The 2nd Annual CNYBA Bluegrass Festival will be held on August 3, 4, 5 & 6th, 2000 at the LaFayette, NY, Apple Festival Grounds--11 miles south of Syracuse and 1 mile west of I-81 on Rt20. Look for signs. Also see Festivals.
OPEN Mic will be held Thursday evening from 6PM until ? All who are interested are invited to play and "show their stuff". This will be YOUR night to express yourself.
Anyone wishing to help in various areas is urged to contact John VanDusen at 3381 Franklin Street Road, Auburn, NY 13021 --252-0610. Vendors and crafters can contact Jerry Miller, 6290 Pottery Road, Warners, NY13164 or 315-487-6920. Fleamarketers please contact Marion LaMont, 13 1/2 Main St., Marcellus, NY 13108 or 315-673-2329.
For anyone 16 and under who would like to enter our Youth Talent Contest--you can sign up at the gate at the festival. Competition will start at 12:15 on Saturday. There will be celebrity judges and, there will be prizes. The winner will play again on Sunday.
It is with great sorrow to announce the passing of one of our long-time members, David Cleaveland. David Cleaveland, 65 of 214 E Oakley Drive, Syracuse passed away on Wednesday, June 7th at the Vivian Teal Howard Residential Care Facility. He was a charter member of CNYBA, a founding member of Bluegrass Producers Assoc., and recipient of one of the 1999 Irene Thurston Awards for promotion and support of bluegrass bands and music. Services were held at 11AM on June 10 at the Ballweg & Lunsford Funeral Home where bluegrass music was piped in and live bands with his son Perry on mandolin provided a lasting memory of his favorite turnes. Contributions in his memory can be sent to Hospice of CNY, 990 Seventh North St., Liverpool, NY. Expressions of sympathy from the association were sent to the family.
I'm sure many of you haven't heard of Dave's passing, so ask you to take the time now to send a note of Maxine and her family at 214 E Oakley Drive, Syracuse, NY 13205. Dave's long illness, along with her own health problems, has taken a toll on Maxine, and I know from talking with her that mail does help. The association received a check for $50 from David Jameson of Syracuse in Dave's memory: athank-you was sent to him, along with assurance that it would be used in some way as a tribute toDave.
David served several years as a board member of our association, and in his "own way" was instrumental in bringing named bands into the area for our enjoyment. During the late 70's and 80's it was a yearly ritual to have Smokey Greene & the Boys perform in honor of Dave's birthday--a concert everyone looked forward to. Many of us have watched Maxine and Dave's son Perry literally "blossom over-night" into a very talented individual; not only on the mandolin, but in vocalizing, song writing and most of all into a fine gentleman. For those who attended the Warrior River Boys concert this past April, we have the lasting memory of seeing first-hand Dave enjoying what he loved most--good bluegrass music. In closing, with Dave now in our own "Bluegrass Heaven" of members and performers, I just know he's already working on a production for their playing and listening pleasure! Rest in peace, Dave--you've earned it.
Helen Weldon
Again, I would like to thank everyone for the phone calls, flowers, cards and well wishes before and after my surgery. All of these considerate gestures certainly helped my recovery. You are all wonderful. Hopefully I will be improved enough to attend our festival. Thayle
Special appreciation to Robert Sykes from Elbridge for donating lumber which is being used to build our stage at the Apple Festival grounds for our festival. Many members have been working for weeks to get our stage in basic order. Thank you to all who is making this possible.
John Wilmot (board member of CNYBA) is proud to announce that his daughter Emily was valedictorian of her graduating class in Port Byron, NY. Congratulations!
Our mini-grant through the Cultural and Arts Resources council has been received and will be applied toward paying for one of our out-of-state bands for the festival--providing and promoting new bluegrass music in the area.
kenkim@sunlink.net is looking for a used Gibson F-5 mandolin in any condition.
With a smile on their faces and a twinkle in their eyes--despite their senior years and health problems, VERNON and OLIVE Loucks are always available to help someone else. Vernon and Olive Loucks are very thoughtful, generous, caregiving people who are always thinking of others and doing many volunteer acts for people and organizations in need. They have been recognized for their efforts by organizations in Canastota and have been presented with numerous well-deserving awards. In June 2000 they received the "Roses for the Living" award presented to them by the Rotary Club. Congratulations. Vernon and Olive are also supportive of CNYBA. They attend and support all of our functions, despite the distance they have to travel. Vernon is MC at all of our monthly Jamborees and main MC at our festival. Both Vernon and Olive are well respected and loved by all who know them. The biggest and most appreciated surprise given by Vernon and Olive was the presentation of $1000 to the President of CNYBA, to use as needed. Words of appreciation are inadequate at this time--only a humble "Thank You". The investment will be wisely used. God Bless you both.
Last month Helen Weldon, editor of the "Ramblin'" section of our newsletter resigned. I, the editor, gave a plea to our membership to respond to this---the following were received:
---Why is she resigning?
---The Ramblin' is the first thing I read when reading the newsletter
---Helen has the knack for doing the job so well
---No one can present things like Helen
---I was so upset to think that this was Helen's last Ramblin' as she keeps the membership close to one another and in touch
---we were both saddened to hear that Helen will not be doing the Ramblin'. Certainly something had to be misunderstood
---what would the newsletter be without it
---please reconsider and we love you very much
---Your Ramblin' with Helen will be deeply missed and we hope you'll reconsider for future issues
---Your Ramblin' is the first thing I read and sometimes the only article I read as it lets us know what's going on and it's important because we can't get to the meetings because myhusband is ill.
---please reconsider?
---I see very little wrong with Helen's article
---Helen will you please reconsider and resume the Ramblin inSeptember?Lets Hope she reconsiders---Thayle
In our June newsletter I requested for some feedback concerning our monthly jamborees and the low attendance. I received one lengthy letter from one of our members stating that he was extremely happy with the entertainment we hire to play for us. He was very adament about all the rude conversations going on while the bands are playing---which is an insult to the entertainers and the audience who came to enjoy the music. It was suggested that there be a break time for purchasing food and talking with fellow members. Our conduct is professionally rude and he is surprised that any of the bands return and play for us. I also received a second letter agreeing with this one. Good points were made.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
Stump Hollow Bluegrass will be playing at the 2nd Annual CNYBA Bluegrass Festival on August 3-6, 2000.
Bill and Maggie Anderson will be playing at the 2nd Annual CNYBA Bluegrass Festival on August 3-6, 2000; August 19, Groton Old Home Days; August 20, Southern Tier Bluegrass Festival, Addison, NY; August 26-27, Pickin' in the Pasture, Lodi, NY. 607-898-5754
DEL-SE-NANGO FIDDLERS: July 29, Lowell Smith & Gamblers Dream; August 5, Charlie Sherman & Ridge Runners--Info Florence Milk, Greene, NY 607-834-6745.
HOMESTEAD BLUEGRASS; August 2, 2000: 6:30-8:30, Erie Canal Park, near Masons' Lodge, Jordan, NY. Please bring lawnchairs and sunglasses.
FESTIVALS:July 19-23, 2000, 15th Annual Bluegrass & Country Music Festival: Rick & Carols Countryside Inn, 1263 Patten Mills Rd., Fort Ann, NY 12827. Info 518-745-8043 (fax; 518-793-8987)
August 3-6, 2000: 2nd Annual CNYBA Bluegrass Festival, LaFayette, NY Apple Festival Grounds, LaFayette, NY. 11 miles south of Syracuse--1 mile west ofI-81 on Rt 20. Look for signs. Info: 252-0610.
28th Annual Bluegrass Ramble Picnic, August 6, 10AM-5:30pm. Free--Dwyer Park, Little York, NY (off Preble Exit I-81). Info 315-457-6100.
August 11-13, the 11th Annual Fox Family Bluegrass Festival, Old Forge, NY. Info: Fox Family Bluegrass Festival, PO Box 57, Eagle Bay, NY 13331,
315-357-2217 or 315-357-2218.August 18-20--28th Annual Southern Tier Bluegrass Festival, Twin Riverscampground, Addison, NY, RT 15 (Presho Exit). Info: 607-359-3336.
Pickin' in the Pasture--August 25-27, 2000: Alexander Farm, Lodi, NY. Info: 607-582-6363.
Catskill Mt. Bluegrass Festival: Sept 8-10, 2000; Roundout Camping Resort, Accord, NY. Info:914-687-9781.
Welcome new members: Earl Beedham, Brockport; Frances Gugula, Fulton; Ralph & Madalyn Morgan, Phoenix; Kurt & Sheila Lester & family, Syracuse.
SEE YOU AT OUR FESTIVAL:
Written by Thayle Phair,Secretary/Editor CNYBA
