Charlene Villella to give last reading Charlene Villella to give last reading (April 16, 2004)

Poet will miss good friends and local arts scene
by Dolores Fox Ciardelli

Don't expect Charlene Villella to recite a farewell poem at her last Century House reading in Pleasanton this weekend. She would find it too emotional.

"It would be too hard," she said. "I have awfully good friends around here, and I'm going to miss them."

Charlene, 60, and her husband Frank, who recently retired, are moving to their condo in Murray, Utah, at the end of May. The rest of their family already lives in the region, including her parents, and her grandchildren.

"I will love being back there with my family," she said. "I have mixed feelings."

In 1999, Villella was named Pleasanton's first poet laureate. During her two-year honorary term, she began the Century House Poetry Reading series, bringing in poets from throughout Northern California. She also taught poetry workshops, began teen workshops in cooperation with the Pleasanton library, did poetry in the schools, and has been instrumental in the annual Poetry and Arts Festival, held for the third time earlier this month.

"It's really been gratifying to live in a city that cares so much about the arts," Villella said. "Everyone is so good about promoting and supporting them. People are supportive - from the mayor on down."

Villella has been working for the last two years for the city's Parks and Community Services department with Civic Arts Manager Andy Jorgensen.

"She's been such a treasure and such a gift to the city of Pleasanton," said Jorgensen. "Once Charlene was chosen as the first Poet Laureate, she created just a really successful program that won national recognition from the U.S. Mayor's Conference."

He also credited the success of the Poetry and Arts Festival to her poetry activities at the state and national level. "She is widely regarded as a very fine poet and also as a champion of the literary arts," said Jorgensen.

Villella said that during her recent fight against breast cancer, she found out just how wonderful her friends were as they even accompanied her to chemotherapy. "That kind of support is invaluable," she said. "We had always been close but I never expected somebody to want to go to chemo with me.

Now she leaves for Utah with her health prospects good and plans to explore the arts scene there.

"But I hate leaving Pleasanton," she said. "I absolutely adore it here." Charlene's swan song

What: Century House Poetry Reading, readings by Charlene Villella and her "poetic soul mate and provocateur" Jabez Churchill; includes open mike segment and farewell reception When: 1-3 p.m., Sunday, April 18 Where: Century House, 2401 Santa Rita Road Admission: $3

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