Sandra Wade, former poet laureate, dies

From 2006: Sandra Wade (center) inaugurated as Lake County Poet Laureate

Sandra Wade, a former Poet Laureate of Lake County, Calif., died Tuesday, July 18. Sandra was a staunch advocate for local culture as Lake County Poet Laureate, so supportive and nurturing of other Lake County writers. I always enjoyed learning about the different places she’d gone to read and represent Lake County to a broader artistic community.

The photo above is from the Summer 2006 ArtNotes, a quarterly newsletter of the Lake County Arts Council. Photographed by Xian Yeagan, the image shows Sandra, center, being inaugurated as Lake County Poet Laureate for 2006-2008. Flanking her are finalists Janet Riehl, left, and Fran Ransley, right.

Sandra’s obituary, published in the Lake County Record-Bee, relates:

“Former poet laureate of Lake County and local radio show host, Sandra Wade, passed away Tuesday, July 18, 2017. Sandra had returned to her native England where she lived in Halisham. She was surrounded by her loving family. She enriched the lives of many with her work as a massage therapist, a yoga teacher and a weaver of words. She is greatly missed.”

Stars of Lake County: ‘Creative Expressions’ nomination

In an emailed message to the Lake Couty Chamber of Commerce, I nominated “Creative Expressions” in the Stars of Lake County’s “Best Idea” category. “Creative Expressions” debuted in February 2008. It appears twice monthly — on second and fourth Saturdays — in the Lake County Record-Bee.

“Creative Expressions” is due to the effort of Lake County Poet Laureate Mary McMillan and writers Sandra Wade, Richard Schmidt and Lourdes Thuesen. They solicit contributions and make the selections that appear in each edition. Through their continuing efforts, local writers have one more venue for their poetry and creative prose.

Poetry Out Loud returns to Lake County

Michele Krueger, the Lake County coordinator for California Poets in the Schools; and Sandra Wade, a former Lake County Poet Laureate; are facilitating school contests for the Poetry Out Loud national recitation contest. Students at Lower Lake High School, Middletown High School, and Clear Lake High School are participating.

‘Dancing Poetry’ interpretive performance

Left to right: Sandra Wade, Cynthia M. Parkhill, Jonathan Donihue and JoAnn Saccato.

Ever since she was appointed Poet Laureate in April 2006, Sandra Wade has taken part in various activities that showcase the local poetic scene. By virtue of her attendance at various poetic readings, she serves as a steady reminder that Lake County has a Poet Laureate and a viable artistic community.

Lake County Poet Laureate promotes creative expression

Left to right: Janet Riehl, Sandra Wade and Fran Ransley. Photo by Xian Yeagan

Lake County Poet Laureate Sandra Wade was introduced among her peers at a reading held Saturday, April 1 at the Lake County Arts Council’s Main Street Gallery. She commenced her two-year term a short while later with the adoption of an official proclamation by the Lake County Board of Supervisors.

Then-incumbent Carolyn Wing Greenlee organized the April 1 gathering, assisted by past poets laurate Jim Lyle and James BlueWolf. It was an opportunity to hear readings by these poets laureate, as well as by entrants and finalists in the competition to choose Greenlee’s successor.

The announcement of Wade as poet laureate was an emotionally rewarding moment that she shared with finalists Janet Riehl and Fran Ransley. Look for Riehl and Ransley to offer their continued support in the promotion of written art.

The function of the Lake County Poet Laureate is to encourage poetry and writing among Lake County residents by stimulating literacy and creativity in spoken and written form. Wade notes that in some communities her equivalent office holder is “literary laureate,” and she correspondingly plans to nurturer prose as well as poetry.

This writer has had the pleasure of attending readings by several of our local poets, especially in the supportive venue that is provided through open mic. In my opinion, Lake County is blessed with many talented poets and the selection of Wade as poet laureate puts their nurturing in good hands.

From the Summer 2006 ArtNotes,
quarterly members’ newsletter of the Lake County Arts Council