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Human Interest

August 15, 2019

RACE Swim Team Hosting Tryouts

RACE is looking to build a team for the 2019-2020 swim season and will be hosting tryouts on Monday at 5 p.m. “Joining a swim team can give kids many benefits and be incredibly rewarding,” said Gwen Nulph, RACE coach. “It gives them the chance to be part of a team, build camaraderie, improve skills, get consistent physical activity, set and strive for goals, and have a lot of fun!” What is RACE?  Riverside Aqua Club of Ellwood (RACE) was established with the purpose of teaching competitive swimming and developing teamwork. Its mission is to build and maintain a competitive…

August 14, 2019

Local Woman Qualifies For Olympic Swimming Trials

She never imagined she would have the chance to do what she loves on a world stage. Taylor Petrak, 2017 Lincoln High School Graduate, has qualified for the Olympic Swimming Trials. As a very young “fish in the water,” Taylor didn’t necessarily have her sights set directly on the Olympics. “I never had any specific goals of making it to the Olympics,” she said. “It was not on my radar.” But a wave of talent and speed now has the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics in a major spot on Taylor’s radar. She qualified for the trials on July 23 posting…

August 13, 2019

Council to Vote to Amend Hospital Zoning Ordinance

Ellwood City Council will vote August 19 to amend the hospital/medical district zoning ordinance that they originally passed in in a unanimous vote on May 20. They will vote to add to the definition of “Health Services” “facilities and residences included in a continuum of care entity.” Borough Manager David Allen said the wording basically boiled down to nursing homes. Solicitor Ed Leymarie said the move will resolve an appeal filed by Penn Med LLC, a lender who is seeking a more than $5 million judgement against Americore Health LLC, Ellwood Medical Center LLC, and Ellwood Medical Center Real Estate…

July 31, 2019

VIDEO: Local Dance Studio Claims National Title

Ellwood City’s very own Diamond Dance Academy was awarded a National Championship title at the 2019 Access Broadway Nationals in New Jersey earlier this month. The dancers left owning the Stage Door Cup, which is presented to America’s Best Debut School. Diamond Dance opened back in 2009 with director Shauna Dorwarth. Dorwarth is now celebrating the academy’s 10th year in business on August 6. “When you join DDA [Diamond Dance Academy] you’re not just another number,” Dorwarth said. “You are apart of a team, and together we can accomplish anything.” Their competitive season begins at the end of February every…

July 24, 2019

Hitched And Unhitched; Spring Into Love

Springtime means warmer weather, blooming flowers, iced drinks, and outdoor activities. Although our spring was wet with rain, love was in the air. Fairs, festivals, and fireworks are bringing in summer and what better way to move into the oncoming summer season than with a glorious wedding. According to WeddingWire.com, both May and June are in the top five months for popular wedding months. Here’s a list of those locals who took the next step in the relationship with saying “I Do” or those who decided their paths need to separate. Check out the Hitched and Unhitched list for April,…

July 19, 2019

Real Estate Transfers For June 2019

Courtesy of the Register & Recorder section of the Lawrence County Government Center in New Castle, the following are real estate transfers from the Ellwood City and surrounding areas for June 2019: ELLWOOD CITY 629 Hazel Ave; Sarah C Fabish And Dylan L Fabish To Shaun Fehl For $97,900.00 209 Line Ave; Matthew J Bergfelt And Jessica L Bergfelt To Kapeka A Galazia For $86,000.00 16 Connoquenessing Terrace; Rita J Solbrig To Nicole Dicerbo And Joseph Dicerbo For $123,000.00 302 Wood St; Gary L Marsano And Sylvia A Marsano To Kimberly Sheen For $80,450.00 Wayne Ave; Lawrence County Land Bank…

July 18, 2019

Coming Soon To Main Street

Ellwood City has its fair share of good places to sit down and eat on days where no one feels like cooking. There’s something for everyone and the list just got a tad bigger. What was previously known as Main Street Bar and Grill is now under new management as Mike’s Main Street Bar and Grill. New owner Mike Ward purchased the Main Street building from Greg Ottaviani earlier this year and already has changes underway. Ward is not an Ellwood City native, but from the Philidelphia area. He, however, does have friends from this area from his college days…

July 17, 2019

BC3’s Highest Number Of High School Equivalency Graduates

(Butler, PA) Butler County Community College’s free adult literacy program July 24 will graduate 60 students from Butler and Mercer counties with high school equivalency diplomas, the most since at least the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the director of the 33-year-old program said. Forty students attending BC3 adult literacy classes in Butler County and 20 in Mercer County passed General Education Development tests that measure proficiency in language arts, which includes reading and writing; and in mathematics, science and social studies between July 1, 2018, and June 30, Barb Gade said. BC3’s 14th commencement exercises for students having earned their high…

July 16, 2019

BCS Debutes Mobile Lab For Online Manufacturing

(New Castle, PA) Butler County Community College’s manufacturing pre-apprenticeship certificate program, registered with the state Department of Labor and Industry and free to eligible students, will debut at BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing in August as mostly online and bolstered by eight hands-on lab sessions using equipment to be brought to BC3’s additional location in New Castle. The mostly online format may be “attractive to individuals who have barriers to getting to class every day,” said Kelly McKissick, coordinator of professional education and certificate programs in BC3’s Workforce Development division. Manufacturers are Lawrence County’s second-largest employers, with 12.5 percent of the…

July 16, 2019

PHOTOS: 50 Houses Fixed By Carpenter’s Project

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” – Coretta Scott King It started with a need in our community, and within 18 years it has become a community-wide project. The Carpenters Project started when a group of people in Calvin Presbyterian Church were talking to the man in charge of enforcing the borough’s codes for homes and noticed an issue. “We knew there was a need,” said one of the founders of the Carpenter Project Marsha Timblin. “There were fixes that needed to be made but not enough money to do…