Local News

Borough Issues Mass Property Citations

The Ellwood City Borough filed 16 property citations on Friday, Sept. 26 with District Judge Jerry G. Cartwright. This is part of an ongoing campaign by the borough to enforce property codes on rental and business properties. According to Borough Manager Robert Villella, the concerned properties have had prolonged code violations, and the owners have repeatedly neglected to correct the infractions. Villella said that it was more appropriate for the borough to act by filing citations through the magistrate rather than placing a lien on the property. The 16 citations were for five properties, with one of the properties, 335…


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Sixth Annual Oktoberfest Is Brewing

The Sixth Annual Oktoberfest is set for this Saturday, Oct. 3, from noon to 5:30 p.m. Last year, about 500 people showed up to enjoy over craft beers, homemade brews, music, food and games. This year, the event will take place rain or shine and will feature over 75 craft beers, in addition to beer brewed by locals. The event is sponsored by the Wolves, Rotary, and Lions Clubs. Pete’s Uptown Beer and Beverage distributor is the official beer sponsor. The event will be hosted at the Wolves Club shelter in Ewing Park. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25…


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Color Center Celebrates 20 Years of Service to Ellwood Community

A lot has changed in 20 years. Gas was $1.15 a gallon and a stamp was $.32, but for The Color Center it has always been business as usual. Opening its doors in 1995, The Color Center will celebrate its 20th Birthday tomorrow at the 2nd Annual Fall Fest by offering free cake to visitors and participating in the Soup Crawl. The cake will be made locally by Kimmels Bakery. The Color Center came into existence when Linda Gardner purchased Miller Printing on 226 Fifth Street. Back then, printing was a very different world. Digital printing was in its developing…


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Fall Fest to Become a New Ellwood Tradition

Ellwood City is two years into a establishing a new annual tradition: Fall Fest. This year’s fall fest will be Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Ellwood. “It’s a community oriented event featuring local businesses,” event chairman Bob Rivers said. “Everything will be free or low cost.” Last year, the Chamber of Commerce decided to resurrect Fall Fest, which hadn’t been done in many years. The event had almost 2000 people and 200 cars participating in a car cruise. Rivers organized the event last year as well. “We’re made some adjustments which should make the event more…


Council Approves Drug Clinic 4-2

In a 4 to 2 vote, the Ellwood City Borough Council approved Freedom Health Care Services, a drug and alcohol addiction clinic, to be located on 773 Pershing St. About a dozen visitors arrived to protest the clinic, focusing their opposition on the location, which is near a residential area and a bus stop. Hunter Farmer, the owner of Freedom Health Care Services, spoke to explain the purpose of the clinic. Freedom Health Care is a counseling service for those with drug and alcohol addiction problems. It has one office in Bridgeville. The clinic has normal, Monday through Friday, morning…


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State Ethics Commission Report on Mayor’s Use of Borough Equipment

At Monday’s council meeting, council member David DeCaria read a letter from the State Ethics Commission regarding Mayor Anthony J. Court’s use of borough equipment for private property. According to the report, last October council was informed that Mayor Court had used borough paving trucks for a gravel lot he owns. DeCaria said the complaint stemmed from at least one council member. The State Ethics Commission sent their letter to court on Feb. 2 of this year. DeCaria said he read the letter “in the interest of transparency.” In response, Court said the involved property is an apartment he owns…


Council to Vote Today on Addiction Treatment Clinic

Ellwood City Borough Council will vote today on a proposal by Freedom Health Care Services to open a drug addiction clinic on 773 Pershing St. in Walnut Ridge. Contrary to information in a video report, Freedom Health Care Services is not a methadone clinic. The facility will not have any methadone. It is a counseling treatment facility for those with addictions. Freedom Health Care Services is a drug and alcohol addiction treatment facility located in Bridgeville. Ellwood City will be their second location. The company provides individualized, outpatient counseling for drug and alcohol addictions. Patients are by appointment only and…


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Ellwood City’s Storytelling Festival Tomorrow

The Ellwood City Storytelling Festival, a free event, will be held on Sept. 19 from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Ewing Park. In its 14th year, the storytelling festival is a beloved community event that features free activities for children and professional storytellers. Each year, the event draws up to 1000 visitors. This year’s theme Heroes and Villains will feature many tales. The storytelling stage will feature the talent of Tim Hartman, Joanna Demarest, Alan Irvine, Bill Pate, Jocelyn Dabney and Mike Perry. Each one will interpret the theme in their own style. The almost lost art of storytelling relies…


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Council to Vote on Proposed Addiction Treatment Clinic

At its regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 21, Borough Council will vote on a proposal to establish a medical clinic/outpatient addiction treatment facility. Council held a public hearing on Monday, Sept. 14 regarding the request by Freedom Healthcare Services. The proposed facility will be on 773 Pershing St. in Walnut Ridge. The building used to be an orthopedic doctor’s office. Following the public hearing, Council held its agenda setting meeting at which Hunter Farmer, a representative of Freedom Health Care Services, spoke. Farmer said the company won a contract through the Lawrence County Drug and Alcohol Commission to provide addiction…


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Sisters of the Second Amendment Welcomes Female Shooters

Seven Professional Women with Three Goals: Education, Preservation and Recreation. Sisters of the Second Amendment, the newest women’s shooting club in Western Pennsylvania, is now accepting members. The organization’s leaders have been planning the group’s shooting events and mission, which is to promote the rules of safe gun handling and ownership, to provide instruction and training for safe gun handling and ownership, to encourage women to develop their skills in gun handling and marksmanship, and to empower women in self-confidence and self-awareness. The women who have developed the club are all certified NRA Firearms instructors who wanted to share their…