Poetry News

*****POETRY NEWS*****

Here is your Poetry News for the week of February 22, 2010. Poetry events are drifting like powder snow in the Pioneer Valley and beyond. Scroll all the way down for more poetry in CT, Boston and other areas. Check out all our links to the right for poetry events everywhere!

To receive Poetry News in your email or to post events write to [email protected]

THIS WEEK check out:
Sat. Feb. 20 - Florence Poets at Invisible Fountain, Easthampton, 7pm
Sat. Feb. 20 - Ellen LaFleche, Karen Johnston, Jendi Reiter at Thirsty Mind, S.Hadley, 7pm
Sun. Feb. 21 - Gallery of Readers Series, Rebecca Rice & Jonathan Wright, Nielson Lib. Smith, 4pm
Sun. Feb. 21 - Jericho Brown & CA Conrad at Jones Library, Amherst, 3pm
Tue. Feb 23 - Valerie Gillies at Smith College, Wright Hall, 7:30pm

There are many other poetry events in Western MA and CT this week - Please scroll down!


Word in Westfield

Needed: Poems by Teens for Poetry Contest at the YMCA

The YMCA poetry contest is officially over, but we don't have enough poems by teens to run the teen contest. If you have a teen or are a teen who writes poetry, please bring a poem to the Westfield YMCA. Prizes are YMCA t-shirts, memberships and other cool stuff. You can also send me a poem to [email protected]. Put your name and age on the file, please, if it is emailed. Thanks! - Lori



Word at the Y (yes, we do poetry)

Poetry class for beginning and intermediate poets, 18 and up, with Lori Desrosiers.
We will have a poetic romp through the canon of modern poets, discovering and trying out their styles and poetic devices for ourselves. This is a great way to find some time to write as well as to get an introduction to poetics, the study of how poetry works. Classes are from March 1 - April 25, 2010 on Monday nights, from 6:30-8pm. Scholarships are available. If you are a YMCA member, there is a discount. Please call the Westfield YMCA to register at 413-568-8631. Email Lori with questions at [email protected]



A Night of Poetry and Music in celebration of National Poetry Month

with Lori Desrosiers, CT student poets, musicians and friends,
April 21, 2010, 7pm, Westfield Athenaeum.
Part of the Westfield Athenaeum Spring Lecture Series.




Holyoke/Springfield Area Poetry

New Writing Group
Brown Bag Lunch Poetry Writing Group at Apremont Productions, Springfield, Thursdays, from 11 am to 1:30 pm, for 16 weeks, starting March 4 and ending on June 17. Limited to 10 women. No teaching or criticism of writing, just writing poems from prompts provided by leader trained in the Amherst Writers and Artists methodology. $10 weekly fee covers rent, copies, and light refreshments. Please call for more info or to register: 413-531-5023.




New Poetry Reading/Open Mic
Friday Nights at 8pm
Boriquen Y QuisQueya
326 St. James Ave.
Springfield MA



Starving for Art Presents open mic Tuesdays
@ Blue Fusion Bar and Grille 487 St. James Ave Springfield, MA doors open at 6pm for social hour. Showtime is 7-9pm All poets, musicians, singers, and visual artists are welcome. This event is free. For more info visit http://www.brendaschild.com/



Word in the Valley and Beyond

MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE:
Five College Student PoetryFest - Wednesday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m., Gamble 106B, at the college in South Hadley. Reception follows.


ODYSSEY BOOKSHOP:
Charlie Bondhus reads from his new poetry collection, "What We Have Learned," Thursday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m., Odyssey Bookshop, Village Commons, South Hadley. 534-7307.


SMITH COLLEGE POETRY

Valerie Gillies
Tuesday, February 23
Poetry Center
7:30 PM
Valerie Gillies, the first woman Makar (Poet Laureate) of Edinburgh, writes poems that are beloved in Scotland, and beyond. She is the author of ten poetry collections, the most recent of which, The Spring Teller, explores the sacred wells and springs of Celtic history. As reported in The Scotsman newspaper, "Valerie Gillies writes like the wind and jinks like a hare in the fields of language."
Presented by the departments of English, Religion, and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life

Chase Twichell
Tuesday, March 2
Stoddard Hall Auditorium
7:30 PM
In six acclaimed collections of poetry, Chase Twichell manages to be both startling and meditative, exploring the nature of the human mind and the urgencies of our imperiled natural world with what Boston Review called “fierce psychic inquiry and tremendous lyrical gifts.” A major voice in contemporary poetry and longtime student of Zen Buddhism, Twichell is the founder of Ausable Press.
Chase Twichell’s week-long residency at Smith, featuring workshops, individual student conferences, and a craft lecture Thursday, March 4 (Poetry Center, 7:30 pm) is supported by a gift from Tammis Day (05).


GREEN ST. POETRY SERIES
Green Street Café
Northampton, Massachusetts

The Green St. Poetry Series showcases the voices of emerging and noted poets from the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts and beyond.

Please join us this Thursday February 11th at 7:30 p.m. to hear the poetry of Janet McFadyen & Susie Patlove.

Janet MacFadyen lives in Shutesbury, Massachusetts. Her poetry has been published in The Malahat Review in Canada, and The Atlantic Monthly and Poetry. She is also the author of a chapbook, In Defense of Stones and the newly released... book A Newfoundland Journal. She has an MFA in Poetry from the University of Massachusetts.

Susie Patlove lives with her husband, Les, in an intentional community they helped found in Charlemont, MA. in 1972. Her poems have been published in several journals and in the anthology, Crossing Paths, An Anthology of Poems by Women. Her first book of poems, Quickening, was published in 2007. Susie took lay Buddhist vows at the Valley Zendo in 1982 and works at the Arms Library in Shelburne Falls.

Future Readers Include:
February 17 – Gabe Durham & Jack Christian (note the Wednesday schedule)

February 25 – Henk Rossuow & Nick Rattner
March 4 — Danielle Carriveau & Omoizele “Oz” Okoawo
March 11 – David Kherdian & Greg Joly
March 18 – Stephen Lindow & Frankie White
March 25 – TBA
April 1 – David Giannini & Gary Metras
April 8 – Jono Tosch & Matt Suss
April 15 – Anne Holmes & Christie Crutchfield
April 22 – Richard Michealson & Daniel Hall

If you are a poet and would like to read at Green Street, please contact Maria Williams-Russell at [email protected].


jubilat and the historic Jones Library
present
A jubilat/Jones Poetry Reading

Featuring: Jericho Brown and CA Conrad
3:00 PM
Sunday, February 21st
Trustees Room, Jones Library
43 Amity Street, Amherst

The reading will be followed by a Q & A session with the poets.

At 2 PM, Dara Wier, Ben Kopel, and Zach Savich will host a poetry swap in the Trustees Room. Bring a poem--your own or someone else's--to share and discuss. All events are free and open to the public.

Jericho Brown worked as speechwriter for the Mayor of New Orleans before receiving his PhD in Creative Writing and Literature from the University of Houston. He also holds an MFA from the University of New Orleans and a BA from Dillard University. The recipient of the Whiting Writers Award, the Bunting Fellowship from the Radcliffe Institute at Harvard University, and two travel fellowships to the Krakow Poetry Seminar in Poland, Brown teaches creative writing as an Assistant Professor of English at the University of San Diego. His first book, Please (New Issues), won the 2009 American Book Award.

CAConrad is the recipient of The Gil Ott Book Award for The Book of Frank (Chax Press, 2009). He is also the author of Advanced Elvis Course (Soft Skull Press, 2009), (Soma)tic Midge (Faux Press, 2008), Deviant Propulsion (Soft Skull Press, 2006), and a forthcoming collaboration with poet Frank Sherlock, The City Real & Imagined: Philadelphia Poems (Factory School Books, 2010).

Sponsored by the Friends of the Jones Library, jubilat, the Juniper Initiative of the UMass MFA Program for Poets & Writers, the Amherst Cultural Council, and Factory Hollow Press, the jubilat/Jones Series showcases established and emerging poets in six readings each year.

If you have questions, please contact the jubilat office at (413) 577-1064.



Poetry Slam
March 12
Sign up 6:30
Open mic 7
slam 7:30
Hosted by jamila
free, but donations to C3 welcome
no pre registration
seating available
bottom floor of thorns
only in feb and march so far
2nd fridays




Seventh Annual Forbes Poetry Series
The series takes place on the first Wednesday of the month from October to May at the Forbes Library. Readings are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served courtesy of the Friends of the Forbes Library.

Always the first Wednesday of the month in the library's elegant Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum. Free and open to all.

March 3, 2010 - Middle School Poetry Reading



"Growing younger toward death every day" Workshops in Northampton and Greenfield:
finding insight and inspiration in poetry, prose, and music

New participants are welcome to join this year-old group that gathers in one of their homes twice monthly to share and discuss poems, prose, and songs—original or created by others-- that move them deeply and inspire them to live fuller, more authentic lives.

Particular focus will be given to listening to the recorded work of contemporary poet David Whyte, reading his own and other's poetry and offering his insightful and often amusing commentary; his best-known poem “The Faces at Braga” contains the phrase “Growing younger toward death every day”.

Group members will also read aloud and discuss poems by renowned American poet Mary Oliver; poems by others along with accompanying commentary by Roger Housden, editor of a series of books including “Ten Poems To Change Your Life”; poems by Irish poet John O'Donohue in his book “A Book of Blessings”; and selections from other poets, writers, and musicians.

Two separate groups will meet from 6 to 9pm, one in Greenfield on Tuesday Feb. 16, the other in Northampton on Monday, Feb. 15. (This group rotates between Mondays and Tuesdays.) Participants are encouraged to bring their own supper and/or dessert to share. Copies will be available of all poems, prose, and song lyrics read and discussed in each group.

For more information, contact John Berkowitz at 413-625-6374 or [email protected]




Gallery of Readers series

Sunday Feb. 21 - Rebecca Rice & Jonathan Wright
Smith College, Nielson Library, 4PM
The Gallery of Readers was begun in 1990, and takes its name from its first location, in Northampton's Forbes Library art gallery. The readers in the series are participants in Robin Barber and Carol Edelsteins writing workshops.
For more information on other events in the series, please visit http://www.galleryofreaders.org/galleryofreaders/current.html



Thirsty Word Poetry Reading! - NEW!
Saturday, February 20, 2010, 7pm
Thirsty Mind coffee and wine bar, 23 College Street, South Hadley, MA
Come to the first Thirsty Word poetry reading and hear three of the Valley's feminist poets:

Karen G. Johnston is a social worker by vocation, a poet by avocation, a socialist by inclination, a UU-Buddhist by faith, and mother by choice. Her writing has been published in Silkworm, Equinox, Concise Delight, WordCatalyst, and Women. Period. An Anthology of Writings on Menstruation.

Ellen LaFleche has a special interest in poems about working class people, and issues of health and healing. She has published in numerous journals, including Many Mountains Moving, Alehouse, Alligator Juniper, the Ledge, New Millennium Writings, and Naugatuck River Review.

Jendi Reiter is the author of the poetry collections Swallow (Amsterdam Press, 2009) and A Talent for Sadness (Turning Point Books, 2003), and editor of the writers' resource website WinningWriters.com. Award-winning poet Ellaraine Lockie has said of her work, "Jendi Reiter's poems are arrows that plunge dead center into the hearts of feminism, religion, death, the interior of mental health and psychotherapy."




Naugatuck River Review Reading & Release Party
Saturday, February 27, 2pm at the Forbes Library Community Room, 20 West St. Northampton, MA.
Poets from Naugatuck River Review, a journal of narrative poetry, will read their work from the Winter 2010 contest issue, including first prize winner Thomas R. Moore and third prize winner Kathryn Neel. Several poets from past editions of the journal will also read. NRR is now in its second year of publication. Refreshments will be served and journals will be available for purchase at a discount. Please come!




SUSAN HOWARD CASE MEMORIAL POETRY CORNER

The Forbes Library in Northampton, MA has created a new collection of the works of local poets named the Susan Howard Case Poetry Corner. This collection has been named in memory of a local poet who contributed to the library's rich poetry community through her volunteer service. The non-circulating collection consists of poetry books and chapbooks by Pioneer Valley poets, and locally published literary journals. "The idea for this collection developed in response to the abundance of many gifted poets in our area," said D.M. Gordon, Forbes Library Writer-in-Residence who created the idea for this new collection.

The collection will be housed in the Arts & Music magazine lounge on the library's second floor. The items in the collection are to be read in the library and comfortable seating is available nearby. The library hopes to grow the collection through donations. Anyone interested in donating to the collection should contact Lisa Downing, Assistant Director, at 413-587-1017 or [email protected].



FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY

Florence Poets Society Reading at the Invisible Fountain
6:30pm Sat. February 20, 2010,
at The Invisible Fountain, Luke Cavagnac's gallery,
116 Pleasant St., Suite 206, Easthampton, MA.
Open to the Public
Contact Carl Russo at [email protected]


Next business/sharing meeting Thursday February 11, 6:30pm
ALL POETS OF ALL TYPES AND AGES are welcome, bring one of your original works to share,
(12 to 15 copies will usually be enough for all to share) The meeting is held at Lilly Library community room and begins at 6:30 PM. Poetry presentation and discussion begins at 7PM


WRITING GROUP
Rich Puchalsky and friends meet every 3rd Thursday at Lilly Library community Room at 6:30 PM. See Rich for details, this group is currently open to join.

LASTLY PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING AS A MEMBER OF FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY. THE FEE IS $15.00 FOR THE YEAR FROM SEPTEMBER TO AUGUST. Your membership supports our Fall festival,
SILKWORM our annual journal, (these first two items also are supported in part by the Northampton Arts Council via a grant) our website http://www.florencepoetssociety.org/,, our po box, the annual contest, the JAN SLAM, our spring art gallery reading. and our summer reading at William Cullen Bryant homestead.

For more information: Email us at [email protected] or check out our web page at http://www.florencepoetssociety.org/


Listen to "Twilite's Poetry Pub" now Weekly! Enjoy the "Pub" with Carl and Tom every Wednesday from 9-10 am on Valley Free Radio, WXOJ 103.3 fm, Northampton and now with improved streaming at http://www.valleyfreeradio.org/ !!!
Poetry to the people! WXOJ-FM LP 103.3 and streaming at http://www.valleyfreeradio.org/. Bringing to you a variety of interesting poetry and music!

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All events are free and open to the public except as noted For more information, Call Tom at (413) 584-5914 or email at: [email protected] or: [email protected] or visit: http://www.florencepoetssociety.org/



POETRY A LA CARTE RADIO SHOW
on WMUA-Amherst 91.1 FM 5pm to 5:30 pm on Tuesdays this Summer, streamed live at http://www.wmua.org/.
The program, hosted by Daisy Mathias, includes reading aloud from past and contemporary poets, and occasionally features live interview and poetry-reading with a local poet.


Poetry at the Leverett Library

6:30 p.m. on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, Poetry reading at the Leverett Library. 75 Montague Rd. Leverett, MA. Area poets are invited to read. For more information contact Petriana at 413. 549.9336 or by email at [email protected]




Greenfield/Shelburne Falls and North


Bart’s Bards

Second Thursdays Open Microphone for Writers Bart’s Café of Greenfield 286 Main St. Greenfield, MA
7:00-9:00 P.M. (Sign up to Read at 6:45)

March 11: Maureen Moore

2010 Featured Readers:
January 14: Janet Aalfs
February 11: Julie Payne Britton
March 11: Maureen Moore
April 8: Kerry O’Keefe
May 14: Wyn Cooper
June 10: Lori Desrosiers
July 8: Janet MacFadyen
August 12: Marie Gauthier
Sept. 10: Lesle Lewis
October 14: Susie Patlove
November 11: Laura Rodley

For More Information, Please Contact: Larry Fader (413) 475-3321 (Open Microphone Readings are 5 Minutes or Less) Free to All



Greenfield Spoken Word

Always the third Tuesday of the month
This month it is February 16th
9 Mill St
Greenfield, MA
Doors open at 7:00
Open Mic starts at 7:30
Open Mic will be 10 - five-minute slots
Donation - Sliding Scale $1 - $5

Feature Readers
Candace Curran and James Burrill
Book signing and selling of local writers works will be available. Come up to read
Bring your chapbooks to sell. We will have tables at no cost. Hope to see you there

Yes, I know I am talking about Memorial Day:
May 31st
Wendell Spoken Word is the Last Monday of the month from Sept to April
We decided to throw a party, barbque at the Deja Brew Pub & Cafe
A few hours of readings
We are inviting you
We would like to have representation from Northampton, Florence, Greenfield, ....Western MA
Each area be responsible for 30 to 50 minutes
A possible slam at the end
Still being formulated
Save the date
If you want to be a part of this celebration email [email protected]



ARMS LIBRARY READING
Third Friday Prose and Poetry Readings. 7 p.m. at The Arms Library, Corner of Main and Bridge Streets,
Shelburne Falls, Mass. 413-625-0306.

Held in the upstairs Reading Room, readers should arrive a couple of minutes early to sign up for a reading slot, and then have five minutes to share their work. The building is accessible by entering at lower level and taking the elevator upstairs.



Collected Poets Series

The Collected Poets Series highlights the work of established and emerging poets. Each event showcases the remarkable local poets of Western Massachusetts and the finest regional, national, and international talent. The series is usually held every first Thursday of the month at 7pm (new time)

Mocha Maya’s Coffee House,
47 Bridge Street,
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370,
413-625-6292.
Wheelchair accessible. Free.

The Collected Poets Series will now be held the first Thursday of the month at 7:00PM. The Collected Poets Series is also excited to announce the dates and readers for our 2010 series beginning in January. We have many amazing poets from here in the valley and from as far away as England.

2010 Series

January 7 - Nancy Pearson and Afaa Michael Weaver
February 4 - Meg Kearney, Christopher Merrill, and Rhett Iseman Trull
March 4 - Joan Houlihan and Deborah Bernhardt

National Poetry Month
April 1 - Lawrence Raab and Regie O'Hare Gibson
April 15 - Adrian Blevins and James Haug

May 6 - Margaret Lloyd and Sarah Browning
May 16 - Special Appearance by Maxine Kumin at the Buckland- Shelburne Community Center. Sunday, May 16, at 3:30 pm.
June 3 - Mihaela Moscaliuc and Nickole Brown
July 1 - Kristin Bock and Lee Sharkey
No CPS Readings in August or September
October 7 - Josephine Dickinson and Sharon Dolin
November 4 - Barbara Ras and Jennifer Sweeney
December 2 - Aracelis Girmay and Ross Gay

The Collected Poets Series highlights the work of established and emerging poets. Each event showcases the remarkable local poets of Western Massachusetts and the finest regional, national, and international talent.



ALL SMALL CAPS

Monday, February 22nd, is our next reading for the All Small Caps series.

Please bring your work, work you admire and want to share, or just
come listen to the outstanding featured readers.

The featured readers:

Mariana Ruiz Firmat is a Brooklyn based poet. During the summer of ’99
she rode her bicycle cross-country and moved to New York City. She is
considerably busy between her work as a union organizer and as a
poet/publisher. Mariana is the editor and publisher of 3 Sad Tigers
Press. She is the author of, Another Strange Island, published by Open
24 Hours Press. Her poems can be found in IXNAY, 6 x 6, and on-line at
Tool A Magazine and PoEP. Her work is forthcoming in the Brooklyn
Rail. Her non-fiction can be found in Clamor Magazine, Make/Shift
Magazine and on-line at Alternet.org.

William Corbett is a poet, memorist and writer on art who lives in
Boston's South End and teaches writing at MIT. He has published a book
on Philip Guston and edited the letters of the poet James Schuyler.
Corbett directs the small press Pressed Wafer and serves on the CUE
Art Foundations advisory board. His current books are Opening Day
(Hanging Loose) and Poems on Occasion (Pressed Wafer.) In May his book
on the painter Albert York will appear.

The reading will be held, as usual, at the Deja Brew (57 Lockes
Village Rd, Wendell). Doors will open at 7 and the open mic portion of
the reading will begin at 7:30, followed by a short break, followed by
the featured readers. There will be food and drink available. If you
need directions, a peek at upcoming readings, etc., please look-see
our blog: allsmallcaps.blogspot.com

We will also have copies of our third ASC Anthology available for
purchase, so you will be able to read work from Season 3 featured
readers. If you pay the upper end of our sliding scale, $5, you will
receive a copy of the Anthology.

Hope to see you there.

Jess, Stephen, Paul, Charles




Slate Roof invites you to a reading by member Janine Roberts, and author Rose McMahan.

MONDAY MARCH 8TH – 7 PM Janine and Rose will read poems and prose at THE RENDEZVOUS (good food) 78 Third Street, Turners Falls, MA. This event is free and open to the public. Copies of Janine's book, The Body Alters will be on hand for sale and signing.

Slate Roof Press is a member-run press committed to publishing poets of the Pioneer Valley and western Massachusetts. Designed by the poets themselves, Slate Roof chapbooks feature letterpress covers, special papers, and hand-sewn bindings.



Slate Roof Press Seeking New Members

Local poetry cooperative, Slate Roof Press, will be reading
chapbook manuscripts in the spring for potential new
members. For consideration, please submit a 28-page poetry
manuscript by April Fool's Day.

Slate Roof publishes limited-edition, art-quality chapbooks
featuring western Massachusetts poets. This year, Slate Roof
was one of 24 presses featured at the Massachusetts Poetry
Festival's Small Press Fair in Lowell. Our members
participate in all aspects of the publishing process from
concept to marketing. We publish 1 to 2 chapbooks per year.
Membership requires a $500 investment (which can be paid in
installments) and a 3-year work commitment, including
monthly meetings in Greenfield.

For more information, visit our website:
www.slateroofpress.com.

If you are interested in joining, please submit three copies
of 28 pages of poems, plus a brief bio. The bio should
include any experience you've had with collective or group
process, and any special skills related to publishing.

Send all materials no later than April 1, 2010, to:


Slate Roof Press
15 Warwick Avenue
Northfield, MA 01360-9638


If you have questions, please contact Janet MacFadyen at
[email protected]

____________

Writing Groups
for beginning and experienced writers Come write in an encouraging supportive environment, experience the deepening and growth of your own writing, and contribute to the deepening and growth of others' writing. No experience necessary--only the willingness to put pen to paper. Groups meet weekly in Greenfield, are ongoing, and open to all genres. We follow the Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) method, http://www.amherstwriters.com/. $125 per 5-week session, 6 - 8 people per group. To join or for more info call or email Ann McNelly: 413 772 2375, [email protected]



Announcing The Woven Word Summer Creative Writing Workshop
for Middle and High School Age Writers

For the third summer the Woven Word is offering week long creative writing workshops for middle and high school age writers. We use the Amherst Writers & Artists workshop method as a design to create safe space among peers so that young writers may explore the development of their own unique voice. The program includes 2-3 writing and sharing sessions, afternoons on a houseboat on the Connecticut River, and one ½ day creating hand made books of each individual selected writings.

Three week long sessions are offered: July 19-23, August 2-6, August 9-13. Sessions run 9 AM – 3:30 in Hadley and cost $200 per week.

Program Director Lynn Bowmaster is a published poet with more than 10 years experience leading writing workshops in her home, R.K. Finn Ryan Road Elementary, PVPA, Hilltown Cooperative Charter School, the Springfield Library, Soldier On, and Holyoke Community College.

For info. And a link to a slideshow of program, contact Lynn at 584-3373, [email protected].



Word in the Berkshires


Power of Words, Open Mic

Third Tuesdays 7pm to 8:30 pm Hosted by Garfield Reed.
This is an open opportunity to share poetry, readings, music and other spoken word.
Free and open to the public at Berkshire South Regional Community Center , Crissey Rd.,Great Barrington, MA Every third Tuesday of the month. Please call Garfield at 528 4127 for more information.




In Words, Out Words in Housatonic

In Housatonic, MA there is an open mic for poets and performers of all styles and ages.
1st Tuesday of each month at the Deb Koffman Gallery 137 Front Street, Housatonic, MA 01236. “In Words, Out Words.” is hosted by John Meeks and there is usually a $7 suggested donation for heat and electricity. There are snacks there provided by whoever wants to bring them. The sign up technically is at 6:30 however the way it works is a lottery system. If you go to check it out once, then you can put your name on the contact email list. The following month you get an email reminding you of the upcoming event. If it’s your first time performing at In Words, Out Words, you are guaranteed a spot on the roster as long as you reply to the reminder email. If you’ve performed there before then you are put into the lottery system and randomly names are selected. Sometimes there are still slots open at the door.
The open mic begins at 7 and the featured performer goes on for about 20 minutes. It usually lasts until between 9 and 9:30.



Zeitgeist Gallery Pittsfield

Monday Poetry Nights 6 to10pm 648 North Street in Pittsfield call Alan Nidle, the Director at (857) 991-8448 for detail



Lee Writers Group
(every 2nd Tuesday of the month) at the Lee Library Conference Room.

Develop and hone writing skills through constructively critiquing others as well as receiving helpful hints and suggestions. This forum will host a variety of short stories, poetic compilations, insightful and original essays, and other varieties of writing similarly tangible in length. The purpose of this group is to embody character and narrator through obsessive directive fervor with written and spoken words. The group will meet every second Tuesday sharing original works via recitation and distribution and should be prepared to accept constructive feedback and be able to, in return, deliver such feedback in a respectable and deliberate manner.
Contact [email protected] or call 413 243-8116 for further information.



Word in Ware/Palmer


Carpe Stylum! (Latin for Seize the pen!)
meets every Wednesday 6-8pm, usually at the Ware Library but some meetings are held elsewhere. This group includes poets, short story writers and novelists. All are welcome. Call LuWanda Cheney (413) 277-9676 for a schedule.



Word in Worcester:

This Week:
Friday, Feb. 19
10:00 a.m. Shrewsbury Senior Writers @ the Shrewsbury Senior Center (100 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury)
7:00 p.m. Jared Paul @ the Worcester Youth/Clark UNIFED Slam
7:00 p.m. Matt Hopewell & Jeff Siegrist @ d'Alzon Arts Series: Poetry Reading
Saturday, Feb. 20
7:00 p.m. Dirty Gerund poetry show @ the Q Arts Corporation Community Banquet and Performance, QVCC (16 Greenwood St., Worcester)
Sunday, Feb. 21
6:00 p.m. Marc Marcel @ the Poets' Asylum
Monday, Feb. 22
6:30 p.m. Dead Poets "Slam" @ The Little "a" Poetry Series
9:00 p.m. Marc Marcel @ the Dirty Gerund Poetry Show
Tuesday, Feb. 23
6:30 p.m. William Corbett @ Acton Memorial Library (486 Main Street, Acton)
Wednesday, Feb. 24
6:30 p.m. Catherine Reed @ WPI Fireplace Lounge, Campus Center (100 Institute Road, Worcester)


The Little "a" Poetry Series
at the Q Cafe, 362 Chandler St in Worcester, MA. We run the reading every Monday night, the sign-up list for the open mic goes up at 7:00pm and we get started shortly thereafter.

Worcester Storytellers meets on the second Friday of each month at the Village Arts Gallery (1 Ekman Street, Worcester). The reading starts at 8:00 p.m. There will be an open mic followed by a feature. Worcester Storytellers never charges a cover. They ask you throw some money into the basket to support the artists who feature. For more info please contact [email protected]


The d'Alzon Arts Series: Poetry Reading
takes place at Assumption College (500 Salisbury Street, Worcester) in the Emmanuel d'Alzon Library on the third Friday of each month during the academic year. The format is an open mic for the first half-hour or so, a short break with refreshments and then 2 featured poets.. The reading starts at 7:00 p.m. and typically runs for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Readings run throughout the school year.


The After Nine Poetry Series
Every Thursday Night The The After Nine Poetry Series, formerly The Spot, is a weekly poetry reading in the Ship Room at the Hotel Vernon (1 Kelly Square, Worcester).

The reading is held in the Ship Room of the Hotel Vernon (1 Kelly Square, Worcester). The official start time is 8:00 p.m. but honestly, things get going closer to 9. Maybe this week will be different. 21+ and proper id is required


Poets Asylum

Sunday February 21
The Poets' Asylum welcomes Marc Marcel as our feature this week. Marcel is an internationally known spoken word artist who has toured throughout the world, showcasing his seasoned craft at colleges and other venues since 2000. A dynamic spoken word artist, novelist, producer and speaker, Marcel was raised in Baltimore, MD and got started writing in Atlanta, GA. Through his work, he promises to capture the emotions and feelings of several issues including politics, love, spirituality, self-revelation and the struggles of life. Marcel has appeared on The Jimmy Kimmel Show and performed at the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Peace Ball.

Simply put, poetry slam is the competitive art of performance poetry. It puts a dual emphasis on writing and performance, encouraging poets to focus on what they're saying and how they're saying it. Slam poetry can be moving, funny and deadly serious, sometimes all in the same poem. If that sounds like a good time then join us for some great words.

Come on down to Jumpin' Juice and Java (335 Chandler Street, Worcester). The reading starts at 6:00 p.m. No cover; please throw some money in the bucket to support the feature.



The Dirty Gerund
There's a new poetry reading in town! The Dirty Gerund Poetry Show will be held every Monday night starting at 8:30 p.m. The reading is being held at Ralph's Chadwick Square Diner (148 Grove Street, Worcester) and is hosted by Rushelle Frazier. There will be an open mic every week with a mix of poetry s lams and featured poets. No cover; donations accepted. 21+ Please join us at our new home,


Shakti Women's Writing Pact
The Shakti Women's Writing Pact meets every Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Java Hut (1073A Main Street, Worcester). Shakti was created with the intention of enhancing women's sense of belonging within the poetry community through the an unmoderated writing circle. For more information please contact Sou MacMillan at
[email protected].



THE ECLECTIC WORD, Radio Show
Poet and journalist Victor D. Infante hosts The Eclectic Word, an Internet radio show that will delve into literature's fringe with poets, satirists, alternative journalists and even (gasp!) bloggers. We'll be stepping off the beaten path of literature, taking a close look at the odd, the eccentric and the cutting-edge. Should be fun.

The show will run at 7 p.m. EST the first and third Friday of every month, as part of The World Wide Word Radio Network. You can listen to the shows live, or you can download it later for your listening convenience.
So give it a listen! It's going to be a blast!




CT POETRY
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Poetry at Broad Street Books
First Tuesdays
On the first Tuesday of every month, Broad Street Books hosts a featured poet followed by an open mic. All are welcome to come and read, recite, perform their work!

Broad Street Books
45 Broad Street
Middletown, CT 06457
-also-
Tune in to J-Cherry Presents every Tuesday night at 6:30 PM on 88.1 FM WESU in Middletown to hear from local artists from across all genres.
On the first Tuesday of every month, J-Cherry hosts our featured poet on the show!!
Tune in on Tuesday, February 2nd at 6:30 PM to hear Terri Klein!!



Open Mic at Broad Brook Books & Stuff
Broad Brook Books & Stuff at 100 Main St. Broad Brook, Ct. is hosting a poetry open mic and readings by local poets Elizabeth Szewczyk and Paige Steinert at 6:30 pm on February 24th, 2010.



Calling All Poets (and Poetry Lovers) 2010
Hosted by Victoria Muñoz
First Wednesdays - 6:30 - 8:00pm sharp
Silas Bronson Library
Open mike sign up 6:20
March 3rd Quentin Smeltzer (obviously not his real name) – Theme: Funny Stuff!!!
Born in Chicago, lived in various places, accounting for a cultural dislocation bordering on schizophrenia. B.A. in philosophy- opening many professional doors to work in fast food restaurants.1984 – Lived at the notorious Chelsea Hotel in NYC, unimpressed by famous neighbors. 1994 - returned to CT, resides with wife, son; and a dog he does not particularly care for. 2005 – M.B.A., University of Phoenix, which made no discernable difference in his life whatsoever. 5th book: Self Help, Your Complete Book of Bad Advice for Every Situation in Life. a book he believes he is particularly well-qualified to write.

April 7th Marianela Medrano-Marra – Theme: Favorite poems in Spanish or English (please include translations) -
National Poetry Month Celebration!!!
Dominican writer and psychotherapist, living in Connecticut since 1990. Ph.D. in psychology.
Poetry books: Oficio de Vivir (1986), Los Alegres Ojos de la Tristeza (1987), Regando Esencias/The Scent of Waiting (1998) and Curada de Espantos (2002). Offers workshops and readings, combining literature, psychology, and her research on the Sacred Feminine to help others find new ways of knowing the wholeness of human beings.

May 5th Theme:“Given that I am going to die, what do I want to do with the rest of my life?” Read your original poem based on this year’s Big Read selection, A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines. This program is presented in conjunction with the citywide Big Read project. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity.

June 2nd Mother Tongue - World travelling trio in search and support of the written and spoken word
Theme: Slam poetry welcome!
Mother Tongue – a trio of women poets who have traveled the world in search of and in support of the written and spoken word. Valerie Lawson, Elizabeth Thomas, and Faith Vicinanza have been on various and multiple national poetry slam teams and stages, visiting artists in schools, competed side by side in the first Women of the World international poetry slam in Detroit in 2008, are widely published, and occasionally perform together as Mother Tongue. For more information about each of the poets in this troupe, go to their websites at http://www.upwordspoetry.com http://faithvicinanza.net ; & http://poetsforhumanrights.ning.com/profile/ValerieLawson.

Host: Victoria Muñoz, B.A. in music from Western Illinois University. Singer/songwriter, poet, flutist, music therapist, carries on the poetic tradition of her parents. Her work can be found in her Chapbooks: During Your Reading; and Scenes From Nature/Five Poems, translations of her father’s poetry; A collaborative CD, Revelation, by the Not Just Any Tom, Vic and Terri poetry ensemble. Other poems can be found in Appleseeds, Songs from the Meadow: An Anthology from the Wood Memorial Library, Stories from the Other Side, 5th ed., a text from Gateway Community College, poetz.com, and bentpinquarterly.net. She is also currently a member of Greystone Arts and runs the Poetry Salon at the Freight Street Gallery (Waterbury). The Bronson is please to welcome back Victoria Muñoz and all the outstanding poets who participate in this series.
Silas Bronson Library, 267 Grand Street, Waterbury, CT, Parking free after 6:30pm, Handicap Accessible
For more information: www.bronsonlibrary.org



Poetry/Reading Series at Billings Forge

The Studio @ Billings Forge is pleased to introduce to its programming a new poetry/reading series entitled,WordForge. WordForge is a series of readings featuring local poets along with an open mike component.

All events will be scheduled for Monday nights, with a 7 p.m. start time.

WordForge is curated and organized by local poet, Jim Finnegan. Harvest Reading, is the first reading in the series, scheduled for Monday, November 16th, and participants are asked to bring a canned good or small donation that will be contributed to a local food bank. Many of the readings will have a featured theme in addition to featured invited poets.

For further information about the WordForge series and to participate, please contact: Jim Finnegan at 860.508.2810 or at [email protected].

The Studio @ Billings Forge is a program of Billings Forge Community Works, a non-profit organization focused on reinvestment in the Frog Hollow neighborhood of Hartford. The Studio offers programs that bring vitality and arts to the neighborhood and include jazz and world-class music series, artistic and educational workshops and classes, family film series and more.

Billings Forge Community Works (BFCW), located in the Frog Hollow neighborhood of Hartford, is a nonprofit organization committed to revitalization in the community. At the forefront of the project is the award winning Firebox Restaurant.

For further information about The Studio @ Billings Forge contact Janice La Motta,

Program Coordinator, 860.548.9877 or [email protected].




Wintonbury Branch Poetry Series & Open Mike

Thursday, February 18, Features Lori Desrosiers and Elizabeth Kinkaid-Ehlers
my time my place my creativity Third Thursdays, 7:00 p.m. Fall 2009 Hosts: Marilyn Johnston/Tom Nicotera. You're invited to evenings of poetry to stir your heart, soul, and your creativity!
An open mike and light refreshments follow the featured poet at each event.

Wintonbury Branch Library 1015 Blue Hills Ave
Bloomfield, CT 06002
860-243-8855
www.prosserlibrary.info



Underwood Tavern Night
On February 25th the Riverwood Poetry Series will be providing a fun-filled night of wine and revelry at the Wood Memorial Library! We are planning a fine-dining experience along with music and song (compliments of Julia Kiley and Joe Ganci); and, of course, there will be plenty of poetry. Tavern Night is a fundraiser to help support our 3rd annual Riverwood Poetry Festival. Our goal once again for this year's summer festival is to bring quality poetry to our local communities while highlighting the talents of our Connecticut artists. Out of state poets will be joining us again this summer as well! We are proud of the events we've held these past 2 years, and we are looking forward to having an even more successful 2010 summer festival.
Please come celebrate with us on the 25th. Raise your glass, share a meal, and a poem if you'd like.




Mishi-maya-gat Spoken Word & Music Series

at Manchester Community College, Great Path Academy,
Community Commons (Use Parking Lot B), Manchester, CT 06040
Sponsored by MCC Foundation / Hosted by Stephen Campiglio
2rd Thursday of each month; 7-9 p.m. Free and Open to the Public

For more information and directions: www.mcc.commnet.edu/faculty/spoken.php
or call (860) 512-2824.

THURSDAY, MARCH 11 “A Celebration of Women’s History Month”

7:00 p.m. – Lydia Fortune, singer/songwriter/guitarist

Fortune has been performing in the Worcester County and New England area for the past 40 years. She began as a folk singer in the early 70s, worked in an R&B band in the 80s, and began singing jazz in the 90s. By the late 90s, she was booking community and private events as an independent artist. In 2001, she recorded her first acoustic style CD, Songs from the Road, and was named Best New Artist for that year in the “Worcester Wormtown Sound Awards.” For her Mishi-maya-gat performance, she will present Black Women Singers: From Early Roots to Jazz , a musical travelogue through the lives of early African-American “Roots” and classic blues to jazz singers from the past to the present. For more information on the artist, please visit her web site at: www.lydiafortune.com.

8:00 p.m. – Featured Poets: Susan Allison and Kate Rushin

Allison was raised in Louisville, Kentucky and lives in Middletown. She calls poetry and wanderlust the two main constants in her life. After mountain-climbing and hitch-hiking through East Africa, she returned to Wesleyan University to earn a B.A. in African Studies in 1985. She later opened her own used bookstore, Ibis Books & Gallery, in 1989, which was transformed in 1991 into NEAR, Inc./The Buttonwood Tree, an arts and cultural performance space in Middletown. Antrim House Books (Tariffville, CT) has released Allison’s second book, Down by the Riverside Way. More information on this book, to order a copy, and to read samples from the book, can be found at: www.antrimhousebooks.com.

Rushin is the author of The Black Back-Ups from Firebrand Books. She received her B.A. from Oberlin College and her M.F.A. from Brown University and is a former Fellow of The Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown and a graduate fellow of Cave Canem Foundation. She currently teaches creative writing at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. Rushin has read at Hill-Stead Museum’s Sunken Garden Poetry Festival, the Geraldine Dodge Poetry Festival, and Smith College Poetry Center, and has led workshops for the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies and Cave Canem Foundation. For more information on the poet, please visit her web site at: www.katerushin.com.




Wednesday Night Poetry Series at the Blue Z
The Wednesday Night Poetry Series (WNPS or Wedpoetry) meets at the Blue Z Coffeehouse, 127 South Main Street (Route 25) in Newtown CT. For 14 Years and counting: poets, spoken-word artists, monologists and storytellers, acoustic performances by songwriters and musicians are welcome! Read your own work or works by your favorite writers. OPEN MYK SIGN-UP starts at 7:30 PM / OPEN MYK – 7:45 PM /FEATURED READING – 8:45 PM We are a warm, friendly environment for 1st-time readers!

February 24, 2010 Features Laurel S. Peterson

LAUREL S. PETERSON, is editor of the literary journal Inkwell. She holds an M.A., in Writing from Manhattanville College and is a professor of English at Norwalk Community College (NCC) and an adjunct in the graduate school at Manhattanville College where she teaches expository and creative writing, and interdisciplinary courses in the arts.

At NCC, she co-founded the Fairfield County Women’s Center and acted as Director in its inaugural year, as well as starting a a women’s studies program at the college, which she chaired for four years.

Her poetry has been published in The Atlanta Review, The Baltimore Review, The Distillery, Poet Lore, SLAB, The Rio Grande Review, The Texas Review, Thin Air, Yankee, and others. In 2006, she was a finalist for the John Ciardi Prize in Poetry for her poetry manuscript Mud Never Forgets. Her poetry chapbook, That’s the Way the Music Sounds, is forthcoming from Finishing Line Press (July 2009). Visit her webpage at http://www.laurelpeterson.com




Boston Area/Cape Cod Poetry Info:

Major Poetry Event - Gary Snyder!

Legendary west coast poet, Gary Snyder, reads at the 10th Annual Robert Creeley Award,
Tuesday, March 16, 7:30 PM, at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School,
36 Charter Road, Acton, Mass. Free and open to the public. Free parking available.



Lowell Poetry Events:

Workshop with Tom Daley : Starting Feb 24
Lowell Poetry Network Event : March 25

For more information on these and other events:
www.lowellpoetrynetwork.org

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Tom Daley Workshop Starting Feb. 24
Tom Daley who has had great turn outs for his workshops and performances in the Lowell area will be facilitating his popular poetry writing workshop with Lexington Community Education (only about a 20 - 30 minute drive from Lowell).
The workshop will run for seven Wednesdays as follows: 6:15-7:45 pm. Dates: February 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31, and April 7, 2010.cost: $85/Seniors $65 workshop held at Lexington High School, 251 Waltham Street, Lexington, MA
To register call 781-862-8043 or go online http://lexingtoncommunityed.org/
If you're seeking to share the insights, experience and company of other poets, then run to this workshop!



Reading and Open Mic at 119 Gallery
March 25 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
119 Chelmsford Street

Featured poet, Leo Racicot. Open mic to follow. Bring a friend. Bring a poem.
Hosted by Lowell Poetry Network $3.00 admission includes light food fare.


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Cape Cod Reading:
The Poetry Session at O'Shea's
7 to 8:30PM Every Third Thursday! The Poetry Session at O'Shea's is a free monthly all-ages open mic for poets and lovers of poetry held in the Back Room at O'Shea's Olde Inne. 348 Main Street,

Rte. 28 West Dennis, MA 02670 Free Contact Info: Gregory Hischak [email protected]



The Greater Brockton Society for Poetry and the Arts
Presents
Poetry Series at the Brockton Library

304 Main Street. Brockton, MA
Our website www.gbspa.org


Check out our bookstore ! We have several signed books for sale.

We now have a Prose Workshop as well as our Poetry Workshop.
Celebrating Poetry One Saturday Every Month

Sat., Feb 20, 2010

Gary Margolis http://gbspa.homestead.com/GaryMargolis.html
Meg Kearney http://gbspa.homestead.com/MegKearney.html

Our workshops and venue are free, the seats comfortable, the refreshments delicious.
1:00 - 2:00 Prose Workshop (critique & discussion)
2:30 - 4:30 Memoir Workshop

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12:00 - 2:00 Poetry Workshop
1:30 - 2:00 Sign up for Open-Mic Reading
2:15 - 3:15 Open-Mic Reading
3:30 - 4:30 Feature Poets

During Open-Mic Reading share your own poetry or read from works of your favorite poets

Upcoming Features (For information on the following poets click on our website)

Sat. Mar. 20 - Iyeoka Okoawo, Thomas Libby

Sat. Apr. 17 - Dara Wier

Poetry Month James Haug

Caroline Knox

Sat. May 15 - Lisa Starr

Robin Linn

Sat. June 19 - Naomi Chase

Ellen Jane Powers

Sat. July 17 - Rennie McQuilkin

Nora Pollard

Sat. Aug 21 - Rene Schwiesow

Sat. Sept 18 – Catherine Sasanov

Mignon Ariel King

Susan Roney-O’Brien




WEDNESDAYS at the CANTAB

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Central Square's world-famous Cantab Lounge presents weekly performances from local and national poets, as well as a chance to present your own work in the open mic or poetry slam. DJ Muse spins before the show and between poets.

Upcoming features include:

• Wednesday, February 24
Our annual Individual World Qualifier Finals! The top poets advance from January 20 to fight through four rounds of elimination. The one winning poet will represent the Cantab at the 2010 Individual World Poetry Slam in October! Qualified poets: April Ranger, Erin Jackson, Carrie Rudzinski, Charley Pope, Kevin Spak, Megan Thoma, Kass, Patrick S., and Sam Teitel. Special $5 cover tonight to raise money to send the winner to the 2010 Individual World Poetry Slam.

• Wednesday, March 3
Berkeley slammer Laura “Yes Yes” Steadwell can lay claim to competition credits at the National Poetry Slam, the Individual World Poetry Slam, and the Women of the World Poetry Slam, as well as feature performances from Honolulu to Providence. A founder of the Bay Area Women's Slam Collective, and a staple of the highly competitive Berkeley Slam scene, Laura declares herself an outspoken and progressive champion of woman writers and performers. Open poetry slam in the 8x8 series.



Last Thursday Open Mic
at The Cultural Center of Cape Cod

307 Old Main St.,
S. Yarmouth, MA
co-hosts Joe Gouveia and Barry Hellman:
The last Thursday of every month, 7pm.
Open mic and featured poet.
Bring your own refreshments.
Arrive early to sign up for open mic.
For updated info on this and other Cape activities go to:
http://home.comcast.net/~bmhellman

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The Chapel In The Pines in Eastham

CHECK OUT http://home.comcast.net/~bmhellman FOR MORE INFORMATION AND DETAILS ABOUT CAPE COD POETRY AND ALL OF THESE EVENTS.



Lowell Poetry Slam and Open Mic
Every FIRST Thursday at Brew'd Awakening! Only poets can compete in the slam and win the prize... but the mic is open to musical performers as well. Whether you come to perform, compete or just enjoy some coffee and great local talent, don't miss this event! 7:00pm - 9:30 pm *Sign-up between 6:30-7:00* The event is free and open to the public—so come on down for an evening of good company and some terrific regional voices!
Brew'd Awakening Coffeehaus
61 Market Street
Lowell, MA 978-454-BREW
For more info, please email [email protected]


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OPEN BARK
meets @ the Out Of The Blue Art Gallery, 106 PROSPECT ST. (the home of Stone Soup) CENTRAL SQUARE, CAMBRIDGE. SIGN-UP AT 8:00pm OPEN MIC STARTS @ 8:15pm,
FEATURE @ 9:00pm Come and perform or listen!


Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam Sunday Night!
Cambridge Common 1667 Mass. Ave., Cambridge $5 Cover Every Sunday Poetry Slam: 8:00 pm,
Feature: 9:30 pm, Open Mike: 10:30 pm 617-547-0759 http://poetryjam.org/


Stone Soup Poetry
Stone Soup Poetry meets from 8-10 p.m. every Monday at the Out of The Blue Art Gallery (located on 106 Prospect Street in Cambridge) with an open mike si gn-up at 7:30 p.m. http://stonesouppoetry.blogspot.com/


Newton Free Library Poetry Reading Series
The series meets the second Tuesday of every month open mic after features. Starts 7PM For complete information go to http://newtonfreelibrarypoetryseries.blogspot.com/ Director: Doug Holder http://authorsden.com/douglasholder

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Cambridge Community Television
Tuesdays at 11:00 PM Saturdays at 10:30PM Catch the latest from the Boston Poetry Slam I
NFO: [email protected]
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LETRA Poetry Nights
in LAWRENCE MASS Every TUESDAY at Julio's 99 Club 99 Essex Street Lawrence, MA
Doors open at 7pm open mic starts at 8pm Admission $3.00 For more information or for directions please call
Michelle Richardson at 978-423-7045


NH/VT POETRY

For VT poetry events calendar go to: http://www.phayvanh.com/

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News for Poetry News should be sent to [email protected]. Please send your announcements in text only format - do not format (no special fonts, colors, etc.) Send by Wednesday for Thursday publication. Thank you , Lori Desrosiers - Publisher.