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March 16, 2016

Borough Considering Applying for more than $100,000 in State Grants for Parks

At its voting meeting next week, the Ellwood City Borough Council is poised to approve an application process for a state grant for upgrades to Ewing and Stiefel Park. The grants could total more than $100,000. The Ellwood City Parks and Recreation Committee, chaired by council member David DeCaria, has been working on a parks master plan, and with this grant, the borough will have money to implement some of the ideas. The grant would come from the state Department of Economic and Community Development. Ellwood City qualifies because of its participation in Lawrence County’s recreation plan. The state provides…

March 16, 2016

State Rep Jaret Gibbons Ellwood City Office will Be Closed on Thursday March, 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

March 15, 2016 – State Representative Jaret Gibbons’, D – Lawrence/Beaver/ Butler, Ellwood City office will be closed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, 2016. Staff will be participating in an outreach program at Crescent Place. The Ellwood City office will reopen at 1 p.m. for business. Should a resident need assistance during the closure please contact our New Brighton office at 724-847-1725.

March 15, 2016

Ag Committees to Hold Hearing Tomorrow on Cuts to Agriculture Funding

With an increasing groundswell of public outcry regarding the Governor’s slashing of $72 million in state funding for agricultural programs, the Legislature will hold a public hearing tomorrow (Tuesday, March 15) on the impact of those cuts on Pennsylvania’s farmers and the various programs that support their livelihood, according to Senator Elder Vogel, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, and Representative Martin Causer, Chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee will hold a joint public hearing on “Agriculture Partial Budget…

March 14, 2016

School Board May Be Done Discussing Food Service Policy But Visitors Aren’t

Following a discussion regarding the food service policy that prevents students with a deficit of $6.75 from eating lunch, the Ellwood City Area school board decided to leave the policy as is after all members except President Renee Pitrelli and Vice President Matt Morella agreed. At Thursday’s regular meeting, Carmelia Fury, director of Holy Redeemer Social Services, presented a written statement to the board in which she criticized this decision. The statement said the board shouldn’t base such policies on financial concerns and that all students should be able to eat. She added that the board should find out why…

March 14, 2016

Senator Vogel Invites Area Seniors to “Healthy Steps” Program

Tues, April 19 – Baden Circle of Friends Thurs, April 21 – Center at the Mall Fri, April 29 – New Brighton Circle of Friends 8:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. Beaver County Office on Aging along with Senator Elder Vogel Jr., would like to invite all area seniors 55+ and better to attend the “Healthy Steps” Program. The program will be held on three separate occasions: April 19 at the Baden Circle of Friends, April 21 at the Center at the Mall and April 29 at the New Brighton Circle of Friends. The Office on Aging’s program will focus on how…

March 11, 2016

Ellwood City Has Opening for Boys and Girls Basketball Coaches

At the school board meeting on Thursday, the board accepted the resignation of the girls basket coach and declared that the boys basketball coach position was open and is taking applicants. Both the girls coach, Jolene Krupa, and the boys coach, James Kosior, had been in their positions for two years and competed in Class AAA conferences. Krupa’s record was 21-24 and her team advanced to the first round of the playoffs in 2014-15, the first time a girls team has done so since 1997-98. In addition, Krupa had coached the team’s five seniors since 8th grade. Her sister, Dena…

March 11, 2016

Ellwood City School Board March Meeting Brief

The following is a brief summary of the Ellwood City Area school board meeting held on March 10: Recognition Congratulations to 5th grader Hayden Slade, 5th grader Grady Smith, 4th grader Gabrielle Kalantzis, sophomore Katelyn Cole, 7th grader Samuel DiCaprio and 7th grader Emily Borroni for receiving the 2016 Carson Scholarship. They were among 7300 students nationally to be named Carson Scholars and will each receive a $1,000 college scholarship. This was Grady’s second year being named a Carson Scholar, and he qualified as a 2016 Recognized Carson Scholar. Congratulations to junior Taylor Petrak, who won the WPIAL 50-yard freestyle…

March 11, 2016

Ag Committees to Hold Hearing on Cuts to Agriculture Funding

With an increasing groundswell of public outcry regarding the Governor’s slashing of state funding for agricultural programs, the Legislature will hold a public hearing on the impact of those cuts on Pennsylvania’s farmers and the various programs that support their livelihood, according to Senator Elder Vogel, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, and Representative Martin Causer, Chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee will hold a joint public hearing on “Agriculture Partial Budget Funding” beginning at 9 a.m., March 15,…

March 10, 2016

Board Discusses Lunch Program but Keeps Policy the Same

Revision: Students on free or reduced lunch plans always receive a lunch. This was known by the Ellwoodcity.org staff but overlooked when the article was written. Following a lengthy discussion Monday, the Ellwood City Area School Board decided not to change the food service policy which had been questioned in February by members of the Kitchen Cabinet, an Ellwood City volunteer group. As is, the cafeteria staff takes lunch from students whose meal account is $6.75 overdrawn. Excepting packaged items, the food is then thrown out for health and safety reasons. In grades K-12, students subsequently receive a meal of…

March 10, 2016

Ellwood Board Members Mention Potential Merger but not with Riverside

At the Ellwood City area school board agenda meeting on Monday, board members mentioned a potential merger suitor, sort of. Board President Renee Pitrelli mentioned that an official from another school district said that representatives from the district might be interested in a merger. Pitrelli would only say that the district is close, is not Riverside and that Ellwood is not currently engaged in any official merger discussions. However, Pitrelli said that drastic action may need to be taken due to the uncertainty in Harrisburg. The Pennsylvania legislature still has not yet passed a budget for 2016. Meanwhile, the school…