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August 19, 2019

Life Changing Gift: A Surprise for Local Man

The look on CJ DeGennaro’s face was priceless. CJ, 31, suffers from cerebral palsy. On August 17, CJ received the gift of a Safe Step walk-in tub, but it was a complete surprise to CJ. CJ had been nominated 110 times during the last two years to receive this tub by his friends, his family, his community. A crowd that worked hard to make this happen gathered in his driveway. As his family and friends and nominators stood around awaiting CJ’s return from breakfast at Christy’s diner, they anticipated his reaction. Pop out comments from the crowd filled the summer…

August 19, 2019

Ellwood City Library Activities For The Week Of August 19

The Ellwood City Area Public Library offers a variety of weekly activities.  Information is available by calling the library at 724-758-6458. Activities taking place this week include MONDAY, AUGUST 19 1:30 p.m. – “Afternoon Book Group for Adults,” they will be discussing the book “The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane” by Lisa See. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21 9:30 a.m. – “Coloring for Adults,” a weekly program that is free and open to the public. It is designed to help reduce stresses of everyday life. All adults are welcome. 1:00 p.m. – “Building Buddies,” a program of fun and learning for toddlers…

August 16, 2019

Board to Re-evaluate Soccer Program Funding in September

During  a special board meeting on Friday morning, Ellwood City School Board decided to allow the soccer program to use the Ewing Park School property for practice and to order nets to facilitate those practices, according to District Superintendent Joseph Mancini, who was reached for comment following the meeting. He said the games will continue to be held at Stiefel Park. He added that the board will re-evaluate the funding request at the September board meeting. Practices are being moved to Ewing Park to allow for more practice availability time in the hopes to attract additional players. This “special meeting”…

August 16, 2019

‘Hike 4 Kidz’ On North Country Trail Planned

The Knights of Columbus Council 604 and the Wampum Chapter of the North Country Trail Association are joining together for its 5th Hike on the North Country Trail to raise funds for the benefit of McGuire Memorial and St. Anthony School Programs. The hike is scheduled for Sunday, September 22, 2019 – rain or shine – and set to begin in Darlington Township. Check-in is scheduled between 8:00am and 10:00am at the former St. Rose Parish at 3357 Constitution Blvd., Darlington, PA 16115. Mass will be held at 7:00am before the hike and refreshments offered afterwards. Those attending are eligible…

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 14, 2019

74th Anniversary of ‘VJ Day’ Honored

The week, Mayor Anthony Court and World War II Veteran Samuel Teolis placed a wreath in Ellwood City’s Legion park commentating the 74th Anniversary of VJ Day (Victory over Japan) which is acknowledged on either August 14th or 15th as the anniversary ending of World War II. Mayor Court emphasized the strong ties of our community to its veterans, stating “We are proud and grateful to honor our veterans for their sacrifices and dedications to our great country.” On August 6, 1945, during World War II (1939-45), an American B-29 bomber dropped the world’s first deployed atomic bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima, effectively ending…

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…

August 13, 2019

Route 351 Koppel Bridge Long-Term Closure Begins Tuesday in Beaver County

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing the long-term closure of the Koppel Bridge (Route 351) in Koppel Borough and North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, will begin Tuesday, August 13 weather permitting. Beginning at approximately 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, the Koppel Bridge will close to traffic for 72 consecutive days. Crews will conduct roadway approach work for the new construction through October 23. To allow the work to occur, all traffic will be detoured. Posted Detours West of the Bridge Take Route 351 to Route 18 (Big Beaver Boulevard) Take Route 18 southbound Turn left onto Route 588 (Eastvale/4th Street…

August 13, 2019

Graduates of BC3 New Workforce Development Program Guaranteed Job Interview

(Butler, PA) Graduates of a new two-week natural gas and oil safety training program offered by Butler County Community College and ESP Safety Consultants are guaranteed a job interview from a temporary agency that can place graduates in regional entry-level positions in the energy industry, according to a BC3 Workforce Development administrator. The field safety technician certificate program – held in partnership with ESP, a Homer City company whose services include Occupational Safety and Health Administration compliance, safety training and safety auditing – is scheduled for Monday through Friday from Sept. 9-20 in the Public Safety Training Facility on BC3’s…