City Poet Laureate transition, 2017

Pacifica Tribune/Jane Northrop,Staff Writer, 1/11/17. "New Pacifica poet laureate named."

"In the continuing tradition of honoring a local poet as the town’s poet laureate, the Pacifica Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission named a published poet and author to fill a three-year term.

Camincha Benvenutto, named
Poet Laureate 2017-2020.

Dorsetta Hale,
Poet Laureate 2013-2016.

Camincha Benvenutto, 83, follows the poet laureate term of Dorsetta Hale. She has been a longtime resident of Pacifica who originally hails from the Miraflores District of Lima, Peru. She graduated from high school in Lima, and developed a facility for languages there due to the international area in which she lived. She speaks Spanish, English and French. She then came to the U.S. to go to college. She finally achieved that college goal after marrying a diplomat from Peru and having four children. She went to college after the last child graduated from San Francisco State University. She then gained her own bachelor’s and master’s degree there, both in languages and literature. She earned two fellowships while studying for her master’s degree.

....  She’s been writing poetry since age 13, but found little time to write while raising her children. She is also a published author of one book of poetry and four novels, all of a little different genre, some short stories, one historic fiction. She’s currently working on another book — a pictorial memoir. She has more than 300 poems written, most have never been published. Her published work, however, is available through the San Mateo County and San Francisco County library systems. Benvenutto is listed in the directory of American poets and fiction writers and is a member of PEN International."   Read article.

Reference, Poet Laureate.  Facebook, Camincha Benvenutto.  Related, past Poet Laureate article. The Mercury News/Pacifica Tribune/Jean Bartlett 1/22/14, "Pacifica welcomes new poet laureate Dorsetta Hale."  Related, City of Pacifica. Pacifica PB&R Commission.     Note photographs. Camincha Benvenutto from her Facebook page; Dorsetta Hale from her website.

Posted by Kathy Meeh