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Human Interest

December 11, 2019

Meals on Wheels Looking for Volunteer Drivers

Meals on Wheels, the beloved program that offers nutritional meals to those in need who are unable to prepare their own meals, needs your help. The program, which just reopened on April 1st of this year is looking for drivers. Terri Crespo, Meals on Wheels board member, said they recently lost a few drivers and that the commitment is minimal. A driver only needs to be available once every three weeks for about one hour, sometimes an hour and a half. She said the drivers take the same route each time. Going strong after 45 years, the program is as…

December 11, 2019

Administration Directed to Review Kindergarten Admission Policy for Ellwood City Area School District

The Ellwood City Area School District Board during its December 5th meeting voted to have administration review Policy 201, which pertains to kindergarten admission at Ellwood City Area Schools. During the board’s November 14th meeting, new parent to the district Megan Jones spoke during the visitor’s section. 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. The board voted to amend the policy in July. She said her daughter will turn 5 on August 23, just days after the cutoff. Jones…

December 10, 2019

Annarumo Resigns as Ellwood City Medical Center CEO; Community Rallies

Hope. It’s what the Ellwood City Community and Officials had in 2017 when a deal was inked with Americore Health, a company that touted itself as a new healthcare company focused on saving and revitalizing rural communities through the acquisition and management of rural hospitals across the United States. Americore hasn’t been a savior for the hospital in Ellwood City, and hope is running out. Following the acquisition by Americore Health and its leader Grant White, there has been nothing but turmoil, halts in service, lawsuits, payroll issues, a nearly $300,000 unpaid electric bill owed to the borough of Ellwood…

December 10, 2019

Rozanski to Stay as Head Coach of Wolverine Softball

Gary Rozanski Jr. will remain the head coach of the girls varsity softball team at Lincoln High School. During the November 14th Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors meeting, a group of parents—many of whose children are involved in a youth program not affiliated with the district and have not been coached by Rozanski—demanded consideration of a new varsity softball coach. It was announced at the December 5 directors meeting that Rozanski will stay on as coach. Board President, Jennifer Tomon made the announcement. “We don’t discuss personnel,” she said, after visitor Bill Garroway questioned the board’s decision,…

December 10, 2019

“Feel The Love Of Christmas” to be Featured at Cathedral in New Castle, Will Benefit Special Olympics

This will be the final season for a tradition started by the late musician B.E. Taylor, as his son B.C. Taylor conducts the final “Feel The Love Of Christmas” tour. Taylor will perform on December 14 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in New Castle. This year he will be joined by a group of Special Olympics athletes who take to the stage for a song. A tradition loved by the athletes and the audience. “The athletes look forward to it every year,” said John Maielli, Special Olympics basketball coach and fundraising chairman. According to Maielli, the tradition began about 15…

December 9, 2019

Mayor Proclaims December 7 Joseph Gasper Day

Ellwood City Mayor Anthony J. Court proclaimed December 7, 2019 as “Joseph Gasper Day.” Court presented a proclamation to Gasper, a Pearl Harbor Survivor. Gasper is our area’s last World War II Pearl Harbor Survivor. “Mr. Gasper is a War Hero,” Court said. The mayor was joined in the presentation by Samuel Teolis, a main representative of all veterans in Ellwood City. Teolis is also former Mayor of Ellwood City. “God Bless these Veterans and all Veterans,” Court said. “They are all hero’s in my eyes!” Gasper, who has lived in Ellwood City ever since he was discharged from the…

December 7, 2019

PHOTOS: ‘Let There Be Lights’ Friday Night

The annual Light Up Night on Lawrence Avenue Friday Night featuring craft & food vendors, music, children’s activities, train rides, a human snow globe photobooth and strolling Holiday Characters featuring Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph. The was also Santa Claus photo opportunity at Venezie Sporting Goods & Apparel. The lighting of the 30-foot Christmas tree in the Community Plaza took place at 6:30 p.m with fireworks shortly after.  Although scheduled for 8:45 p.m., the firework explosion took place earlier than scheduled to the delight of the thousands of community members in attendance. Saturday’s festivities feature the Ellwood Christmas parade at…

December 6, 2019

Ellwood City Area School Board Holds Reorganization Meeting

Ellwood City School Board swore in newly elected directors and reorganized Thursday evening during its combined meeting. Jean Biehls and Gary Rozanski were sworn in with current directors Leroy Cortez, Erica Gray, and Jennifer Tomon. Renee Pitrelli was elected board president with the support of current board members Kathleen McCommons, Barbara Wilson along with newcomers Rozanski and Biehls. Cortez, Tomon, and Gray voted no. Rozanski was voted vice president with the support of all board members except for Tomon. Two outgoing members thanked their fellow board members, administrators, and the community. Michael Neupauer spoke about the great administration at Ellwood…

December 2, 2019

Elton Hotel Firefighters Memorial Service Planned

It has been 30 years since the Ellwood City Volunteer Fire Department responded to a fire at 428 Lawrence Avenue in the borough, to the location of the now-former Elton Hotel. That December 4th call would change the lives of many. While crews worked to contain the blaze, a catastrophic collapse occurred, which left two firefighters trapped inside. David “Ernie” Martino and Paul Frederick gave the ultimate sacrifice that morning while protecting the borough and its residents. Now, this weekend, December 7th beginning at 11 a.m., a memorial service will be held to pay tribute to these heroes, 30 years…

November 22, 2019

Local Woman’s Agency Offers Insurance, Financial Planning Services

Lori Biddle-Berendt has a deep belief in old school customer service. You know that type of place where when you walk in, you feel at home. When you call, you get to talk to a person instead of a machine. Where you almost feel comfortable enough to take off your shoes and kick up your feet. That’s just how Biddle-Berendt runs her Farmers Insurance Agency. For Biddle-Berendt, building trust and a relationship with her clients is what has brought her success in the financial industry. She spends time sitting down with her clients and working with them to secure their…