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Uploaded: Thursday, January 24, 2013, 7:40 AM
Updated: Monday, January 28, 2013, 6:27 AM
Council names 2 teen poet laureates
Only one applicant for regular adult post as city keeps position open
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by Jeb Bing
Pleasanton Weekly Staff
Photo
 | Two teenagers have been named co-teen poet laureates for Pleasanton, a position that highlights their literary skills and makes them the city's representatives at public events.
In appointing the teenagers, the City Council also chose not to name a new adult poet laureate following the resignation of Cynthia Bryant last August before her two-year term expired. Bryant also held that position from 2005-2007.
Only one application to be adult poet laureate to succeed Bryant was received by the city, and members of the poet laureate selection committee decided against making any appointment "at this time, but instead allow the application process to remain open until a sufficient number of qualified candidates have applied."
The teen poet laureates approved by the council are Arany Uthayakumar from Amador Valley High School and Diana Fu from Foothill High. They will serve with no remuneration for their services, although the Community Services Department has $2,000 allocated in its budget to pay any expenses incurred.
The poet laureate position was established in 1998, with its primary role t
o provide to provide appropriate poetry at civic events and promote the appreciation of the literary arts in the community. The program won an award from the National Conference of Mayors in 2001.
The first poet laureate was the late Charlene Villella. She was followed by Jim Ott, Kirk Ridgeway, Martha Meltzer and Deborah Grossman. Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by Pleasanton Resident, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jan 26, 2013 at 4:25 pm Congratulations to both Arany and Diana! I look forward to hearing their poetry.
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Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore, on Jan 26, 2013 at 5:51 pm Congratulations!
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Posted by Congrats!!!, a resident of the Amador Estates neighborhood, on Jan 26, 2013 at 7:24 pm Congratulations to both! I taught Diana in 8th grade and she's an amazing young woman!
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Posted by Twits, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jan 28, 2013 at 11:13 am What the heck is the deal in the Tri-Valley with cities naming Poet Laureates? I wish the Pleasanton City Council would focus more on better fiscal responsibility, street maintenance, keeping taxpayers from getting hosed by municipal workers' pay and benefits, and keeping the city from constantly being sued.
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Posted by William Tell, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Jan 28, 2013 at 2:46 pm Nice to see Poet Laureates that are two all-American good-looking teenage girls (Comment partially removed by Pleasanton Weekly Online staff).
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Posted by Teacake Frank, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Jan 28, 2013 at 2:57 pm What good is poetry anyway? I doubt it will help you get a job in corporate America. We're in a fiscal moarasse and all people can talk about is poetry? We need to get our priorities straight.
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