Thursday, October 16, 2008

stevenallenmay has a new blog

Word came today from stevenallenmay, energetic enigmatic co-founder of Berks Bards way back in 1998, about his new blog, http://www.bookgasm.blogspot.com/. This man is definitely into books, especially books as more than just the book, books as creative objects, with a presence and a history. What do you expect from a poet and publisher!? You go, s-a-m!

Berks Bards ROCK at Alvernia College

Kudos to Jen Gittings-Dalton who invited Berks Bards poets and musicians to read/play at the Crusader Cafe at Alvernia University on October 15, as part of the Literary Festival on campus. Poets: Doug Arnold, Awilda I. Castro-Suarez, Fred Indenbaum, Jen Gittings-Dalton, Marilyn Klimcho, Emily Hayes Whittle, Michael Clipman, Patrick Klimcho, and Elizabeth Stanley. Musicians: Joanna Groebel on flute, Michael Clipman on percussion.

Students and faculty filled the intimate cafe' and volunteered for the open mic. One student had attended the 2008 Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival last month, and had the courage to read her work for the first time ever, at the Crusader Cafe'. Bravo, Ciara!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Congratulations, Heather Thomas, Berks Poet Laureate

We want to give a shout out to Heather Thomas, the newly appointed Poet Laureate for Berks County! Berks Bards is so proud of you! The event on October 1st at the Miller Center was an awesome gathering of presidents and poets, journalists and community leaders who EACH read a favorite poem in honor of the occasion.

It was an outstanding tribute to the power of poetry to transform a life...or a morning!

It was also the kick-off of "Reading Reads: The Greater Berks Literary Festival." Berks Bards is proud to be a part of this wonderful community effort.

Bravo, Heather Thomas! The "blue ruby' rocks!