Poetry News September 7, 2015

***POETRY NEWS***

Here is your Poetry News for the week of September 7, 2015
Scroll down to see or link to more poetry in Worcester, the Berkshires, Boston, Vermont and other areas.
To receive Poetry News in your email or to request posting of events write to lori@thepoetrynews.com.

Some Highlights of This Week in Western MA (more below):
Tue. Sept. 8 – UNBUTTONED at Luthier’s Co-op, Easthampton, 7pm
Tue. Sept. 8 – Cash Slam & Open Mic, “The Deuce” WWII Club, Northampton, 8pm
Thu. Sept. 10 – Florence Poets Society, Lilly Library, Florence, 6:30pm
Thu. Sept. 10 – Main Street Writers, Bing Arts Center, Springfield, 7pm


POETRY IN THE VALLEY AND BEYOND

Poet Jane Hirshfield to read at the University of Hartford
Please come hear celebrated poet Jane Hirshfield read from her work.
          October 7th at 7:00 PM Where: Wilde Auditorium on the University of Hartford Campus
 The reading will be followed by a Q&A and book signing. Books will be available for purchase. Ms. Hirshfield’s books include The Beauty: Poems (Alfred A. Knopf, 2015); Come, Thief (Alfred A. Knopf, 2011); After (HarperCollins, 2006); and Given Sugar, Given Salt (HarperCollins, 2001), which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her other honors include the Bay Area Book Reviewers Award, Columbia University’s Translation Center Award, the Commonwealth Club of California Poetry Medal, the Poetry Center Book Award, and fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Rockefeller Foundation. Her work has been selected for seven editions of Best American Poetry. In 2004, she was awarded the seventieth Academy Fellowship for distinguished poetic achievement by the Academy of American Poets. The reading is free and open to the public.

Calling all Poets and Storytellers!
Sam’s Pizza and Cafe is now hosting an open reading night
Wednesdays, 7pm Sam’s Pizza, Northampton

Weekly Poetry Open Mic at The Deuce
Every Tuesday Night 8pm – 10pm
Open Mic Signup starts at 7pm.
World War II Club, Conz St. Northampton,MA
Please bring a 3-5 minute selection of your work to share
Fabulous website with featured poets
http://www.northamptonpoetry.com/
9/8 – Cash Slam and Open Mic

UNBUTTONED, an Evening of Spoken Word
Tue. Sept. 9, 7pm
Luthier’s Co-op, Cottage St. Easthampton
Monologues – original works read and performed by local luminaries of the theater!
Please join us for an evining of monolgues with Stephanie Carlson, Miriam Sirota and K.D. Halpin

Main Street Writers Reading Fiction and Poetry

Thursday, September 10, 7pm
Bing Arts Center
716 Sumner Ave., Springfield
Doors open at 6:30pm
Free Admission, all welcome

Writer Mary Clare Powell will lead a memoir-writing workshop at the Greenfield Public Library beginning September 10.
The eight-week class will be held Thursday mornings from 10 to noon in the library’s Greenfield meeting room from September 10th through October 29th.  The program will explore memoir in a variety of forms using exercises to help spark memories and encourage writers to experiment. Writers at all levels of experience are welcome.

Powell is a Professor in the Creative Arts in Learning Division at Lesley University in Cambridge.  She has published books on women and the future; the arts, education, and social change; and four books of poetry–Things Owls Ate, Academic Scat, In the Living Room, and Box of Water. A new manuscript of poems about aging is in the works. Currently, she is working with elders who want to write the stories of their lives.

No registration is required for this program, which is sponsored by the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library.
Contact Jane Buchanan at 772-1544 x 5120 with questions about the workshop.

Poetry & Fiction Reading:
Janet E. Aalfs will perform her weavings of poetry and movement rooted in traditional arts forms, and Lynette D’Amico will read from her new novella, Road Trip,on Sat. Sept 12, 7pm, at White Square Books, 86 Cottage St., Easthampton, MA.

7 Minutes: A Literary Arts Spotlight
Please join Maria Luisa Arroyo for one or more months in celebrating the poets and writers, who are sharing their original work. Audience members (18+) are always welcomed. Note that “7 Minutes: A Literary Arts Spotlight” falls on Sundays this season (except for August):
Sundays, 1 pm – 3 pm, Sept. 13, Oct. 18, Nov., 15, & Dec. 13
On Sunday, September 13, these invited poets and writers will share their work. This is the order, in which they will read:
Edmond Chibeau
Tara Dasso
Marilyn Marquez
Robin Varnum
Kerry L. Beckford
Michele Barker
Richard Horton
Maria Luisa Arroyo

Same location: Community Room (street-level), Springfield Main Library, 220 State Street, Springfield, MA

Parking: Right across the street. Please be careful crossing very busy State Stret. The community room is located on the street level. There is an entrance to the right of the library’s outside grand staircase. Enter and take an immediate right. Because of the many exciting events happening in Springfield, including the Mattoon Street Arts Festival, please plan your travels accordingly.

Program:
[12:30 pm – 1:00 pm- host & literary artists arrive & set up]
1:05 pm- 1:45 pm readings
1:45 pm – 2:00 pm intermission
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm readings
2:45 pm –   meet & greet the authors; book purchases & signings; library evaluations
2:55 pm – FREE raffle drawing for a library tote bag(must be present to win)
Thank you all again for the gift of your time-as a literary artist, as an audience member, and as a promoter of this monthly series!

Reading with Rebecca Kaiser Gibson, Christian McEwen,
Deborah Gorlin, and Alice B. Fogel
Wed. September 16, 7:00 pm
Broadside Bookshop, Northampton
247 Main St.
broadsidebooks.com
Wagon Wheel Word in Gill

September 23rd at 6pm
Wagon Wheel Word presents a Poetry Evening Open
Mic, designed to gauge the interest in a regular monthly series. We’re featuring
Karen Skolfield, following 5-minute open mic slots at the Wagon Wheel Restaurant in Gill.
Award-winning local poet, Karen Skolfield, will be the featured reader. Her book
Frost in the Low Areas won the 2014 PEN New England Award in poetry and
the First Book Award from Zone 3 Press. She received the 2015 Robert H.
Winner Memorial Award from the Poetry Society of America and the 2015 Arts &
Humanities Award from New England Public Radio, and has received many
esteemed fellowships and awards. Skolfield is an Army veteran and teaches
writing to engineers at UMass Amherst, where she earned her MFA. For more
info on Karen: www.karenskolfield.com
Wagon Wheel Word is held at the Wagon Wheel Restaurant,
Route 2/39 French King Highway in Gill, MA. Full menu available.
Hosted by Lea Banks and Eric Wasileski.
No cover charge, open to the public, free will offering accepted.
For more info, call 978.401.6458 or email wagonwheelword@gmail.com.


White Square Books Reading Schedule
Some great poets and writers coming up at White Square Books!
9/12 – Janet Aalfs and Lynette D’Amico – Poetry and Interpretive Dance, 7pm
9/13 – The Mills and Mines of Loudville, 2pm
Join local historian and Loudville native Wayne Perrea, who will discuss the history and geology of local mine operations in the 18th and 19th centuries as well as the mills which flourished along the Manhan River. Perrea will share some of the materials he has amassed while researching the mines, which were located in Loudville, a village straddling the Easthampton-Westhampton town line.
9/25 – “Upstreet” journal reading. Join editor Vivian Dorsel and poets Carol Edelstein, Howard Faerstein, and Maya Janson for an evening of poetry.
9/27 – Stephen Dobyns! Join us to help poet and mystery writer Stephen Dobyns launch his new book “Is Fat Bob Dead Yet?” He will be introduced by his former student Amy Heflin and will also read from his poetry. Dobyns is the author of more than 30 novels and poetry collections, including “Winter’s Journey” and “Velocity” (poetry) and “The Church of Dead Girls” and “The Two Deaths of Señora Puccini” (fiction). His many literary honors include a Melville Cane Award, Pushcart prizes, a National Poetry Series prize, and three NEA fellowships. “Is Fat Bob Dead Yet?” (Blue Rider, September 2015) is a comic suspense novel about a small-time con operation and a pair of combative detectives.

The Gallery of Readers Series presents Gail Thomas and Cynthia Kennison
reading from their recent work
Sunday, September 20, 2015, 4 PM
Neilson Library Browsing Room, Smith College
Refreshments will be served.

Hedgerow Books Open Reading Period
Publishing poetry of distinction from Western Massachusetts, including books honored as finalists for The Massachusetts Book Award, The Eric Hoffer Award, The Montaigne Medal, and The International Book Award,  Hedgerow Books is pleased to announce our Open Reading Period — June 15 to September 15, 2015.  Poets who have full-length manuscripts from Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin or Berkshire counties are invited to submit.  The first round will be read blind by non-local readers, a different mix from our last reading period. Please see Submissions at our website  for further information.    www.hedgerowbooks.net

Fiction Writing Group at East Forest Park Library

122 Island Pond Road (Next to Rite Aid in the plaza) Springfield First Wednesday of Each Month Time: 6:00 pm Contact: Theresa Boulrice (413) 263-6836)

Emily Dickinson International Society
(EDIS) presents: “Poetry Conversation”
Jones Library, 43 Amity Street, Amherst, MA; in the Amherst Room, 2nd floor 1st Friday of each month — 2pm – 3:30pm 2nd Thursday of each month — 5:45pm – 7:15pm All who are interested in sharing thoughts and ideas in a group discussion based on selected poems/letters by Emily Dickinson are welcome.


FLORENCE POETS SOCIETY

The next business/sharing meeting is Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 6:30pm. Please consider joining the Florence Poets Society. Your $20 membership dues (Sept. – Aug.) support our annual journal, Silkworm, as well as public readings and events. We meet monthly at the Lilly Library in Florence on the 2nd Thurs. of each month, and all are welcome. Please visit our web site for more information: http://www.florencepoets.com or contact us at info@florencepoets.com.

POETRY A LA CARTE RADIO SHOW on WMUA-Amherst 91.1 FM
Wednesdays at 5:00pm WMUA-Amherst (the student and community radio station of UMass-Amherst) can be listened to at 91.1 FM within range of the transmitter. WMUA is also streamed live at http://www.wmua.org/. The program, produced by Daisy Mathias, includes reading aloud from past and contemporary poets, and occasionally features live interview and poetry-reading with a local poet.

GREENFIELD, SHELBURNE FALLS AND NORTH

Greenfield Word
9 Mill Street Greenfield
Doors open at 7:00
Reading starts at 7:30
This months Feature
Everyone who has a book of their own poetry
Everyone reads 2 from their book
There are 10 open mic slots of 5 minutes each
$1 to $5 sliding scale donation
Hope to see you there

 

WORD IN THE BERKSHIRES


WRITERS READ IS NOW AT THE LEE LIBRARY

100 Main St, Lee, MA 01238
(413) 243-0385
Third Thursdays @ 5:30pm
~Writers Read Monthly Reading Series~

$4 Suggested Donation: to benefit the Poets and the Gallery.

Readings begin at 5:30pm at the Lee Library Association, 100 Main Street, Lee –parking at the library. If you have questions and/or are interested in reading in the series, though we can make no promises initially, please email David Giannini, coordinator of the WRITERS READ series, davidgpoet@gmail.com

Rambling Poets Presents Poetry Slam @ Parlor Cafe

Every third Thursday of the month
The Parlor Cafe 303 Ashland St North Adams, MA
$2-5 Suggested Donation – Bartering Welcomed.
We are a 14 poet, 3 round slam, with cash and prizes awarded to all poets who sign up.
Sign ups start at 7pm Poets meeting at 7:45
Event starts promptly at 8pm http://www.facebook.com/RAMBLINGPOETS http://www.theparlorcafe.com

OUTSPOKEN!
Pittsfield’s Monthly Performance Series and Open Mic – Outspoken! hosted by Matt Mcfadden, is held the 3rd Thursday of every month. – Micro Theater (311 North St. in Pittsfield, Greylock Bldg. upstairs among the ArtOnNo studios – Up the block from Jae’s Spice – Entrance to theater is around the corner on Union St. thru Orange door, right next door to Mary’s Carrot Cake. – 8 pm ($5 suggested donation) – Interested open mic performers can sign up for 5 minute slot by e-mailing matt at mcfaddensrus@yahoo.com – Those needing more information can e-mail the same address.

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 Francine Ciccarelli and there is usually a $1-6 suggested donation for heat and electricity. There are snacks there provided by whoever wants to bring them. 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 details

ALBANY, NY POETRY
There’s a vibrant and active poetry community in the Albany area.
Go to http://www.albanypoets.com/ for schedules and events!

WORD IN WORCESTER

Poetry, People!

Every Thursday 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm (sometimes later)
@ The Coffee Loft 406 Lincoln Street Marlborough, MA
508.251.1431 Poetry, verse, and short stories are are welcome at this very friendly, informal open reading.
Now booking for features to start in March.
Please contact Jarad at CoffeeLoftBooking@gmail.com for more info or to become a featured poet.

The Little “a” Poetry Series
Every Thursday night at 7pm, with an open mic preceding the feature. It is free and all ages, and will be held at The Strange Attractor, 97D Webster St, Worcester MA. Hosted by “Cowboy” Matt Hopewell, who also does the booking and can be reached at themadcowboy@gmail.com or by phone at (508) 479 8311 .

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 Dirty Gerund
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 slams and featured poets. No cover; donations accepted. 21+ Please join us at our new home.

CONNECTICUT POETRY
Since CT has a wonderful and comprehensive newsletter online, I have decided to cut the CT Poetry section from Poetry News and only post special events that might be of interest to MA poets. Write to Terri Klein at ctpoetnews@yahoo.com to get the CT Poet newsletter in your email, or the CT Poetry Calendar is online at http://www.ctpoetrycalendar.com

BOSTON/CAPE COD POETRY
If you want more events in the Boston area (and there are many more!) write to Dan
Bouchard to get his poetry calendar in your email at bouchard@MIT.EDU

VERMONT POETRY
Poetry Slam
Every first and third Wednesday of the month. First, Poetry Slam, then is an open mic Equilibrium 14 Elm Street sign-up at 7:30 event is 8-10pm http://www.facebook.com/BrattleboroPoetry For a VT poetry events calendar go to: http://www.phayvanh.com/ For info on Brattleboro poetry and Write Action visit their website – http://www.writeaction.org Poetry readings at the Putney Library 55 Main Street, Putney VT (802) 387-4407

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News for Poetry News should be sent to lori@thepoetrynews.com. Please send your announcements in text only – do not format (no special fonts, left-align, no colors, etc.) and check it for errors. Send by Wednesday for Thursday publication. Thank you, Lori Desrosiers – Publisher, Editor, wearer of all hats.

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