This Sunday! Passing of the Laurels Ceremony

On April 15, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. at McGroarty Arts Center in Tujunga, CA, the Sixth Poet Laureate, Maja Trochimczyk, will pass the laurel wreath to the Seventh Poet Laureate, Dorothy Skiles. The new Poet Laureate will serve for a term of two years, 2012-2014.

The ceremony will include poetry reading by Kathabela Wilson, Just Kibbe, Maja Trochimczyk, Joe DeCenzo, and the new laureate. The poets will be accompanied by musicians, guitarist, Dr. William Lenaburg and flautist Prof. Rick Wilson. The event will include group readings of poems by Maja Trochimczyk and Joe DeCenzo.

Joe DeCenzo, the Third Poet Laureate of Sunland-Tujunga will serve as the event's MC. The ceremony will also include commendations from the city, county and state officials. Reception to follow.

MAJA TROCHIMCZYK discusses her term as Poet Laureate on her blog Poetry Laurels: "As a new citizen (American for mere two years), and a resident of Sunland for just fifteen years, I was delighted to have been elected the Sixth Poet-Laureate of Sunland-Tujunga in March 2010. English is my second language, so it was quite an honor. During my “Passing of the Laurels” Ceremony in April I was wearing a silly grin almost the whole time: I was so excited! I picked my motto for the two years in office to be “Poetry ... in pursuit of happiness." A list of activities during her two-year tenure is on her website: www.trochimczyk.net

DOROTHY SKILES has served as the President of the Village Poets group since its inception and has planned the Monthly Readings at Bolton Hall Museum. Her bio and a sample of her poems are on this blog - she was our Featured Poet in September 2011.