Stella Beratlis

Author's posts

Poetry Workshop: Breaking Free of the Line Break

 As the downtown Modesto library undergoes extensive renovations, the Modesto-Stanislaus Poetry Center (MoSt) will be kicking off its annual summer workshop series this year at a new location, the Salida Public Library. Saturday June 21, 1-3 pm. Participants will be given the opportunity to read several outstanding examples of the form by noted practitioners and …

Continue reading

Second Tuesday Poetry June 10: Aideed Medina & Russell Reza-Khaliq Gonzaga

Join us at Bookish Modesto for our Second Tuesday reading in June, featuring Aideed Medina, Fresno’s 2025-2027 Poet Laureate, and poet and spoken word artist Russell Reza-Khaliq Gonzaga.

2025-2026 Youth Poet Laureate Selected

Announcing Valentina Zeff as Stanislaus County's 2025-2026 Youth Poet Laureate.

May 1, 2025 Valentina Zeff, incoming junior at Modesto High School’s International Baccalaureate program, was selected as the Stanislaus County Youth Poet Laureate for 2025-2026. She will serve a one-year term, participate in several engagements throughout the year, and receive a $500 honorarium. Valentina Zeff is a sixteen-year-old poet from Modesto, California who is currently …

Continue reading

Youth Poet Laureate Send-off Reading May 17

Please join us as we bid a fond farewell to 2024-2025 Youth Poet Laureate Zoe Byron, whose tenure as youth laureate is complete at the end of May. As our second Stanislaus County Youth Poet Laureate, Zoe has served well to represent the poetic youth voice in our region. Zoe’s final reading as youth laureate will …

Continue reading

Poets’ Corner Reading & Reception June 1

The Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods Department and the City of Modesto’s Poets’ Corner Committee are pleased to offer an Annual Poets’ Corner Contest.  Contest Winners Poets will be invited to read their winning poems on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at 1:00 P.M. at the McHenry Museum, followed by light refreshments. Winning poems will be printed …

Continue reading