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Human Interest

February 14, 2020

A Hometown Dream: Barber Opens 5th Street Fades, Accepting New Clients

A hairstyle and a haven. Two things Shawn Johnson can offer you at his barbershop 5th Street Fades. Johnson said his doors are open for those who want a cut or some conversation. “Anybody is welcome to stop in, get a cut, enjoy some TV and AC,” Johnson said with a laugh. “I like to entertain a room.” Johnson, a 2008 Riverside graduate grew up in Fombell and then North Sewickley Township. “Riverside is my family,” Johnson said. The new entrepreneur has been cutting hair since high school, but it all began a little before that. He said it was…

February 13, 2020

VIDEO: Ellwood City Girl Battling Organ Rejection Asks For Valentine’s Day Cards

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Her rare surgery captured world-wide attention and she captured the hearts of people all over the region. Kyree Beachem of Ellwood City is currently battling organ rejection, years after her multiple organ transplant. This Valentine’s Day, the 12-year-old girl is asking for Valentine’s Day cards. For those interested, please send her Valentine’s card to: Kyree’s Dream Team PO Box 490 Ellwood City, PA 16117 READ MORE, www.pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020/02/12/kyree-beachem-valentines-day-cards For more information, photos, and updates on Kyree, please visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/KyreesDream/

February 11, 2020

Ellwood City School Board Continues Consideration of Kindergarten Admission

The Ellwood City Area School District Board is set to consider a change to Policy 201 during its Thursday voting meeting. The vote regarding kindergarten admission was tabled during the January 21st meeting because the board wanted further input and consideration from the administration as to whether a viable process to evaluate students for early entry could be developed and implemented. After initial review, the administration, during the board’s January 13 committee meeting, recommended that the policy should remain as is, but not all board members agree with that assessment. During the January 21 meeting, Board President Renee Pitrelli and…

January 31, 2020

Gordmans to Open Ellwood Location in February with Grand Opening Brand Bash

Apparel and home décor retailer Gordmans will replace Peebles in Franklin Plaza on Route 288 and will open its doors on February 18 at 9 a.m. The grand opening festivities will kick off with a ribbon cutting and follow with a $1,000 donation presented to Riverside Beaver County School District. The opening is one of 23 in Pennsylvania for the retailer. Gordmans will also open on the same day in Neshannock Township where the former Peebles used to be. “We are proud to be part of so many Pennsylvania communities, helping to sustain jobs, quality of life and economic growth….

January 30, 2020

Fireworks Benefit to Feature Live Music, Comedy, Food, Prizes

An explosion of entertainment, food, and fun will kick off this year’s Fireworks Benefit. The event will take place at Koehler Brewery, 130 Wampum Ave, from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday February 8. The benefit will raise money to sustain the annual fireworks display at the Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, and Foods Festival and is being organized by Eric Rayner, the Ellport man who lead the community in an effort to save the display last year. “This year I decided I wanted to do the fireworks fundraising a little bit different. Instead of asking for donations, I wanted to…

January 28, 2020

Art on Skin: The Tattoo Shop Open for Business in Ellwood City

Life stories sketched in skin. Love, loss, tributes, symbols, statements, art. Mike Kwaczala of The Tattoo Shop has done them all. His love of body art began a long time ago, but he recalls the true beginning 15 years ago when he started working in a shop. He stayed there for 8 years before getting out of it to try something new. But something inside told him he’d probably return to tattooing. “I knew if I ever tattooed again,” Kwaczala said, “it would have to be me doing it in my own shop.” Fast forward to 2016. Kwaczala found himself…

January 24, 2020

Ellwood City School District Board Collides Over Ethics

Ellwood City School Board Directors passed a Board Resolution: “Principles for Governance and Leadership” during their recent meeting but not without a discussion regarding ethics. Part of those principles, set by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), encourage board directors to “Act Ethically.” Director Jennifer Tomon challenged whether fellow board members appointed to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Negotiation Committee have a conflict of interest when it comes to their duties. The PSBA Resolution, in its section regarding ethics, states that board members should “act to avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest.” According to Tomon, the three directors…

January 23, 2020

Ellwood City Area School District Directors Recognized

In honor of school board’s commitment to students, schools and communities, January is once again designated School Director Recognition Month. As part of this recognition, Ellwood City Area School District Directors Renee Pitrelli, Gary Rozanski, Jean Biehls, Leroy Cortez, Jennifer Tomon, Kathleen McCommons, Erica Gray, Barbara Wilson, and Norman Boots were praised during Tuesday night’s school board meeting. Each board member was given a certificate of appreciation by Superintendent Joseph Mancini. “We appreciate everything you do for this district,” Mancini said. According to a press release from the Ellwood City Area School District, Pennsylvania public schools educate nearly 2 million…

January 22, 2020

Council Hires Law Firm for Representation in Medical Center Bankruptcy Filing

In a unanimous vote Monday night, council hired the law firm Hamm, Milby & Ridings, PLLC out of London, KY, as representation in the Ellwood City Medical Center bankruptcy filing. A retainer of $1,500 and an hourly rate of $175 were approved. Ellwood City is seeking $300,000 in unpaid electric and sewage charges as well as $100,000 in property taxes that the Medical Center racked up before closing its doors on December 10. The closure of the facility came after the state Department of Health shut down its emergency room and inpatient services on November 27 for serious violations. Since…

January 22, 2020

School Directors Table Policy Regarding Kindergarten Admission

The Ellwood City Area School District Board tabled a vote regarding Policy 201 during its Tuesday, January 21st meeting. At the December 5th meeting the board voted to have administration review the policy, which pertains to kindergarten admission at Ellwood City Area Schools after a parent spoke out at the board’s November 14th meeting. New parent to the district Megan Jones said she was disappointed to learn that her child who has already invested two years into preschool would not make the August 15 cutoff for kindergarten registration. She said her daughter will turn 5 on August 23, just days…