The 2006 Poet Laureate Committee was comprised of Kelly Harris, chair, Bunny Breslin, John Panza, Carole Wallencheck, and 2005 Laureate Meredith Holmes.

Cleveland Heights City Council appointed Loren Weiss as the 2006 Poet Laureate. Loren‘s poetry contains the wisdom of experience as well as the wide-eyed openness of innocence, two qualities that make him a fine choice for a city that values its diverse community. Loren’s poetry reflects the immediacy of experience and treats fairly the experiences of others. With his understanding of the art of poetic form and of poetry’s true community function, Loren represents Cleveland Heights admirably.

Enjoy two poems Loren Weiss wrote during his tenure as Poet Laureate.

Here's a story about a memorable event from Loren's Poet Laureate service: My "term" had started in April of 2006, the same month as I turned 80 years old. One of my assigments was to compose a poem for the Cleveland Heights Volunteers' recognition night at Cain Park, and to present it just prior to a performance of Kiss Me Kate in mid July. (A thrill in itself to be reading my stuff in front of over 800 people.)
As I waited in the wings for Mayor Kelly to introduce me, I noticed a man in a wheel chair next to me, also waiting to be called onto the stage. I recognized him as Victor Schreckengost, and so I introduced myself. (He was to be honored by mayor Kelly on behalf of Cleveland Heights, in celabration of his 100th birthday.) After I read my poems, as I passed him when I left the stage, he reached up, shook my hand and said with a smile, " Very nice, young man."
I guess anyone 80 years old, is young to Victor. What a nice memory to carry with me from my term as your Poet Laureate.