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ellwood city

February 18, 2020

Council Votes to Approve Travel Expenses for Mayor, Denies Councilwoman

Council voted unanimously to send Mayor Anthony Court to a four-day Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB) conference in Hershey but denied a request by councilwoman Judith Dici to attend that same conference. Council approved funds totaling $942.67 plus food and mileage for Court. In a 4-3 vote Dici was denied the request for funding with Council President George Celli, Vice President James Barry, Councilman Caleb Cragle, and Councilwoman Michelle Lamenza voting “No.” Cragle said he researched four years of council minutes, mileage, and cost of meals and estimated the cost of the mayor and Dici’s attendance at the twice-a-year…

February 14, 2020

A Hometown Dream: Barber Opens 5th Street Fades, Accepting New Clients

A hairstyle and a haven. Two things Shawn Johnson can offer you at his barbershop 5th Street Fades. Johnson said his doors are open for those who want a cut or some conversation. “Anybody is welcome to stop in, get a cut, enjoy some TV and AC,” Johnson said with a laugh. “I like to entertain a room.” Johnson, a 2008 Riverside graduate grew up in Fombell and then North Sewickley Township. “Riverside is my family,” Johnson said. The new entrepreneur has been cutting hair since high school, but it all began a little before that. He said it was…

January 30, 2020

Fireworks Benefit to Feature Live Music, Comedy, Food, Prizes

An explosion of entertainment, food, and fun will kick off this year’s Fireworks Benefit. The event will take place at Koehler Brewery, 130 Wampum Ave, from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday February 8. The benefit will raise money to sustain the annual fireworks display at the Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, and Foods Festival and is being organized by Eric Rayner, the Ellport man who lead the community in an effort to save the display last year. “This year I decided I wanted to do the fireworks fundraising a little bit different. Instead of asking for donations, I wanted to…

December 17, 2019

Council Passes 2020 Budget: Will Not Include First Responder Command Vehicle

In a three to four vote, Ellwood City Borough Council passed the $15.47 million 2020 budget. Before casting the votes, Councilwoman Lisa Guerrera urged council to consider adding in the purchase of a new first responder command vehicle. Fellow council representatives Rob Brough and Judith Dici agreed with Guerrera, which led to their vote of “No” on the 2020 budget. Guerrera said with the recent closing of the Ellwood City Medical Center, the time to upgrade is now. “This is our only line of defense to keep someone alive,” she said. “We are on our own here.” According to Guerrera,…

December 11, 2019

Meals on Wheels Looking for Volunteer Drivers

Meals on Wheels, the beloved program that offers nutritional meals to those in need who are unable to prepare their own meals, needs your help. The program, which just reopened on April 1st of this year is looking for drivers. Terri Crespo, Meals on Wheels board member, said they recently lost a few drivers and that the commitment is minimal. A driver only needs to be available once every three weeks for about one hour, sometimes an hour and a half. She said the drivers take the same route each time. Going strong after 45 years, the program is as…

December 9, 2019

Mayor Proclaims December 7 Joseph Gasper Day

Ellwood City Mayor Anthony J. Court proclaimed December 7, 2019 as “Joseph Gasper Day.” Court presented a proclamation to Gasper, a Pearl Harbor Survivor. Gasper is our area’s last World War II Pearl Harbor Survivor. “Mr. Gasper is a War Hero,” Court said. The mayor was joined in the presentation by Samuel Teolis, a main representative of all veterans in Ellwood City. Teolis is also former Mayor of Ellwood City. “God Bless these Veterans and all Veterans,” Court said. “They are all hero’s in my eyes!” Gasper, who has lived in Ellwood City ever since he was discharged from the…

November 22, 2019

Local Woman’s Agency Offers Insurance, Financial Planning Services

Lori Biddle-Berendt has a deep belief in old school customer service. You know that type of place where when you walk in, you feel at home. When you call, you get to talk to a person instead of a machine. Where you almost feel comfortable enough to take off your shoes and kick up your feet. That’s just how Biddle-Berendt runs her Farmers Insurance Agency. For Biddle-Berendt, building trust and a relationship with her clients is what has brought her success in the financial industry. She spends time sitting down with her clients and working with them to secure their…

November 20, 2019

Council Approves Free Holiday Parking

Ellwood City Borough Council voted Monday night to allow residents and visitors to park free in the downtown area for the holidays. Free parking will be authorized at all metered spaces on Lawrence Avenue, Bell Avenue, Crescent Avenue, 5th Street, 6th Street, 7th Street, and the Beaver Avenue parking lot from November 29-December 31, 2019. A maximum of two hours of parking will be permitted. Anyone exceeding the two hour time limit will be subject to a $5 fine if paid within 72 hours. Violators failing to make payment within 72 hours will be subject to prosecution through the District…

November 20, 2019

Kimpel’s Jewelers to Close in 2020

The gems in the jewelry cases at Kimpel’s Jewelers aren’t the only sparkle the store has to offer. The true gems are Kimpel’s owners Lisa and Gary Fox, who have announced the closing of their beloved store in 2020. Although the Fox family is at peace with their decision to close, one that Lisa said has been a while coming, the hardest part, according to Lisa is saying “goodbye” to the customers whom they have built a relationship with over the years. “The people are just so kind,” Lisa said. Lisa said she has been working at Kimpel’s since she…

November 20, 2019

Borough to Replace Utility Poles

Ellwood City Borough Council voted to approve the purchase of 64 new utility poles to be installed in the borough. The poles, part of a project to replace 280 deteriorated poles, will cost $403 each for a total of $25,792. Because it takes time to coordinate with the telephone company, Borough Manager David Allen estimated the 64 poles could take a year or two to be fully implemented. Only 64 poles are set to be purchased out of the 280 needed because that is all that the borough can store at one time. Borough employees will work to replace the…