Beacon and Dutchess fill posts
Peter Ullian has been appointed to a two-year term as Beacon’s fourth poet laureate.
Ullian, who is also a playwright, attended Oberlin College and holds a master’s degree in theater arts from the University of Iowa. He succeeds Tony Pena, who served from 2017 to 2018.
The poet laureate presents poetry readings at schools, the Howland library and civic celebrations, as well as serving on the committee to appoint a successor.
Meanwhile, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro appointed Raphael Kosek, who lives in Hopewell Junction, as the county’s poet laureate for 2019.
Kosek’s first assignment will be to read her poetry at Molinaro’s State of the County address on Feb. 27 at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.
“I hope to empower communities to find their voice for their dreams, goals, and aspirations,” said Kosek, who was selected by a panel of literary professionals and community members organized by Arts Mid-Hudson. Nominations for the 2020 poet laureate will be open this summer.
