Human Interest

Ellwood City Throw Back Thursday: July 1981 Storm

Hello Everyone, last Friday we posted some photographs from a storm in the summer of July 1981. One of our viewers Hazel Beltz Ford, reached out to us and she was able to provide us with some more information and some more photographs of the storm. She let us know that the storm in the summer of ’81 was strong like a tornado or micro burst, it knocked down many trees in the area and left roads closed for days. The photos below shows more tree damage by peoples homes, and the last photo is hard to see but it…


Mount Airy is Building a Casino Right Outside Ellwood City

Mount Airy Casino Resort, Pennsylvania’s first AAA Four-Diamond casino resort, announced today the expansion of its customer-focused luxury brand into the Pittsburgh and tri-state market. The owner of the state’s only family-owned casino announced immediate plans for Mount Airy Pittsburgh, a casino and premier destination development, to break ground at the end of the year after the purchase of over 100 shovel-ready acres located conveniently off Interstate 376 and the PA Turnpike in Beaver County — less than 20 miles from Cranberry, Sewickley and the Ohio state line. “We’re thrilled to bring our four-diamond customer service, high quality entertainment and…


PHOTOS: Updates on Bridge Construction Around Ellwood City

Koppel Bridge Updates According to PennDOT:  The $27.58 million Route 351 Koppel Bridge replacement project continues in 2018 with steel erection, and pier and retaining wall construction to the bridge connecting Koppel Borough to North Sewickley Township over Beaver River. Traffic will be maintained on the existing bridge during the construction of the new bridge. An approximate three-month closure with detour will occur in the summer of 2019. Additional work includes signage, pavement markings, drainage, and guiderail installation. Portersville Road Bridge Updates According to PennDOT:  PennDOT District 11 is announcing bridge replacement work on Portersville Road (Route 488) in Wayne and…


OLD PHOTO FRIDAY: Stormy Weather

This week’s Old Photo Friday, courtesy of the Ellwood City Historical Society are some pictures of stormy weather Ellwood City had back in July of 1981. Do you remember the storms in the summer of ’81? The pictures showcase trees down and wet streets on Wood St. off Line Ave. Did you or anyone you know live here when the storms happened? Let us know! Please comment and share your stories with us and others about rainy days in Ellwood City.      


New Mural Underway on the Fifth Street Underpass

Ellwood City Council gave permission last week to let the nonprofit Kitchen Cabinet group commission a local artist to paint murals on the north and south side facades of the Fifth Street underpass. Woodrow Cowher of Ellwood City, who recently completed the mural at Sweet Caroline’s ice cream shop on Lawrence Ave, began work this week. Officials hope to have the project completed by the end of summer. The project, which is funded through the Hoyt Foundation and also supported by Ellwood Community Enrichment, is expected to take about three weeks to complete. Cowher is adapting local community images approved…




OLD PHOTO FRIDAY: Good Views For This Parade

This week’s Old Photo Friday, courtesy of the Ellwood City Historical Society is another photo of a dated Ellwood City parade down Lawrence Avenue.  A small group of boys and girls found their way to the top of this building for a good view of the parade festivities. Where about is this current building on Lawrence Avenue? Does anyone have a guess on they year or decade? Where is your favorite spot to watch an Ellwood City parade? Perhaps this photo is an extension to the parade photo posted in April – CLICK HERE Please share and comment on our…


BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing Unveils 3 New Career Programs

(New Castle) BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing has become the first of Butler County Community College’s five additional sites to offer associate of applied science degree programs in office administration-medical and in accounting, and the second in office administration-executive – career programs that will allow students to develop skills needed to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. Students completing an associate degree in office administration-medical can work as secretaries or administrative assistants in a medical environment. Those professions in 2016 paid an average salary of $34,600 in Pennsylvania, according to the state Department of Labor and Industry. Employees with experience earned…


RECAP: The Ellwood City Carpenter’s Project 17th Year

For five days each summer, the Ellwood City Carpenter’s Project teams up with churches around the area to complete exterior house projects throughout Ellwood City and Riverside school districts. This year the project is taking place from July 9 to 13. The Carpenter’s Project started back in 2002 when Chuck and Marsha Timblin of Calvin Presbyterian Church of Ellwood City wanted to see their church and other local churches come together for one summer to help those in the community who were either physically or financially unable to fix their homes on their own. But hat one summer goal turned…