Punxsutawney Phil and his handler John Griffiths came to Kittanning to personally meet Delbert McClinton, the Grammy award-winning headliner for Arts on the Allegheny’s June 20 concert, because McClinton wrote the song “Weatherman” for the movie “Groundhog Day.” Phil was happy to pose with local fans.

The Murtha Amphitheater was filled for the free event before rain cut the performance short.

McClinton performed some old favorites and also introduced some new songs from his soon-to-be-released CD.

One of the committee members hung the sponsor banners out to dry on her clothesline the next day!

The Arts committee heard from fans from 16 states and Canada who planned to travel to Armstrong County to see McClinton live–community and economic development at its best!

The ACCF is happy to be part of the renaissance of Freeport!  The hard-working folk of the Freeport Renaissance Association hosted a free (through a grant from the Armstrong County Community Foundation) gazebo concert last evening on the shore of the Allegheny River–the sounds of the big band era filled the air.

Join them again for the Kittanning Firemen’s Band on Friday, July 10th and Thursday, August 13th for Country Friends, both at 7 PM. 

Area libraries participated in PA One Book, Every Young Child by bringing the author and illustrator of If You Were a Penguin to visit with area preschoolers. Husband and wife team Florence & Wendell Minor entertained the children (and me!) with a PowerPoint presentation, and then signed free copies of their book for each child. The free books were made possible by a grant from the Armstrong County Community Foundation.

Anita Bowser, Director of the Ford City Public Library, announced the new Ford City Public Library Endowment Fund last evening at a community meeting to discuss the future of the organization.  The library Board of Directors has established this endowment at the Armstrong County Community Foundation as a step toward assuring that the library will continue to serve the community.  Annual support from the endowment will help fund operations at the library, which has lost the financial support of Ford City Borough.  Guests at the event were informed of the many ways they can support the library and contribute to the endowment.  Tax deductible donations may be made payable to “Armstrong County Community Foundation;” be sure to put FC Library on the memo line  Every contributor will receive a letter/tax receipt.

. . . or two or three! Take home some of our cute “Foundation Friends” for Spring! Add one to the flower you are giving your Mom for Easter, put a few in the garden, greet your guests with a row of Foundation Friends along the walk, bring a smile to a sick friend . . . 12 designs to choose from, only $10 each.

The ACCF and the Armstrong County Tourist Bureau had a very exciting day at the Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center hosting Dan Shilling, the author of Civic Tourism. Dan led us on a journey of creating a ’sense of place’ in our communities, and participants had the opportunity to work together in breakout sessions to answer key questions about creating partnerships and re-thinking tourism as a means to an enhanced quality of life.

Jessica, the director of the Tourist Bureau, and I worked very hard to recruit attendees from not only Kittanning and Ford City, but Parker, East Brady, New Bethlehem, Freeport, and Leechburg. We look forward to sharing the outcomes and partnerships that emerge from this thought-provoking workshop.

Additional copies of Dan’s book, Civic Tourism: The Poetry and Politics of Place, are available at the discounted price of $10; stop in and see Linda at the Tourist Bureau office on Market Street in Kittanning. (You can read a chapter here.)

A special thanks to our sponsors: Rosebud Mining Company, BLX, Inc., Snyder Associated Companies, Crooked Creek Watershed Association, the Armstrong Trail, Cowanshannock Creek Watershed Association, and Roaring Run Watershed Association.