City names new Poet Laureate City names new Poet Laureate (May 23, 2003)

Ridgeway begins two-year honorary post
by Dolores Fox Ciardelli

Kirk Ridgeway was introduced as the city's new Poet Laureate at the City Council meeting Tuesday by outgoing Laureate Jim Ott, who just completed his two-year term.

"The plans he has blow me away," said Ott. "A poetry wall, slam poetry, senior and youth focused events." He also is asking for "heritage poetry" that people may have, written by their grandparents or great-aunts.

Ridgeway is the third poet in the honorary post, which entails writing and reading poetry at civic events. The Poet Laureate also serves as a liaison between the Civic Arts program and local schools and literary organizations. The first Laureate was Charlene Villella, who is still active in local poetry circles.

"My vision for the next two years includes several ways to integrate poetry and the literary arts into the daily lives of the community," said Ridgeway. "First and foremost, I plan to re-establish the highly successful Century House Poetry Readings that bring poets from outside Pleasanton to our town to join with our poets for the enjoyment of everyone."

Ridgeway organizes quarterly literary events at the library in conjunction with Writers' Roundtable and has been instrumental in the annual Poetry & Arts Festival, which was held for the second time this year.

Ridgeway moved to Pleasanton in 1981, a physical therapist working as an officer in the U.S. Navy. He began writing poetry 12 years ago and said that he gradually began sharing his poems with others. For a time he joined the "frenzied world of 'po-biz,'" he said, meaning writing groups, the workshop circuit, open mike events and contests.

In 1999, he began to focus on creating opportunities to help others develop their poetic voices.

"I'd like to continue working with the Pleasanton Library and Writers' Roundtable to strengthen the Literary Evening events," he said. "A critique group, perhaps at the Senior Center where aspiring poets of all ages could share their work, would create a forum for having conversations across generational lines, something I believe is important to any vital community."

He also hopes to start a local poetry Web page to post poetry and event information and where poets could present their writing.

Ridgeway was chosen by a special selection committee, which included a Civic Arts commissioner, a representative of the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council, a director of the Writers' Roundtable, an at-large representative of the community, and English department faculty from Las Positas College and the three Pleasanton high schools.