Recent Stories

Softball Field

March 12, 2024

ECASD Moving Forward with Testing at Proposed Site of Girls Softball Field

Ellwood City Area School District Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley announced during Monday’s board of director’s committee meeting that although the district is moving forward with tests and studies on the proposed area for the new girls softball field at the old Ewing Park School site, they are still far away from the building permits and zoning process. Shipley said workers have been at the site to do topographical studies and to take core samples and water perk tests. He urged residents in the area, specifically speaking directly to the Citizens for Ewing Park Preservation (CEPP) group to not approach workers…

February 8, 2024

ECASD Board of Directors Approve Changes to High School Curriculum; Face More Feedback from CEPP Group

Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors approved requested changes to the High School Curriculum during the February 8, 2024 regular meeting. The changes were requested by Lincoln High School Principals, Mike Garvin and John Sovich. Garvin spoke previously at the committee meeting saying that the changes would benefit the students and have been a long time coming. One of the big changes is the addition of a Communications requirement, which will help students communicate in today’s ever changing, technology fueled world. Some of the changes requested included: A newly revised AP Course Policy Offering the required high school…

February 6, 2024

New Advocacy Group Formed to Preserve Ewing Park, Oppose Planned Softball Field

A new advocacy group has been formed to preserve Ewing Park. The Citizens for Ewing Park Preservation (CEPP) group was announced during Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors Committee Meeting Monday evening. Chairperson for the group, Karen Mancini, is a resident of Beatty Street, which faces the old Ewing Park School property where the district has proposed and plans to construct a girls softball field. She made a statement on behalf of the group during the meeting, “We are organized and represented by legal counsel and stand ready to oppose any attempt to convert the subject property to…

January 11, 2024

ECASD Board of Directors Nominate Candidate to the MIU IV Board; Ewing Park Residents Speak Against Field Usage

The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors unanimously nominated new Director Kevin Boariu to the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV (MIU IV) Board. Director Jean Biehls made the motion to nominate Boariu. The MIU IV Board will now have to accept the ECASD Board’s nomination. According to the MIU IV’s website, “it is one of 29 IU’s serving schools in Pennsylvania. The intermediate unit serves the 27 school districts and three vo-techs in Butler, Lawrence and Mercer Counties. In addition to providing programs and services requested by area school districts, MIU IV also implements programs mandated by the Pennsylvania…

November 9, 2023

ECASD Board of Directors: ‘We Remain Steadfast in Our Support for this Field’

Emotions regarding the proposed girls softball field continued to run high during Thursday night’s regular meeting of the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors. Board President Kathy Galbreath made a statement on behalf of the board. “We remain steadfast in our support for this field.” She cited that the board’s unanimous vote to construct a field at the location of the old Ewing Park School is based on facts and information along with a commitment to district goals. The board members aren’t the only ones remaining steadfast to their convictions regarding the field. Area residents also aren’t budging…

November 9, 2023

HHSDR Engineers, Architects Discuss Timeline for Proposed Softball Field, Cost of Concession Stand

HHSDR engineers and architects offered information about the proposed softball field in Ewing Park during Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors committee meeting Monday night as residents continued to express opposition to the location. During a presentation regarding construction updates, Superintendent Wesley Shipley asked HHSDR representatives to discuss the proposed field’s timeline and details regarding the proposed $500,000 concession stand that is part of the project. HHSDR reps said the project would take a year from start to completion. The proposed timeline includes a bidding process which would begin in April of 2024 and continue through June 5…

October 17, 2023

Ewing Park Residents Implore Ellwood City Borough Council to Consider Impact of Planned Softball Field

Residents of Beatty Street and Wood Avenue continued to oppose a planned softball field in their Ewing Park neighborhood during Monday night’s regular meeting of the Ellwood City Borough Council. Although there were no motions on the agenda regarding the field, a dedicated group of residents attended to express their concerns. Karen Mancini who lives on Beatty Street asked Council to consider putting up signs on the streets surrounding the field, should the stadium be built, that would allow only residents and guests of residents to park there. She stressed to council that some residents don’t have off-street parking. Emily…

October 13, 2023

Residents Continue Opposition Against Planned Softball Stadium at Former Ewing Park School Location

Residents of Beatty and Wood Streets, where a softball stadium is planned for the Ellwood City Area School District girls softball team, continued to fill the seats of the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors meeting room, and they circulated a petition in the hallway of Lincoln High School in an effort stop the plan before Thursday’s voting meeting. One resident mentioned that any community member in any neighborhood in Ellwood City is also welcome to sign the petition and can stop into R.W. Powell Real Estate, 500 Crescent Ave during business hours to add their signatures. But…

August 21, 2023

Borough Council Extends Invite to ECASD Board of Directors to Discuss Softball Field Location Options

Speaking on behalf of the Borough of Ellwood City, Borough Solicitor Ed Leymarie said during Monday night’s meeting that the borough would be glad to meet with the Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors to discuss an alternate location for the girl’s softball field. Leymarie said the borough has received numerous phone calls with complaints about the Ewing Park School property location, which is the site that was chosen unanimously by the ECASD’s Board of Directors. “We are prepared to enter into a long-term lease if the school is interested,” he said. That offer was a great idea…

August 10, 2023

ECASD Board of Directors Meeting: Ewing Park Residents Oppose New Location for Softball Field

Approximately 25 visitors attended Thursday’s Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors meeting—many to express their opposition to the location of the new softball field. During their July meeting the Board of Directors unanimously approved a plan to commit to improving district softball and baseball facilities, including a newly constructed softball field on the Ewing Park School property and renovations to the existing baseball field as recommended by the ECASD Board Athletic Committee at a cost of $3,329,000 (see a list of detailed costs in photos). Mike Smith, who lives on Beatty Street, said he recently received a threat…