer Band Bash Now A Two Day Affair

With many people in the community disappointed that for the second year in a row due to COVID, The Ellwood City Festival has been cancelled, the community now can look forward to another fun upcoming event. The Ellwood City Summer Band Bash, a two-day event, will take place at Robert E. Rodgers Memorial Park in Ellport on June 18th and 19th. This event will be a live music festival where people from the community are invited to hear great music, have amazing food and drinks and possibly win 50/50 raffles and free prize giveaways.  Admission on Friday is $8.00 and…

May 7, 2021

Film Producer & EC Native Follows Family Ties In Journey To Tell Story Of Local War Hero

800 missions, saving 576 lives. That is the story of local war hero Royal Stratton as told by his nephew and film producer Christopher Johnson, an Ellwood native. Johnson, along with production partner Mariana Tosca, directed a 90-minute film titled “Journey to Royal: A WWII Rescue Mission” that was released in February 2021. Tosca and Johnson, born in Ellwood City, traveled the globe to locate and interview the last remaining voices of the Greatest Generation in order to secure firsthand, historical accounts of some of the most consequential events of the war.  The film has taken 10 years to complete….

April 29, 2021

Riverside School District ‘Happy Days’ Cast Q&A

Starting this weekend, The Riverside Beaver County School District will present its 2021 musical comedy – “HAPPY DAYS – The Musical” We caught up with two of the leads for a Q&A session and also a special message to the Riverside actors from original cast member Donnie Most who played Ralph on the TV series (video at the end of the story): Haylee Anderson Part in Musical? Pinky Tuscadero Current Grade? 12th Previous leads/musicals you’ve been in? I’ve been in seussical, drowsy chaperone, shrek, state fair, and last year I was the supporting lead, Hedy, in How to Succeed in…

April 15, 2021

Imposters Posing as Publisher’s Clearing House Contacting Local Residents; Don’t Be a Victim

With the numerous scams running rampant in our area, one specific scam has been gaining traction recently. According to Mayor Anthony Court, he has received at least four or five phone calls regarding scammers posing at Publisher’s Clearing House. “Unsolicited phone calls are always a scam,” Court said. He said local people have lost out on a lot of money. “I spoke with one lady who lost $18,000 in a similar type of scam,” he said. Publisher’s Clearing House is a legitimate organization. Since 1967, when the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes started, over $315 million in prizes has been awarded….

April 13, 2021

Borough Council Awards Paving Project; Releases List of Roadways

Ellwood City Borough Council voted unanimously Monday evening to award the bid for the 2021 paving program. The winning bid came from Youngblood Paving of Wampum in the amount of $372,111.24. The amount will be paid from the Liquid Fuel Fund. The following roadways are listed to be paved: Beaver Ave (11th St-13th St.) Lee Way (North St. to College St.) Hazen Ave. (North St. to Bridge St.) Hillside Ave. (Brighton Rd. to 3rd. St.) Madison Ave. (Pershing St. to Foch St.) 6th St. (Railroad tracks to Lawrence Ave.) South 4th St. (Summit Ave. S-the dead end) Fairview Ave. (Beechwood…

April 9, 2021

Ewing Park Gets ‘Paw-some’ New Addition Thanks to Reed’s Services

Life can be “Ruff.” But not for the dogs in Ewing Park thanks to Reed’s Services. Located at the intersection near the Kids Creative Kingdom is a doggy destination: A new treat and waste station. The five-star, bright red, dog box is quite “fetching” and is full of yummy goodies. Reed’s is known for supporting Ellwood City, in fact this treat station, fully funded and donated by Reed’s, was inspired by their Christmas Tree during Ewing Park’s Christmas in the Park. Instead of ornaments, their tree was adorned with dog treats and doggy popcorn garland. “It was quite a hit,”…