Early Photos

Above, at the original Allegany Arts Association office in Belmont. Far right Willie Allen, the force behind the Allegany Arts Association. We think the others are Ron Lundberg and Celeste Weursig. Circa 1982



This is Peter Midgley.

Thanks to the Cuba Patriot for passing along these photos.

2010 Summer Arts Festival

Following the lead of Linn Phelan from the early 1980s, we are organizing a program of free summer art classes for children throughout Allegany County. Details will fill in during April. Here is our skeleton plan.

1. Name of Class -Cozy Clay Quilts, a tile project

Teacher - Elaine Hardman

Location of Class – David A Howe Library

Dates –Number of hours - one 2 hour class and then 30 minute pottery party after pots are fired

in July

Ages of students – 10 and up

Number of Students- 10

Cost - $3 per student - to be covered by the Allegany Arts Association

2. Name of Class – Alfred’s Junior Reporters - Finding and telling the news

Teacher - Elaine Hardman

Location of Class – Alfred, Herrick Library Computer Lab

Dates – 1 to 3 pm on Monday July 12, Thursday July 15; Monday August 16, Thursday August 19

Number of hours – 4 2-hour classes

Ages of students – 9-12

Number of Students- 8

Other – define news, how do we find news, how should it be reported – go out into the community and find a news story - take photos and write the story - submit to The Alfred Sun for publication

3. Name of Class – Perky Patchwork Pillows

Teacher – Meredith Chilson, 585 268 7436

Location of Class – Belmont, at Meredith’s home

Dates - early August

Number of hours – three 2 hour classes

Ages of students – 9-12, parents welcome to stay for class

Number of Students- 4

Materials cost- none - $4 - to be covered by the Allegany Arts Association

4. Name of Class - Is That a Stick on Your Arm? – Making bracelets with natural materials

Teacher – Kristen Vossler Wigent, 585 268 5891

Location of Class – Scio at the Library

Dates - early August

Number of hours – 1 90 minute class

Ages of students – 9 and up

Number of Students- 6

Materials cost- none - $3 - to be covered by the AAA

NOTE: Also to be taught at Whitesville Library

5. Name of Class – Little Fingers, Big Brushes, water colors and drawing

Teacher – Sally Dannheim, 585 593 4899

Location of class – Wellsville, basement at the library

Dates – Tuesdays and Thursdays in July from 10:30 to 11:30

Number of hours – 8

Ages of students – 5 and 6

Number of students – no more than 5

Materials cost – AAA will supply pencils, paper and water color sets

CHANGE – ALL SET FOR THE LIBRARY BASEMENT ROOM

6. Name of Class –Painting Rocks

Teacher– Karen Dickerson, 585 593 3579

Place - Little Genesee Library

Dates – Monday July 12th. from 12:00 till 2:00 and Thursday July 15 th. from 12:00 till 2:00

Number of hours –4

Ages of students –

Number of students -

Materials cost –

6.5 - Karen Dickerson teaching Painting Rocks - also at

Alma United Methodist Church basement on Tues. July 13th. from 12:00 till 2:00pm and Weds July 14th. from 12:00 till 2:00pm

7. Name of Class – Dancing Stick Dolls

Teacher – Betsy Orlando, 585 268 7383

Location of class – Belmont in one of the churches

Dates – not sure

Number of hours – 2

Ages of students – 8 and up

Number of students - 8

Materials cost –

8. Name of Class – Watercolors

Teacher – Claudia Gildner, 585 593 7417

Location of class – Wellsville basement room library

Dates – Monday, July 5

From 10-12 noon

Number of hours – 2

Ages of students – 13 to 15

Number of students – NO LIMIT

Materials cost –covered by the AAA

8 ½ Name of Class – Pastels

Teacher Claudia Gildner, 585 593 7417

Location of class – Wellsville basement room in the library

Dates – Monday, July 12

From 10-12 noon

Number of hours – 2

Ages of students – 13 to 15

Number of students – NO LIMIT

Materials cost –covered by the AAA

9. Name of Class – Junkyard Music

Teacher – Linda Staiger, 607 276 2068

Location of class – Alfred, Union University Church Hall

Dates – will check

Number of hours – 5 or 6 hours – meet weekly for 3 weeks for 1 ½ to 2 hours each

Ages of students – open

Materials cost – likely none

Other- This would invite parents and children to work together to make music with non traditional instruments. Performances will be recorded and posted on our blog. Linda Staiger will donate her pay to Jay’s Charity Cycles program.

10. Name of Class – Greeting Cards for Kids

Teacher – Linda Monsell, 585 933 6592

Location of class – at the Church Day Care in Wellsville

Dates – first week of August 2-6 – Wed 10-11:30

Number of hours – 1 ½ hours per class

Ages of students – 9 to 11

Number of Students – 8

Materials cost – covered by AAA

CHANGE – SHE WOULD ALSO TEACH THIS IN CUBA in JULY

11. Name of Class – Bookmaking - preferably in conjunction with a local artist/illustrator,.

Teacher - Bonnie Leigh,

Location of Class - at the Wide-Awake Library in Fillmore

Dates Tuesday afternoons 7/13,7/20,7/27,8/3, 8/10

From 1-3pm

Number of hours 10 hours

Number of Students A class size of 10-12 and ages 9 and up

Materials cost – covered by AAA

12. Name of class – calligraphy

Teacher - Lillian (Thiell) Milliman,

Location of class –

Dates - Her proposed dates are July 13, 14, 15.

Hours –

Number of Students

Ages of students

Material cost

contact Elaine Hardman 585 593 6345 - preregistration required for all classes.

Allegany Arts Association March 2010 - click on image to enlarge

Correction: The Wellsville Art Associaiton Photography Show runs from March 4 to 20.

Arts Asssociation Newsletter Dec 2009

Click on a page to enlarge image - I think. I hope.

Whitwood and Friends in free Concert, October 15

photo by Brian Oglesbee

What’s the perfect start for this year’s Ridgewalk weekend? Connect with the hills of Allegany County through the songs and melodies of Rick Whitwood’s music. His home-written, hand-crafted songs stand up to anyone’s melodies from “Living the Hard Way” to “Old Man Jones.” Whitwood ‘s songs knit Wellsville’s stories to all small towns and wrap his lyrics around people like grandma’s quilt on a cool evening.

Now Whitwood spends his days on Main Street at the Music Alley where people can pick up a T-Shirt, harmonica, guitar or any number of things related to making or loving music. Interesting people stop in at the Music Alley, drawn by the creativity of Rick or George Cretekos, to find a practice pad, take lessons or arrange gigs. Whitwood’s store has the personality of his clientele and while in it he told me about his music.

As a teen, Whitwood was the little kid in the neighborhood and family. Older cousins belonged to bands and after Rick watched them practice he was hooked. He started earning cash so he could get a $70 electric guitar at Rice’s Music Store on Main Street. The cash came in three ways: sweeping up at Whitwood Motors; helping with deliveries at Mallory TVs; and (“the most lucrative”) playing poker with friends from school.

Whitwood got the guitar and then went on to save for an amp while he worked out how to play. He had some lessons and picked up pointers from the older kids at school. Eventually he was playing guitar in a rock band, Jack Frost, with some other 10th to 12th graders and, get this, sometimes people actually paid them to play.

The other guys in Jack Frost moved out of the area and on to other things while Whitwood developed a bifurcated musical career. Since 1988, he’s played cover songs with Zoar when gigs call for dancin’ music but he’s continued to write his own. When he can play his original music for listening groups, then he plays as Rick Whitwood and Friends.

He wrote his first song at about age 15 but it wasn’t anything he kept. Most of his first songs were written about being in a band or playing music. As a teen he wrote “Living the Hard Way,” a song he considers to be one of his best. It’s about growing up in a rural area and learning from family and from life.

“Living the Hard Way” is one of the songs you’ll hear on Thursday, October 15 at 7 p.m. at the Nancy A Howe Auditorium at the Library when the Allegany Arts Association recognizes local talent and sponsors Rick Whitwood and Friends. The Arts Association’s mission is to encourage all manner of the arts as well as public access to art so they are offering this concert, free, to the community. Whitwood said that the show will be for all ages and hopes that folks will bring their kids.

Performing as his friends will be George Cretekos and Roger Carlin. George was a percussionist in high school but let his music slide while pursuing his career but in about 2004 he and Whitwood got together. Cretekos was interested in doing occasional gigs but not as a member of a cover band. He was also interested in recording music and had all the equipment needed to do that. And (maybe this should have been first) Cretekos thinks that Whitwood’s lyrics deserve a wide audience.

Whitwood’s CD, Desperate Hours, was recorded in the Cretekos home on Riverside Drive in Wellsville. Since that time both the Cretekos family and the recording equipment moved. Now there’s a recording studio in the basement of the Music Alley. Cretekos plays, and sometimes sings a bit, in live performances and they are working on a second CD – one that will have the song performed on the Library lawn this summer – Brown Bottle Flu.

Roger Carlin, bassist, was a member of Zoar with Whitwood for years but now he only performs occasionally. Carlin and Cretekos will help Rick Whitwood create a show with the ease that comes from singing thousands of songs in live shows. Make a note to be at the Library Auditorium on Thursday, October 15 at 7 pm.
The Allegany Arts Association, a not-for-profit group, posts its functions and news at AlleganyArtsAssociaiton.blogspot.com

Summer Art Classes - Miniature Clay Animals

Miniature Clay Animals with Kallie Lamphier assisted by Elaine Hardman - a 2 hour workshop on Tuesday, July 21 from 10-12 in the basement of the Wellsville David A. Howe Public Library. Ages 8 to 14.

Music in Alfred in July

The Alfred Village Band has played marches and more in Alfred, NY on Wednesdays in July for nearly 60 years but this year they are giving Sousa and friends a year off. Mike Shoales, director of the band, generally hosts rehearsals in Andover School’s band room but this year the room is being stretched into the larger size he has needed for years. The renovations in Andover brought the band to the decision to put the music folders in storage and be tacit for the summer.

Linda Staiger, band member and MC, couldn’t bear having music free Wednesdays so she went into the community and organized a sing along, get lost in the words, toe tappin’ program from Rock to Folk to step back in time.

All concerts sponsored by the Alfred Village Band will be at 7:15 pm. Bring a chair and a friend to join us on the green on Main Street.

July 1 - The Vagabonds are a blues and rock band that has been playing in the Alfred area for the past five years. All graduates of Alfred Almond Central School the group includes Steve Kovalcik, John Diggins, Brian Butts, Pat Gaughan and Avery Maracek.

July 8 - Anton Flint – If you were lucky enough to attend the Allegany Players production of Jesus Christ Super Star you know that Anton is more than worth an evening of your time.


July 15- Rick Whitwood (photo above) - Whitwood is a lyricist deserving of an national and timeless audience. Consistently winning awards with songs arranged in partnership with George Cretekos, Rick and his guitar have voices that will stay in your mind.

July 22 – The Camelot Choraleers, based in Belmont and directed by Greg Shelley, is known for harmonic blends, varied programs and a bit of patriotic flair.

July 29 – Three of the members of The Vagabonds, Pat Gaughan, Avery Maracek and John Diggins, regrouped a few months ago to play jazz standards, fusion, and rock.

In the event of rain the programs will be held in the Union University Church Center.


Always free. Always fun. Put us on your calendar.