BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Worcester County Poetry Association - ECPv6.16.3//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Worcester County Poetry Association X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Worcester County Poetry Association REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20230312T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20231105T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250114T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250114T210000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20250113T192745Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250113T192750Z UID:10562-1736877600-1736888400@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Worcester Writers' Collective Meeting DESCRIPTION:Come one\, come all to the weekly meetings of the WWC: \n\n\n\n6-7 Free Writing Time \n\n\n\n7-9 Reading and Workshop \n\n\n\nBuilding a small community of local writers of all genres is our priority and we are so thrilled to invite anyone interested to drop in and participate. \n\n\n\nIt’s FREE and open to all. 🙂 URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/worcester-writers-collective-meeting/ LOCATION:JMac/Brickbox Theater\, 20 Franklin Street\, Worcester\, MA\, 01608\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250108T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250108T203000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241220T171632Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241220T172352Z UID:10451-1736362800-1736368200@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:John Hodgen\, Jennifer Martelli and Kevin Prufer Reading DESCRIPTION:Please join us for a poetry reading by John Hodgen\, Jennifer Martelli and Kevin Prufer with an introduction by Martha Collins. \n\n\n\n** This event will take place synchronously in-store at 6 Plympton Street and on Zoom ** \n\n\n\n** Please sign up ahead of time because there is limited space ** \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRegister \n\n\n\nPlease consider signing up for the virtual reading at the Grolier Book Shop site in Cambridge. (I won’t ask anyone to drive all the way in for the in person reading. With three poets and the legendary tiny Grolier venue space\, there might not be any remaining tickets available\, but would love to see you virtually. \n\n\n\nSign up online at: https://www.grolierpoetrybookshop.org/upcoming-readings URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/john-hodgen-jennifer-martelli-and-kevin-prufer-reading-2/ LOCATION:Grolier Poetry Books\, 6 Plympton Street\, Cambridge\, Massachusetts\, 02138\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250108T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250108T200000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20250104T230838Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250104T230841Z UID:10509-1736362800-1736366400@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Monthly Board Meeting: January Edition DESCRIPTION:Join us for our monthly Board & Committee Meeting to help us plan for the future. We meet in the Seminar Room of our Headquarters inside Preservation Worcester. URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/monthly-board-meeting-january-edition-2/ LOCATION:WCPA Office @ Salisbury House\, 61 Harvard St.\, Worcester MA\, MA\, 01605\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250108T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250108T193000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241220T170456Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241220T170500Z UID:10438-1736357400-1736364600@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Storytelling Our Way to Health Equity DESCRIPTION:Clemente Storytelling is at it again! \n\n\n\nTheresa Buccico and Laura DiCaronimo have been invited to share their stories at the next Med Moth hosted by U Mass Chan Med School\, and they may be joined by one of our doctor storytellers. Come out to listen and support them on Wednesday\, January 8th\, 2025\, at 5:30 pm in the Albert Sherman Center Multi-Purpose Room (Cafeteria)\, you won’t want to miss! URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/storytelling-our-way-to-health-equity-2/ LOCATION:Albert Sherman Center Multipurpose Room\, UMASS\, 368 Plantation St.\, Worcester\, Massachusetts\, 01605\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250114T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250114T210000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20250104T230642Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250113T192527Z UID:10507-1736877600-1736888400@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Worcester Writers' Collective Weekly Meeting DESCRIPTION:Come one\, come all to the weekly meetings of the WWC: \n\n\n\n6-7 Free Writing Time \n\n\n\n7-9 Reading and Workshop \n\n\n\nBuilding a small community of local writers of all genres is our priority and we are so thrilled to invite anyone interested to drop in and participate. \n\n\n\nIt’s FREE and open to all. 🙂 URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/worcester-writers-collective-weekly-meeting/ LOCATION:JMac/Brickbox Theater\, 20 Franklin Street\, Worcester\, MA\, 01608\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241226T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241226T200000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241125T164605Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241125T165215Z UID:10362-1735236000-1735243200@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Richard Fox Poetry Series with Robert Eugene Perry DESCRIPTION:The Richard Fox Poetry Series is a monthly poetry open- mic with a featured reader. It honors the memory of the iconic Worcester poet and human-being extraordinaire Richard Fox. \n\n\n\nThis month’s Featured Poet will be the iconic Robert Eugene Perry. \n\n\n\nFree admission. On-the-street parking. \n\n\n\nRoot and Press Books and Cafe has an awesome array of food and beverages and an expanded book selection at their new location.Signup for the open mic at joesyellowpad@gmail.com. Limited spots available.Sponsored by the ‘Fox Fund’ (Worcester County Poetry Association). \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRobert Eugene Perry is a native of Massachusetts and the author of six books. His most recent collection of poetry Earthsongs\, was published by Human Error Publishing in 2022. A combined re release of his earlier chapbooks was released as Sacred Mystic Dance on his own imprint Metaphysical Fox Press in 2024. His poetry has appeared in numerous anthologies & publications\, he was a finalist in the 2023 Beals Prize for Poetry and his poem Heard Steet/Hadwen Park in Winter was a winner in WCPA’s 2024 Poems in and out of Places. Perry has emceed the monthly Open Mic at Booklovers’ Gourmet in Webster\, MA (USA) since May 2017. For more information\, please visit his website. URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/richard-fox-poetry-series-with-robert-eugene-perry/ LOCATION:Root and Press\, 156 Shrewsbury St.\, Worcester\, MA\, 01604\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241221T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241221T140000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241123T183944Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241123T183948Z UID:10359-1734786000-1734789600@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Poets @ Large Presents: Pop-Up Poets DESCRIPTION:Well known area poets will pop-up at ‘A Great Notion Books’ from 1-2 p.m. on Saturday\, Dec. 21 to enhance Holiday Shopping. 65 Southbridge St\, Auburn. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis event is sponsored by Poets at Large for holiday shoppers to enjoy as they finish off gift lists. Books of the poets will be available for purchase and there will be special offers for shoppers. The three poets Karen Warinsky\, Karen Elizabeth Sharpe and Thompson poet-laureate Steve Veilleux\, will read in 5-minute sets in round-robin fashion. \n\n\n\nA Great Notion’s owners Courtney and Tyler Galicia said in a statement\, “It is our pleasure to present the Auburn community\, and surrounding towns\, with an opportunity to connect with these extraordinary local poets. This pop-up event is sure to be a wonderful time!” This event is free and open to the public and no registration is required. URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/poets-large-presents-pop-up-poets-4/ LOCATION:A Great Notion Books & More\, 65 South bridge St\, Auburn\, Massachusetts\, 01501\, United States ORGANIZER;CN="Karen Warinsky%2C Poets At Large":MAILTO:karen.warinsky@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241217T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241217T210000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241213T135805Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241213T135808Z UID:10412-1734462000-1734469200@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Poetry Workshop at New Dawn DESCRIPTION:Come out to the New Dawn Writers’ Group’s Poetry Workshop. Every third Tuesday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. We will discuss poems and writing\, write to prompts\, give feedback\, encourage one another\, and discuss upcoming projects. It’s a friendly\, pressure-free atmosphere at the New Dawn Arts Center in Ashburnham. Three of our poets have had books come out in the past year. Join in the fun! The address is 84 Main Street\, Ashburnham\, MA. The workshop is being led by Fred Gerhard. \n\n\n\nAbout Fred: Fred Gerhard leads the Poetry Workshop and is one of the open mic hosts for the New Dawn Writers’ Group. His books include Drifting to “Hello” (Khotso Publishing\, 2023) and Lilacs Still Bloom in Ashburnham: Songs of Spring (Local Gems Poetry Press\, 2023). A 2023 winner of Poetry in the Pines and 2024 winner of Art on the Trails\, he is also an editor at Quabbin Quills and Smoky Quartz. URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/poetry-workshop-at-new-dawn-10/ LOCATION:84 Main Street Ashburnham\, MA 01430-1236 US ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Workshop-Oct-2023-b1-63efe4e7458f94203b55586f29068b63.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250107T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250107T210000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241217T184134Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250104T230430Z UID:10426-1736272800-1736283600@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Worcester Writers’ Collective Writing Workshop DESCRIPTION:Come one\, come all to the weekly meetings of the WWC: \n\n\n\n6-7 Free Writing Time \n\n\n\n7-9 Reading and Workshop \n\n\n\nBuilding a small community of local writers of all genres is our priority and we are so thrilled to invite anyone interested to drop in and participate. \n\n\n\nIt’s FREE and open to all. 🙂 URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/worcester-writers-collective-writing-workshop-4/ LOCATION:JMac/Brickbox Theater\, 20 Franklin Street\, Worcester\, MA\, 01608\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241214T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241214T150000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241123T180448Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241123T180452Z UID:10346-1734181200-1734188400@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Poets @ Large Presents: Pop Up Poets DESCRIPTION:Well known area poets will be reading selections of their works at two area book stores in December to enhance holiday shopping. Poets will “pop-up” from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday\, Dec. 14th at TidePool Bookshop. \n\n\n\nThis event is sponsored by Poets at Large for holiday shoppers to enjoy as they finish off gift lists. Books of the poets will be available for purchase and there will be special offers for shoppers. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPoets will read in 5-minute sets in round-robin fashion. Featured poets at TidePool will include Carol Hobbs\, Christopher Reilley\, former poet laureate of Dedham\, Karen Warinsky\, coordinator of Poets at Large\, Victor Infante\, editor of Worcester Magazine\, and Lifetime Beat Poet Laureate Paul Richmond. \n\n\n\nTidepool owner Jo Truesdell said\, “We love the idea of the Pop-Up Poets\, and are delighted to have themadd to the festivities at TidePool. This will be a way to spark up the day for holiday shoppers\, or for anyone who’d like to come in and hear some poetry.” \n\n\n\nThis event is open to the public and no registration is required. URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/poets-large-presents-pop-up-poets/ LOCATION:TidePool Bookshop\, 372 Chandler St. Unit 101\, Worcester\, MA\, 01602 ORGANIZER;CN="Karen Warinsky%2C Poets At Large":MAILTO:karen.warinsky@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250108T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250108T200000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241006T004617Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250104T230521Z UID:10090-1736362800-1736366400@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Monthly Board Meeting: December Edition DESCRIPTION:Join us for our monthly Board & Committee Meeting to help us plan for the future. We meet in the Seminar Room of our Headquarters inside Preservation Worcester. URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/monthly-board-meeting-december-edition/ LOCATION:WCPA Headquarters\, 61 Harvard St.\, Worcester\, Massachusetts\, 01602 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241208T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241208T160000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241118T175216Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241118T175221Z UID:10316-1733662800-1733673600@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Slightly Off-Beat Poets DESCRIPTION:WHAT: Slightly Off-beat Poets Presents: Tom Ewart & Cheryl Bonin \n\n\n\nWHERE: Cheryl Bonin’s house 650 Central Turnpike Sutton\, MA \n\n\n\nWHEN: Sunday December 8\, 2024 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm \n\n\n\nWHAT HAPPENS: Our feature poets of the month will each read for 15 minutes. Then we will take a quick break for book sales\, snacks\, and the raffle before starting the open mic.  \n\n\n\nOpen mic will be round robin\, one poem at a time until 4 PM. \n\n\n\nCOST: There will be a 50/50 raffle\, split between the feature and the winner. 5$ to enter. \n\n\n\nSIGN-UPS: There is room for 20 POETS. To reserve a spot please email: roberteugeneperry@gmail.com! URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/slightly-off-beat-poets-8/ LOCATION:Cheryl Bonin’s House\, 650 Central Turnpike\, Sutton\, Massachusetts\, 01590\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241207T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241207T150000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241206T153859Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241206T153905Z UID:10376-1733572800-1733583600@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Literary Bash and Winter Bazaar DESCRIPTION: URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/literary-bash-and-winter-bazaar/ LOCATION:The Writers’ Loft\, 41 Broad Street 4th Floor\, Hudson\, Massachusetts\, 01749\, United States ORGANIZER;CN="Heather Kelly":MAILTO:hegkelly@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241203T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241203T203000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241118T174144Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241118T174148Z UID:10313-1733250600-1733257800@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Poetry Extravaganza with Renee Slovick DESCRIPTION:Join us on Tuesday\, December 3rd\, from 6:30-8:30 pm for an evening of poetry\, humor and contemplation. Two open-mic sessions will sandwich our feature Renee Slovick.Sign up for the Open Mic at jfjr6969@gmail.com. Five minute maximum please. Free admission. Separate area for our event. On-street parking or check redemptionrock.beer for other parking options.Redemption Rock Brewery serves craft beers\, coffees\, teas and delicious snacks. You can bring your own food but outside beverages are not allowed. The Poetry Extravaganza is sponsoredby Lewandowski Painting. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRenee Slovick writes poems and short stories and drinks too much Diet Coke. She was born and raised in NYC but you can only hear the accent when she gets mad. She’s not a Yankees fan\, which became really important when she moved to Worcester in 2002. \n\n\n\nShe married a guy who took her to an arcade on their first date and has one human son and one cat son. These days she likes to hyper focus on horror movies and serial killers\, and fall asleep to true crime documentaries. Her favorite tarot card is The Hanged Man URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/poetry-extravaganza-with-renee-slovick/ LOCATION:Redemption Rock Brewery\, 333 Shrewsbury St\,\, Worcester\, MA\, 01604\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241201T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241201T190000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241113T163031Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241119T180200Z UID:10260-1733068800-1733079600@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Poetorium @ Starlite DESCRIPTION:Poetorium at Starlite Poetry Open Mic & Reading Series Featuring Paul Richmond\, Janet Aalfs\, & Robert Eugene Perry \n\n\n\nSunday\, December 1st @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Starlite Bar & Gallery\, 39 Hamilton St\, Southbridge\, MA 01550 \n\n\n\nPlease join us for a special Sunday triple feature edition of our monthly open mic and featured poetry reading series The Poetorium at Starlite hosted by Paul Szlosek and Ron Whittle. It will be a full evening of poetry and spoken word starting with a brief interview on stage with our three featured poets Paul Richmond (Massachusetts\, USA\, & Lifetime Beat Poet Laureate)\, Janet E. Aalfs (2003-05 Poet Laureate of Northampton\, MA) and Robert Eugene Perry (Author of Earth Songs\,and Sacred Mystic Dance) followed by poetry readings by our features\, a short intermission\, and then an open mic (with 5-minute slots for each reader). Admission is free\, but a hat will be passed for donations to pay our feature and compensate Starlite for the use of their space. For more information\, please get in touch with us at poetorium@mail.com or visit our website. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPaul Richmond was awarded Beat Poet Laureate by National Beat Poetry Foundation for\, Massachusetts\, USA\, & Lifetime. He performs nationally and internationally\, solo and with “Do It Now.” Paul has eight books\, More information can be found on www.humanerrorpublishing.com \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nJanet E. Aalfs is a multidisciplinary artist\, arts educator\, and activist. Poet laureate of Northampton\, MA (2003-2005)\, 8th-degree black belt\, and healing movement instructor\, Janet is founder and director of Lotus Peace Arts at Heron’s Bridge/Valley Women’s Martial Arts\, a non-profit community school since 1977. She is the recipient of awards for her teaching as well as prizes for her poetry\, and has been featured at many events including the Dodge Poetry Festival. Janet enjoys performing spoken word combined with martial arts dance that she calls Poemotion©. Her poems have been widely published\, including 3 full-length collections\, most recently What the Dead Want Me To Know (Human Error Publishing\, 2022)\, and several chapbooks. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\n\n\n\nRobert Eugene Perry is a native of Massachusetts and the author of six books. His most recent collection of poetry Earthsongs\, was published by Human Error Publishing in 2022. A combined re-release of his earlier chapbooks was released as Sacred Mystic Dance on his own imprint Metaphysical Fox Press in 2024. His poetry has appeared in numerous anthologies & publications\, he was a finalist in the 2023 Beals Prize for Poetry and his poem Heard Steet/ Hadwen Park in Winter was a winner in WCPA’s 2024 Poems in and out of Places. Perry has emceed the monthly Open Mic at Booklovers’ Gourmet in Webster\, MA (USA) since May 2017. For more information\, please visit Robert Perry’s Site. URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/poetorium-starlite-8/ LOCATION:Starlite Bar and Gallery\, 39 Hamilton St\, Southbridge\, MA\, 01550 ORGANIZER;CN="Paul Szlosek":MAILTO:poetsparlor@hotmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241130T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241130T160000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241028T204307Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241028T204337Z UID:10231-1732975200-1732982400@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Stories and Gumbo DESCRIPTION: URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/stories-and-gumbo/ LOCATION:19Carter\, 19 Carter Street\, Berlin\, Massachusetts\, 01503\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241126T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241126T200000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241108T184454Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241108T184459Z UID:10250-1732647600-1732651200@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:A Virtual Thirsty Lab with Scott Frey DESCRIPTION:The Thirsty Lab poetry reading\, normally based out of Princeton\, Mass.\, continues to meet virtually. On Tuesday\, November 26\, 2024 Scott Frey will be the featured reader. Please Click Here to register. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nScott Frey is a poet and educator who grew up in Western Pennsylvania and teaches English at Pine Meadow Academy in Windsor Locks\, Connecticut. His book\, Heavy Metal Nursing\, won the Tampa Review Prize for poetry. He and his wife\, Meryl\, run a non-profit charity\, The Charlotte Frey Foundation\, whose mission is to help children with multiple handicaps and life-threatening illnesses and their families improve their quality of life. Among other places\, his work has been published in Passages North\, december magazine\, The Adroit Journal\, Bellevue Literary Review\, New York Quarterly\, and The Missouri Review\, where he was awarded the Perkoff Prize for poetry. His hybrid prose chapbook\, Strange Vigil\, was a winner in the Black River Chapbook competition and is forthcoming with Black Lawrence Press in the fall of 2025. He and his family live in Granby\, Connecticut. His work can also be found online at scottfrey.org URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/a-virtual-thirsty-lab-with-scott-frey/ LOCATION:Zoom Online Meeting\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241217T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241217T210000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20240104T172907Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241217T183939Z UID:8037-1734458400-1734469200@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Worcester Writers' Collective Writing Workshop DESCRIPTION:Come one\, come all to the weekly meetings of the WWC: \n6-7 Free Writing Time \n7-9 Reading and Workshop \nBuilding a small community of local writers of all genres is our priority and we are so thrilled to invite anyone interested to drop in and participate. \nIt’s FREE and open to all. 🙂 URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/worcester-writers-collective-writing-workshop-3/ LOCATION:JMac/Brickbox Theater\, 20 Franklin Street\, Worcester\, MA\, 01608\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241123T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241123T210000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241104T184832Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241104T184838Z UID:10237-1732388400-1732395600@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:POETS AT LARGE CONTINUES ITS FALL SEASONAT THE VANILLA BEAN CAFÉ DESCRIPTION:Poets at Large will continue their fall series on Nov. 23rd at The Vanilla Bean CafĂ©\, 450 Deerfield Road\, Pomfret\, CT. That evening Massachusetts Lifetime Beat Poet Laureate and musician Tommy Twilite will be the featured performer. \n\n\n\nTwilite is a Massachusetts troubadour who combines music\, poetry\, exploration and adventure into his performances. He is the co-founder and director of the Florence Poets Society and the host of the Twilite Poetry Pub on WXOJ Valley Free Radio. His latest chapbook\, “Kills No Bird” is a follow up to his 2021 collection\, “Fifty Words for Rain”. Tommy Twilite is well known as someone who can transport an audience to another realm with his words and music. He was recently honored by the National Baseball Poetry Festival for his poem\, “The Tools of Ignorance.” Tommy is the editor of Silkworm\, an annual review\, and is a Lifetime Beat Poet Laureate. He believes poetry and song can renew the Earth. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThese Saturday evenings of spoken word and poetry are from 7-9 p.m. Admission is $15.00 and includes a give-away. Poets at Large is a regional group of poets who read in CT and MA\, now in its fifth year. Contact Poets at Large coordinator Karen Warinsky if you are interested in reading in the open mic at karen.warinsky@gmail.com. There is a 5-minute limit for open mic readers and these events are recommended for ages 14 and up. Poets at Large is a project of Windham Arts. The Vanilla Bean is ADA compliant. URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/poets-at-large-continues-its-fall-seasonat-the-vanilla-bean-cafe-2/ LOCATION:Vanilla Bean Cafe\, 450 Deerfield Road\, Pomfret\, CT\, 06259\, United States ORGANIZER;CN="Karen Warinsky%2C Poets At Large":MAILTO:karen.warinsky@gmail.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241121T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241121T213000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241119T175801Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241119T175805Z UID:10335-1732215600-1732224600@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Modern Poetry Collection Event: Reading by Poet Chen Yihai DESCRIPTION:Poet Chen Yihai from Yancheng Teachers University (China) will read from his own work with KSC Advanced Poetry Workshop Students in English and Mandarin. The reading will be held in the Archives Classroom\, Room 132\, Mason Library. \n\n\n\nThe event is co-sponsored by the Monadnock Pastoral Poets and KSC Modern Poetry Collection. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYihai Chen\, PhD\, a professor from the School of Chinese Language and Literature in Yancheng Teachers University\, was born in Jiangsu Province. He began poetry writing in early 1980’s\, and has published more than 600 poems home and abroad. \n\n\n\nHe was a visiting scholar to the Centre for Translation and Comparative Cultural Studies in the University of Warwick in 2005\, during which he won the second prize in the 40th anniversary poetry competition of this University. In 2006\, he won the first prize in an English poetry competition sponsored by the British Consulate. The first collection of his English poetry Song of Simone & Seven Sad Songs was published by Heaventree Press in 2005. \n\n\n\nHe is the translator of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice\, Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’urbervilles\, Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe\, Charles Dickens’ The Tale of Two Cities\, as well as many foreign poems. \n\n\n\nHe is also a scholar of comparative culture and translation studies. URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/modern-poetry-collection-event-reading-by-poet-chen-yihai/ LOCATION:Mason Library\, Room 132\, Keene State College\, 229 Main Street\, Keene\, New Hampshire\, 03435\, United States ORGANIZER;CN="Rodger Martin":MAILTO:rmartin1@keene.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241121T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241121T210000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20240930T163654Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240930T163658Z UID:10051-1732215600-1732222800@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:FoxFest DESCRIPTION: URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/foxfest/ LOCATION:Bedlam Books\, 138 Green Street\, Worcester\, Massachusetts\, 01604\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241121T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241121T210000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241119T171850Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241119T171854Z UID:10329-1732212000-1732222800@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:New Books by Franco-American Authors: A Reading and Discussion DESCRIPTION:The Jacob Edwards Library is pleased to present three Franco-American authors reading from their new books. Memoirist Charlie Gargiulo and poets Jeri Theriault and Steven Riel will discuss how their culture informs their creative writing. The authors\, from Maine and Massachusetts\, give voice to the strong presence of Franco-Americans throughout New England. All welcome! Please note the earlier start time of 6 pm. \n\n\n\nThere will be an opportunity to purchase books and have the authors sign copies. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJeri Theriault’s recent awards include the 2023 Maine Arts Commission Literary Arts Fellowship\, the 2023 Monson Arts Fellowship\, and the 2022 NORward Prize (New Ohio Review. She was a finalist for both the William Matthews Prize (The Asheville Poetry Review) and the Atlanta Review International Poetry Contest. Her poems and reviews have appeared in The Rumpus\, The Texas Review\, Plume\, RĂ©sonance\, Rust and Moth and many other publications. Her recent collections are Self-Portrait as Homestead\, (M)other\, and Radost. She is the editor of WAIT: Poems from the Pandemic. Jeri\, also a visual artist\, lives in South Portland\, Maine. \n\n\n\nSelf-Portrait As Homestead focuses on family and heritage\, specifically the Franco-American culture the poet experienced growing up in Waterville\, Maine. “Homestead\,” a motif suggested by street addresses\, becomes “household\,” a woman’s place\, and alludes to the confinement by role\, home and religion of the women characters\, and their pushing against those constraints. \n\n\n\nLeslie Ullman has this to say about Self-Portrait as Homestead: \n\n\n\nThese deft\, spare poems reclaim the flare of self-ness that has been tamped in women over many generations\, and their fresh wordplay and inventive forms make their renditions of grandmother\, mother\, and self-as-girl-morphing-to-elder all the more arresting. Every gesture flies off the page in its caress of language\, also evoking the iconic loneliness of women in the speaker’s past and in history itself. The result? A redemptive empathy for self and ancestor\, the well-earned gift of a generation of women who have paid the price of breaking free and now step forth to bear honest witness and break old patterns. Such stories cannot be told often enough. These poems do so bravely and in searingly honed phrases and images. \n\n\n\n*** \n\n\n\nCharlie Gargiulo Following the destruction of Lowell’s Little Canada\, Charlie Gargiulo grew up in public housing. After serving in the military\, he graduated summa cum laude from University of Massachusetts Lowell. Gargiulo became a legendary community and human rights activist and stopped forced displacement efforts like Little Canada from happening to others. In 2019\, he was honored by the International Institute as one of the 100 most important figures in Lowell history who has worked on behalf of the city’s immigrant population. \n\n\n\n“Legends of Little Canada is a memoir told through the eyes of a 13 year old Charlie Gargiulo\, who in the 1960’s watched an urban renewal plan destroy his world by forcibly displacing his family and friends from their poor but tight-knit French-Canadian neighborhood in Lowell. The book gives witness to the final days of the community around Moody Street that Jack Kerouac recalled in many of his Lowell stories. \n\n\n\nCharlie Gargiulo paints a picture\, a ‘bookmovie’ to use a Kerouac phrase\, of this young kid\, his friends\, his band of brothers\, creating their own magic in this gritty town of Lowell
 I can put my hand on this old heart of mine and safely say Kerouac himself would have laughed and cried and absolutely loved this book.” \n\n\n\n– Kevin Ring\, founder and editor of Beat Scene Magazine \n\n\n\n*** \n\n\n\nSteven Riel is the author of two full-length collections of poetry: Edgemere and Fellow Odd Fellow. His chapbook Postcard from P-town was published as runner-up for the inaugural Robin Becker Chapbook Prize. His poems have appeared in numerous periodicals\, including The Minnesota Review and International Poetry Review. He edits the Franco-American journal RĂ©sonance. He holds an MFA in Poetry from New England College.Shapeshifting abounds in Steven Riel’s latest collection Edgemere\, as this pro-feminist gay poet marshals a parade of female personas that includes Senator Elizabeth Dole\, Joan of Arc\, and The Supremes. Riel’s poems zigzag across liminal spaces not just between male/female and human/inhuman\, but between those fallen from AIDS and survivors who grieve them. \n\n\n\nAccording to the award-winning poet Joy Ladin\, “Steven Riel’s Edgemere is gorgeous\, heartbreaking\, and witty—often at the same time. With exquisite precision and extraordinary musicality\, Riel traces the shimmering\, fragile webs of love\, experience\, and culture that connect us to one another. From the inner life of bullied “sissy boys” to the ravages of AIDS to inimitable pop culture reveries such as “In Search of Della Street\,” Riel’s language creates a poetic space in which the individual\, sometimes idiosyncratic perspectives he explores open into vistas on what it means to be human.” \n\n\n\nSponsored by the Southbridge Cultural Council. The Southbridge Cultural Council is a local agency funded by Mass Cultural Council\, a state agency. URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/new-books-by-franco-american-authors-a-reading-and-discussion/ LOCATION:Jacob Edwards Library\, 236 Main St.\, Southbridge\, MA\, 01550\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241116T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241116T160000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241113T162146Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241113T162151Z UID:10254-1731765600-1731772800@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Booklover's Gourmet Open Mic DESCRIPTION:Please respond to Deb Horan to reserve your spot! \n\n\n\nBob Perry\, emcee \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOpen Mic Poetry \n\n\n\nSaturday\, November 16th\, 2-4 PM \n\n\n\nJoin us for this monthly round robin style\, open poetry share. The event is limited to 14 people and usually fills up quickly.  \n\n\n\nTo sign up to participate\, please email deb@bookloversgourmet.com or call 508-949-6232. URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/booklovers-gourmet-open-mic-11/ LOCATION:Booklovers’ Gourmet\, 72 E. Main St.\, Webster\, MA\, 01570 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241113T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241113T200000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241006T004430Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241006T004434Z UID:10087-1731524400-1731528000@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Monthly Board Meeting: November Edition DESCRIPTION:Join us for our monthly Board Meeting and help us plan for the future. We will meet in the Seminar Room at our Headquarters inside Preservation Worcester. URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/monthly-board-meeting-november-edition/ LOCATION:WCPA Headquarters\, 61 Harvard St.\, Worcester\, Massachusetts\, 01602 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241112T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241112T190000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241023T171251Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241023T171256Z UID:10221-1731432600-1731438000@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:John Hodgen and John Gaumond Poetry Reading DESCRIPTION:John Hodgen and John Gaumond read from their latest works. URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/john-hodgen-and-john-gaumond-poetry-reading/ LOCATION:TidePool Bookshop\, 372 Chandler St. Unit 101\, Worcester\, MA\, 01602 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241103T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241103T160000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241018T163637Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241018T163641Z UID:10210-1730638800-1730649600@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Slightly Off-Beat Poets: Paul Richmond and Candace Curran DESCRIPTION:WHAT: Slightly Off-beat Poets Presents: Paul Richmond & Candace Curran \n\n\n\nWHERE: Donna Lange’s house 59 Chase Road Thompson\, CT (exit 50 off 395) \n\n\n\nWHEN: Sunday November 3\, 2024 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm \n\n\n\nWHAT HAPPENS: Our feature poets of the month will each read for 20 minutes. Then we will take a quick break for book sales\, snacks\, and the raffle before starting the open mic. Open mic will be round robin\, one poem at a time until 4 PM. \n\n\n\nCOST: There will be a 50/50 raffle\, split between the feature and the winner. 5$ to enter. \n\n\n\nSIGN-UPS: There is room for 20 POETS. To reserve a spot please email: roberteugeneperry@gmail.com \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPaul Richmond was awarded Beat Poet Laureate by National Beat Poetry Foundation for\, MA\, USA\, & Lifetime.  Performs nationally and internationally\, solo and with “Do It Now.”He has eight books\, more info can be found here.  \n\n\n\nCandace R. Curran is author of Playing in Wrecks\, Haleys Press. She is the 2022 Slate Roof Elyse Wolf Prize winner with a chapbook released next year.  A full length poetry collection is expected in the Spring with Human Error Press. Her poetry has appeared in New Generation Beats\, Writing the Land\, Meat For Tea\, the Valley Review\, and RAW NerVZ Haiku. She is looking forward to being a Slightly Off-Beat Poet\, featuring with the infamous Paul Word Richmond. URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/slightly-off-beat-poets-paul-richmond-and-candace-curran/ LOCATION:Donna Lange’s Home\, 59 Chase Road\, Thompson\, Connecticut\, 06277\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241103T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241103T140000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241010T202935Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241010T202939Z UID:10156-1730638800-1730642400@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:Death Poetry Anthology Book Launch DESCRIPTION:Join us for a panel discussion about poetry for use in death ritual and the grieving process\, along with some poems read from the anthology. All who attend will receive a discount on book purchases. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nAbout The Black River: Death Poems\n\n\n\nThe Black River: Death Poems is an anthology of poems for people who are grieving and for use in death rituals. It comes in two versions: a 6”x9” paperback for portability\, and a 8.5”x11” hardcover\, more suitable for ritual use. 69 authors from 8 countries have contributed to this anthology of 149 poems grouped into 4 stages: Dying\, Death\, Remaining\, and Journeying. The poems are heavily indexed: by relationship to deceased; by themes—memory loss\, pregnancy loss\, long/short illness\, substance use\, violence/war/suicide\, hope\, acceptance of death; by language—most are English and there are 3 in Spanish\, 1 French\, and 1 Arabic; and by suggested for use in ritual. Edited by Deirdre Pulgram-Arthen\, an experienced death midwife\, counselor\, and death ritual leader\, this book is non-denominational and brings together contemporary poets writing on the many stages of grief and death. 250+ pages; featuring interior page decorations. URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/death-poetry-anthology-book-launch/ LOCATION:Zoom Online Meeting\, United States ORGANIZER;CN="Rodger Martin":MAILTO:rmartin1@keene.edu END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241029T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241029T200000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241008T172450Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241008T172703Z UID:10125-1730228400-1730232000@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:A Virtual Thirsty Lab with Lana Hechtman Ayers DESCRIPTION:The Thirsty Lab poetry reading\, normally based out of Princeton\, Mass.\, continues to meet virtually. On Tuesday\, October 29\, 2024 Lana Hechtman Ayers will be the featured reader. Please Click Here to register. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nLana Hechtman Ayers\, a New Yorker who made her way to the Pacific Northwest via a dozen year sojourn in New England\, has shepherded over a hundred poetry volumes into print in her role as managing editor for three small presses. Her work appears in Rattle\, The London Reader\, Peregrine\, and elsewhere. Lana’s latest collection\, The Autobiography of Rain\, is available from Fernwood Press. Say hello to her through her Website. To purchase here books\, please visit Bookshop\, Fernwood Press\, and Amazon. URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/a-virtual-thirsty-lab-with-lana-hechtman-ayers/ LOCATION:Zoom Online Meeting\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241028T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241028T203000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241009T161937Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241009T162026Z UID:10147-1730142000-1730147400@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:The Invention of the Darling: An Evening of Poetry with Li-Young Lee DESCRIPTION:Through the observation and translation of often unassuming and silent moments\, the poetry of Li-Young Lee gives clear voice to the solemn and extraordinary beauty found within humanity. By employing hauntingly lyrical skill and astute poetic awareness\, Lee allows silence\, sound\, form\, and spirit to emerge brilliantly onto the page. His poetry reveals a dialogue between the eternal and the temporal\, and accentuates the joys and sorrows of family\, home\, loss\, exile\, and love. Born in 1957 of Chinese parents in Jakarta\, Indonesia\, Lee learned early about loss and exile. His great grandfather was China’s first republican President; and his father\, a deeply religious Christian\, was physician to Communist leader Mao Tse-Tung. After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949\, Lee’s parents escaped to Indonesia. In 1959\, his father\, after spending a year as a political prisoner in President Sukarno’s jails\, fled Indonesia with his family to escape anti- Chinese sentiment. After a five-year trek through Hong Kong\, Macau\, and Japan\, they settled in the United States in 1964. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLi-Young Lee is the author of six critically acclaimed books of poetry\, most recently The Invention of the Darling (W. W. Norton\, 2024)\, The Undressing (W.W Norton\, 2018)\, Behind My Eyes (W.W. Norton\, 2008)\, and a chapbook The Word From His Song (BOA Editions\, 2016). His earlier collections are Book of My Nights (BOA Editions\, 2001); Rose (BOA\, 1986)\, winner of the Delmore Schwartz Memorial Award from New York University; The City in Which I Love You (BOA\, 1991)\, the 1990 Lamont Poetry Selection; and a memoir entitled The Winged Seed: A Remembrance (Simon and Schuster\, 1995)\, which received an American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation and was reissued by BOA Editions in 2012. His translation of the Dao De Jing is forthcoming in October 2024. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nLexington Depot\, 13 Depot Square\, Lexington MA URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/the-invention-of-the-darling-an-evening-of-poetry-with-li-young-lee/ LOCATION:MA ORGANIZER;CN="Craig Hall":MAILTO:chall@lexingtonma.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241026T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241026T210000 DTSTAMP:20260612T100458 CREATED:20241001T202444Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241001T202448Z UID:10063-1729969200-1729976400@worcestercountypoetry.org SUMMARY:POETS AT LARGE CONTINUES ITS FALL SEASONAT THE VANILLA BEAN CAFÉ DESCRIPTION:Poets at Large will continue their fall series on Oct 26 th at The Vanilla Bean CafĂ©\, 450 Deerfield Road\, Pomfret\, CT. That evening Massachusetts poet and publisher Lee Derosiers will be the featured reader. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nDesrosiers (they/them) is a native New Yorker who has lived in western Massachusetts for the past 30 years. They are the editor of The Naugatuck River Review and Wordpeace\, an E-zine. Derosiers holds an MFA in poetry from New England College and teaches writing at Westfield State University and Poetry at Lesley University’s MFA program.. They have three full-length collections from Salmon Poetry; The Philosopher’s Daughter (2013)\, contains poems about their parents\, and a “rather eccentric family” and about their journey out of domestic abuse; Sometimes I Hear the Clock Speak (2016)\, about “music\, voices\, time and memory\,” and Keeping Planes in the Air (2020)\, a volume about “loss\, ghosts\, aging and ephemera.” \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nThese Saturday evenings of spoken word and poetry are from 7-9 p.m. Admission is $15.00 and includes a give-away. Poets at Large is a regional group of poets who read in CT and MA\, now in its fifth year. Contact Poets at Large coordinator Karen Warinsky if you are interested in reading in the open mic at karen.warinsky@gmail.com. There is a 5-minute limit for open mic readers and these events are recommended for ages 14 and up. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nPoets at Large is a project of Windham Arts. The Vanilla Bean is ADA compliant. URL:https://worcestercountypoetry.org/event/poets-at-large-continues-its-fall-seasonat-the-vanilla-bean-cafe/ LOCATION:The Vanilla Bean\, 450 Deerfield Road\, Pomfret\, CT\, 06259\, United States ORGANIZER;CN="Karen Warinsky%2C Poets At Large":MAILTO:karen.warinsky@gmail.com END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR