Allegany Magazine contains feature articles and columns written by the area's most talented and promising writers, designed by celebrated graphic artists and shot by local photographers with an eye for art.

In addition to a cover story and approximately half a dozen well written and topical features each issue, Allegany also contains regular columns penned by area experts in their field- from cooking to decorating, investing money to etiquette.

Allegany is a sister publication of the Cumberland Times-News but it maintains its own separate identity, both in content and in style.

"It is a lifestyles magazine featuring stories on a wide range of subjects within the publication," said Dave Boden, vice president of marketing and advertising for the Times-News. Boden also spearheaded the magazine project.

"It is a completely new concept and completely separate from the Times-News. A lot of communities are putting out magazines for their areas in addition to the newspapers and they have done very well."

While the magazine has a full time staff including managing editor, Shane Riggs, account executive, Deborah Bittinger, and Design Editor Jeremy Warnick, the remainder and the majority of the magazine is comprised of work from freelance writers and photographers.

The magazine can be found now on newsstands and in finer retail outlets and bookselling establishments in the area. Click here for a list of some of those retailers. Subscriptions are also available by clicking "subscribe" for details.

Shane Riggs

Allegany's managing editor comes to the position with two decades of professional writing experience. Under Shane Riggs' management, The Sun Journal newspaper in North Canton, Ohio captured 30 awards by the Ohio Newspaper Association in 2000 and in 2001. In 2001, while he was managing editor, the paper earned the prestigious Inland Press Foundation award and was tapped the Most Excellent Non-Daily Newspaper of its class nationwide.

In addition to The Sun Journal, Shane previously was a reporter with the Massillon Independent, an on-air personality with WHBC Radio in Canton, a talk show host for WTIG in Massillon, a news anchor with WZKL in Alliance, a reporter for the Free Press newspaper in Canton, and a news writer and on-air producer for WAKC-TV 23 in Akron, Ohio.

He is the co-author of two holiday themed books and also the author of the professionally produced plays, "The Lightbearer" and "Confessions from the Ladies Room."

Email Shane at sriggs@alleganymagazine.com

Deborah Bittinger

Debi Bittinger is the account executive for Allegany Magazine. She comes to the publication with a world of experience and customer service under her belt, including continuing to run her own successful business, The Country Angel, in Cumberland.

"Many of you have already heard me cheering 'I absolutely love the magazine.' I have sold it in my gift shoppe since the very first issue -- the one with William H. Macy on the cover," said Debi. "I remember vividly when I saw that first copy and I wondered who was doing it. As I started leafing through it, my green envy began to turn to pride. I was proud that this magazine was coming from Cumberland."

"I did actually swell with a sense of pride..... that's right (you people who think we are all country bumpkins up here in the mountains) this very well done, upscale magazine is from Cumberland. How do you like that? Now, two years later, Allegany Magazine continues to grow. Our paid subscriptions continue to increase (did you know Allegany Magazine has subscriptions in 42 of the 50 states? We even have one in China), our number of advertisers is growing, our distribution is still growing, and my green envy is now absolute pride to be representing such a fine lifestyles magazine."

Email Debi at advertising@alleganymagazine.com

Jeremy Warnick

Design Editor Jeremy Warnick comes on board Allegany Magazine's creative team with more than ten years of award winning experience. A graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Jeremy was born in Cumberland and spent most of his childhood in neighboring Garrett County. He is an avid and professionally exhibited photographer whose black and white and special effects work has won him regional attention from the art community. Jeremy enjoys freelancing his craft in his spare time, and has been awarded for his design by the Associated Press and by the Maryland Delaware D.C. Newspaper Association. A former art director for a promotional products company on the Eastern Shore, Jeremy is also the Graphics manager for the Cumberland Times-News.

"I view Allegany Magazine as an opportunity to design a higher standard of publication for the community," he said. "Each issue is a professional challenge to present a more visually pleasing product than the last. Allegany Magazine has a great design team. Members of the Design Department add their own individual style, flare, and skill to a publication I foresee continuing along the path of success."

Email Jeremy at jwarnick@alleganymagazine.com