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Human Interest

April 22, 2020

EC School Board, Administrators Clash Regarding Grading Policy

The Ellwood City Area School Board’s Board of Directors voted Monday night to recommend the school district move forward with a modified system of grading for the last nine-week period of the 2020 school year despite administrative push to continue with the grading system that was in place before the pandemic. According to Kathy McCommons, a representative of the board’s education committee, administrators believe that using the regular grading system was the best way to proceed in the district’s continuity of education plan because that procedure keeps students motivated in continuing school work. Superintendent Joseph Mancini said that in most…

April 14, 2020

Ellwood City Borough Council Addresses Councilwoman’s Facebook Comment

Ellwood City Borough Council could vote on Monday to officially “disapprove” of a Facebook comment that was posted by Councilwoman Lisa Guerrera more than a month ago. During Monday’s Council Agenda meeting Guerrera said it was a completely inappropriate comment that she regrets making. The post appeared mid-April on a personal Facebook page of a former Ellwood City resident and was shared hundreds of times throughout the county. The comment said, “Best thing that could happen would be both of them getting it and dying, along with the rest of the elected officials of the Democratic party.” The comment was…

April 9, 2020

Riverside Superintendent Discusses Continuity of Education During Coronavirus Crisis

Riverside School District Superintendent Bret Trotta said the district is successfully continuing education for the nearly 1,400 students served by his staff. The Riverside team of administrators and teachers are taking the review and enrichment approach to education during the Coronavirus crisis. He said they are working to meet the needs of all the students of the district. According to Trotta, getting everyone up and running with at home learning was a challenge. He said because a portion of the district is settled in more rural areas, some students lacked access to Internet. Others, he said, simply did not have…

April 7, 2020

Superintendent Provides Update on School’s Progress During Coronavirus Pandemic

The superintendent of Ellwood City Area School District said the last few weeks have been a challenge, but that district staff have come through in a big way. During Monday night’s online meeting of the Ellwood City Area School District Board of Director’s meeting, Joseph Mancini gave a personal thank you to the administrators, teachers, and cafeteria workers for a “continuity of education” and dedication to district students. “They have all gone above and beyond in this 180-degree pivot,” he said. Mancini said at least 978 students were fed today and 1,000 on Friday, numbers he found pride in. He…

April 3, 2020

Ellwood Native Serves Up Sourdough Pizza, Breads at Lawrenceville Wood-Fired Oven Restaurant

Sustainable sourdough pizza topped with organic produce and meats is the specialty at Driftwood Oven in Lawrenceville. And although Neil Blazin fills his intimate ten-table dining room in Pittsburgh on a regular basis, Blazin has roots in Ellwood City. The 38-year-old enterpreneur grew up in Ellwood City and attended Lincoln High School. He then went on to attend the University of Pittsburgh as Political Science and History Major, but politics just weren’t as appealing as pizza and his dreams of owning a restaurant. These days Blazin spends most of his time crafting delicious pizza pies but enjoys spending his free…

April 1, 2020

Cambridge Falls to Offer Retirement Living Care at New Wampum Facility

Cambridge Falls, a personal care and memory care facility, located at 599 Norwood Drive in Wampum, the 26-acre facility is accepting resident applications. Following an 18-month, $1 million renovation project, the team is ready to open the doors. Rebekah Stratton, director of sales and marketing for Cambridge Retirement Living, said the anticipation of unveiling the new facility is overwhelming. “We are so excited to open the doors to show what our facility has to offer,” Stratton said. She added that the layout and design of the facility lends to the mission of Cambridge in that it offers person-focused care and…

March 30, 2020

Alborn Tires Hosting ‘Operation Clean Up’

Although Alborn Tire Sales has seen a decline in business during this Coronavirus crisis, it isn’t keeping the employees and owner from doing what they can for the community. “Operation Clean Up” will begin tomorrow at 10 a.m. The Alborn group is welcoming the community to join them in an effort to clean up the downtown Ellwood City Area. Tasks will include pulling weeds, picking up trash, and disinfecting the parking meters, the benches, the crosswalk buttons, the community plaza and the Seventh Street Park. Local businesses—T&M Hardware, Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ, National Grind, and Katy’s Bakery—have chipped into the efforts…

March 27, 2020

Borough Council Extends State of Emergency For Ellwood City

During a special Friday afternoon meeting, the Ellwood City Borough Council extended its State of Emergency in response to the ongoing novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic. By law a declaration of a local state of emergency may not extend past seven days unless approved by the governing body of the borough  or municipality. The original announcement was made available by the Borough and Mayor Anthony Court last Friday. Social distancing has been encouraged within the borough and the special meeting was held via conference call on Friday. The declaration went into effect at 12:01 am on Saturday, March…

March 20, 2020

50 Flavors: Katie’s Korner Ice Cream Shop to Open in North Sewickley Township

Bubble Gum, Chocolate Chip, Grape, Oreo, Reese’s … Oh, my! Is your mouth watering yet? If not, it will be soon while making the trip to Katie’s Korner for homemade ice cream. Soon being May when owner of the franchise’s North Sewickley Township location hopes to open the doors. “We plan on opening in May,” said owner Gary Hummel. “We are excited to give local young people an opportunity for employment.” Hummel also said he is looking forward to running an energetic business with a friendly crew that will be a meeting place for friends and families to gather and…

March 19, 2020

Ellwood City Area Chamber of Commerce Creates Business Updates Page in Wake of Coronavirus

In uncertain times, communities must come together to support one another and the local businesses. The Ellwood City Area Chamber of Commerce has taken the opportunity to create a Facebook page in support of local businesses to post updates during the Coronavirus pandemic. “Ellwood City Area Business Updates” is a place where businesses and the community can come together online to post hours, specials, and ways to help. “I wanted to create a group separate from the Chamber page where businesses, whether they are chamber members or not, could post updates for the community,” said Ellwood City Area Chamber of…