Photos: Easter Egg Hunt 2015
Gallery from the 2015 annual Easter Egg Hunt.
Local News
Photos: Dress Rehearsal of ‘Anything Goes,’ Presented by Riverside High School
Riverside High School Theater will present Anything Goes, a musical comedy by Cole Porter, this weekend from March 12 to 15. The musical features memorable songs such as “Anything Goes,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” and a cast favorite, “Blow, Gabriel, Blow.” “Anything Goes,” written and first performed in 1934, takes place on the S.S. American and features a cast of 70 students from grades 4 through 12. The musical follows a beautiful debutante, a British lord, a gangster, an evangelist turned nightclub singer and a stock broker as they all search for love. Billy Crocker, the stock…
It’s Time Fitness Brings Full Facility Gym and Personal Training to Ellwood City
When Tony Joseph drove past the empty Walnut Ridge, he envisioned something more: a multi-service athletic facility. “When I walked into the building, I could see exactly what I wanted the rooms to become,” Joseph said. “I knew this was something I could provide to the community that we didn’t have.” That vision is now a reality. It’s Time Fitness provides conventional gym services such as a weight room and fitness class room, and additional amenities such as a salon, practice room for athletes, and a martial arts studio rented by Richard Lee Morris. The final part of Joseph’s goal,…
Remembering Charlie Hogan (1983-1994) in the Best Way: Hockey
by Jonalyn Telesz The Lawrence County Lightning mites hockey team from Hess Ice Rink in New Castle traveled to Indiana, Pa. to compete in the 20th Annual Charlie Hogan Hockey Tournament on Feb. 7 and 8. The Charlie Hogan Tournament is a memorial for the late Charlie Hogan of the 1991-94 mite and squirt level PAHL Championship teams with the Indiana Youth Hockey Association. Charlie lost his life when he was only 10 years old. The tournament helps bring together young hockey players from all over the state to celebrate their love for this great sport and remember the life…
Former Ellwood Resident Purchases Jacqueline House Bed and Breakfast
For quite some time, Rebecca Hink daydreamed of being an innkeeper of her own bed and breakfast. From her years of business traveling, she developed an appreciation for the comfort and personalized hospitality that a B&B offers over a hotel. On Oct. 30, she made her vision a reality when she purchased the Jacqueline House in New Wilmington. “I’ve been involved in the corporate world for a long time,” Hink, formerly of Ellwood City, said. “This is a chance to get back into the real world and give people hospitality and relaxation.” The house will open on March 20 and…
Police: Twelve Cited, One Arrested for Underage Drinking
An officer was dispatched to Second Street at 3 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 8 to investigate a noise complaint. According to the police report, tenant John Lucchessi, 20, greeted the officer and allowed him inside. The officer found numerous intoxicated underage guests and called for assistance. Investigating officers rounded up suspects from the second and third floor and an attic crawlspace. Officers also confiscated marijuana and drug paraphernalia. A K-9 unit was called in and discovered Thomas Maine, 20, of Ellwood City, hiding under debris in the crawl space. Lucchessi admitted to supplying the drugs and alcohol and was arrested,…
The Ellwood Library: A Gem to the Community
Thirteen years ago, Veronica Pacella, the new director of the Ellwood City Area Public Library, was at a crossroads. The 1990’s was a bad time for libraries, and the new century would only be worse. When Pacella was a child, libraries were a regular part of her social life . Now, it seemed the library would be obsolete by the next decade. Pacella, her staff and the Board of Trustees decided to take a stand. There would be no going back and no decreasing of the library’s functions.. Instead, the library would be reinvented. Who it served, what it did,…
2015 Rumble Party a Smashing Success
Hometown hero Shane Douglas defended Ellwood City in an epic battle inside and outside the ring. The main event of the 2015 Royal Rumble Party saw world champions Douglas, of New Brighton, and Detroit’s Rhino battle through the Sons of Italy Hall to prove who was the real champion. In the end, hometown favorite Douglas triumphed. An enthusiastic crowd packed into the Sons of Italy on Sunday, January 25, to watch five matches between locally and nationally famous wrestlers. The event saw the hall filled to a sold-out crowd. In the opening match, Chris LeRusso defeated Ganon Jones Jr. to…
Inside the Making of Bigfoot the Movie with Creator Jared Show
When Jared Show traveled to Ellwood City to film Bigfoot the Movie, he had no idea that his hometown would be so accommodating. “I was amazed at how supportive and helpful everyone was,” Show said. Show grew up in the Ellwood City Area and attended Riverside School District. His grandfather used to tell Bigfoot stories. That, combined with his love for campy horror movies such as Tremors, were the inspiration for Bigfoot the Movie. Filming occurred in the fall of 2013 and spring of 2014. Show, who now lives in California, was surprised at how accommodating people were. “In California,…
A Farewell to Carmike Plaza 6
For the past several years, Carmike Plaza 6 in Big Beaver has been drawing smaller crowds than its competitors, largely due to the emptiness of Plaza 6. As a result, the theater announced January will be its final month of operation. Although the theater was not in Ellwood City, it was part of the community and social life. Its proximity and cheaper prices were of special appeal to younger moviegoers. For many in the Ellwood area, Carmike Plaza 6 was part of their childhood experiences, creating many cherished memories, and it will be missed by its regular customers. Stephani Damato,…