DAC Host Special Evening of Poetry

Malone – On Thursday, September 19, The Thrive Project with the Downtown Artist Cellar (DAC) will host a special evening of poetry featuring three acclaimed poets, all born in Malone, NY. The event will bring together Jim Bourey, Bobbie Dumas Panek, and Sally Rhoades for an intimate reading that celebrates their rich literary roots and creative achievements. The evening will also include an open mic session, inviting local poets and enthusiasts to share their own work.

Jim Bourey is an esteemed poet and contributing editor for the Broadkill Review, as well as the Poetry Events Coordinator for DAC. Born in Malone, Jim’s works include the recent collection Out There and Back Again (Cold River Press, 2023), the earlier The Distance Between Us (Cold River Press, 2020), and the collaborative Season of Harvest(Pond Road Press, 2022) with Linda Blaskey. His debut chapbook, Silence, Interrupted, was published by Broadkill River Press in 2015. Jim’s poetry has been featured in numerous journals and anthologies. He resides in Dickinson Center, NY, with his wife Linda, whose photography has complemented many of his projects.

Bobbie Dumas Panek, originally from Malone, is a distinguished writer and poet based in Central New York. Her debut poetry book, Morning Walks: Zen Meditations, was released in 2010 by FootHills Publishing. Bobbie is also known for her memoir, Just Another Day, based on her weekly columns for The CITIZEN Newspaper about life on her dairy farm. Her poetry has appeared in Many Waters Journal and various magazines and anthologies, while her articles have been published in Birds and Blooms, Reminisce Extra, and American Mothers. A proud alumna of St. Joseph’s Ursuline Academy, Bobbie cherishes her Malone roots and the memories of her large extended family.

Sally Rhoades is a multifaceted artist—choreographer, writer, director, poet, and performer—who has shared her work across the United States and Canada. Born in Malone and based in Albany, NY, Sally holds an MA in Creative Writing from the University at Albany. Her studies focused on women’s contemporary poetry, playwriting, and performance, reflecting her commitment to amplifying diverse voices through the arts.

This event will provide a unique opportunity for the community to engage with these talented poets, each bringing their distinct voice and stories shaped by their shared hometown. The evening will conclude with a poetry open mic, encouraging local poets and audience members to take the stage and share their work. This event is funded in part by Poets & Writers with public funds from the New York

State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State

Legislature. Also supported by the Holiday Inn Express - Malone.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, September 19, 2024

• Time: 7:00 PM

• Location: Downtown Artist Cellar, Malone, NY

• Admission: Free and open to the public