It Takes a Book Village - San Francisco Bay Times

"If you're looking desperately for something to read, wander over to the Catskill Mountain region of New York to the village of Hobart, which apparently has more bookstores per capita than any village in the country. And if you go in early June, when the Hobart Festival of Women Writers is in full swing, you can even have some books read aloud to you by the writers themselves. Founded fourteen years ago by poet Cheryl Clarke, historian and bookstore owner Barbara Balliet, and novelist Breena Clarke, the festival includes writing workshops, panels, and lunches by the Delaware River."

"Esther, who has wild red hair, a penetrating voice, and a finely crafted poetic vision, was recently named the first Poet Laureate of Greene County, which is an hour and a half outside of New York City and has a population somewhere around 50,000. But, before Esther could accept her (virtual) crown, the county legislators rescinded the award, citing online posts someone said were inciting violence. Although most of the legislators had not seen the posts-which were actually reposts-they voted unanimously against her and refused her request to appear before them."

"The ramifications of the dismissal of a woman and her accomplishments as a writer and community activist are truly distressing. Esther is white, Jewish, married to a male, and is not a wild-eyed, youthful insurrectionist (a fave group of mine), yet the county found it easy to marginalize her. They also chose to ignore all those who wrote in support of her, including local Republicans."

Hobart, New York in the Catskill Mountains has more bookstores per capita than any village in the country. In early June, the Hobart Festival of Women Writers offers writing workshops, panels, and lunches, with books read aloud by participating writers. The festival is open to all and includes writers such as Irene Klepfisz, Alexis de Veaux, Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, Elisabeth Nonas, and Nancy Bereano. Esther Cohen, a regular poetry columnist on Substack, was named the first Poet Laureate of Greene County. County legislators rescinded the award before she could accept it, citing online posts said to incite violence, even though many had not seen the posts and they were reposts. Legislators voted unanimously and refused her request to appear, despite support from others including local Republicans.

Read at San Francisco Bay Times