Deb Priestly and Tim Gager got a grant from the Cambridge Arts Council to put out a poetry and prose anthology of local poets and writers. Deb Priestly stated: " with all the writers and artists in Cambridge, we thought it would be incredible to put together an anthology." The anthology will be diverse and refelect the points-of-view of gays, heroin addicts, veterans, trauma survivors, etc... The anthology should be out in the Late Summer, and will be about 300 pages. It will include folks who have featured or read at the Out of the Blue Gallery in Cambridge. http://www.outoftheblueartgallery.com

Well, I am gearing up for April 8 when Afaa Michael Weaver, Wendy Mnookin and Charles Coe read at the Newton Free Library
Poetry Series. Ibbetson author Gary Duehr is going to be reading at the New England Poetry Club, June 2nd. There is a little magazine around here in New England, called Button. It's about the size of your palm, and a gal named Sally Cragin founded it. There will be a 31st Celebration of Button at the Longfellow Carriage House 103 Brattle St. Cambridge at 3 pm.

Poet Douglas Bishop of Lowell gave me a call, and he said he is trying to organize a Poets Against The War Reading for March 21...we may be in by then...I will keep you posted... Poets Sarah Medinger, Ian Thal, Rachel Hyman, and Brian Morissey, and the Books of Hope Project will be featured in my Spare Change article ALL THE YOUNG POETS due out May 1, for the all-poetry issue. April 8 Afaa Michael Weaver, Charles Coe and Wendy Mnookin will be reading at the Newton Free Library 7 P M. I will be doing the hosting for the National Boston Poetry Festival at the Copley Square --Boston Public Library Branch- Raab Lecture Hall April 13 1 P M. Jack Powers will be having a number of poetry events during April Poetry Month- call him at: 617-227-0845

Tonight I am to attend an opening for Ibbetson artist, Gene Smith's work at the Citizen Bank in Central Square Cambridge at 6 PM. Gene is an old friend of mine, who is an experienced character actor in regional theatre and independent films, and contributed his fine artwork to the last issue of Ibbetson. While interviewing Vera Gold and Nancy Mehegan from 96 Inc., I turned around and saw John Silber the presient of Boston University staring me in the face. He was an old nemesis of us kids in the 70's, who were on the tailend of the 60's scene.

I was glad to hear that Linda Haviland Conte's poem "Little Weed" won an award at the Cambridge Poetry Festival last Sunday.
Tonight Harris Gardner , Marc Goldfinger and Rachel Goldstein read at the Newton Free Library at 7pm. Remember it's the Lummox Journal's all-poetry issue next month--look 'em up on Goggle. And the new Poesy website should be up tomorrow, with interviews and poetry from poets, coast to coast. http://www.poesy.org I hear Reggie Gibson's venue at the Zeitgeist is quite a hit, every Tuesday night...street musicians and poets, quite a mix.

Sunday March 9 are the poetry awards in Cambridge go to www.cambridgepoetryawards.org for more info---

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Poesy Magazine www.poesy.org will have a new look for its 20th issue due out this month... it will be upgraded I have been proud to be the Boston Editor for the last few years. Brian Morrisey hads done a great job with Poesy, which he started when he was 14...he now is 27. You can send submissions to brian@poesy.org This weekend is the Cambridge Poetry Festival at Lesley Univ. in Cambridge. A Lot of folks from Ibbetson St. are in contention for prizes including: Portia Brockway, Susuie Davidson, Ian Thal, and Linda Conte... I expect our ace reviwer Laura Stamps will be sending us an exclusive interview with Lyn Lifshin, the Queen of the Small Press real soon...

I am told that Spare Change News is looking for new voices in the poetry section. So I would send your submissions to Spare Change News 1151 Mass. Ave. Cambridge, Ma. 02138 C/0 Don DiVecchio--poetry editor...

Last Saturday I went to the Open Bark Poetry Reading in Cambridge ( Out of the Blue Gallery) to check out the poets, and I found a very vibrant scene. One of the Ibbetson Updater reviewers, Sarah Medinger, strutted her lyrical stuff and she was quite compelling. She is one of the folks I will be interviewing for the young poets article in Spare Change. There was a combo of music and poetry, and the crowd for the most part was under thirty. A lot of good energy, and some fine talent. Deb Priestly makes a sporting host, and knows how to handle a crowd.

I had breakfeast with Don DiVecchio, poetry editor of Spare Change News. He is working on the All-Poetry Issue due to be out May1. Jack Powers, (Stone Soup Poets, Inc.) made the selection of best poem for that issue. Editor, Holly Hand, is looking for new voices on the poetry scene to submit their work...send it to Don DiVecchio Spare Change Newss 1151 Mass. Ave. Cambridge, Ma. 02138

Well...I had bagels with Harris Gardner ( founder of Tapestry of Voices), he is in high gear trying to get ready for the Boston Poetry Festival/ Marathon in April at the Boston Public Library. Susie Davidson, ( journalist for a number of publications) is busy at work on her book that should be released by Ibbetson Street this Spring. It will be an anthology of testimony from Holocaust survivors. Reggie Gibson tells me has a new venue at the Zeitgeist Gallery in Cambridge....

I have an exciting new project. Holly Hand, editor of Spare Change, wants me to do an article concerning young poets in the Boston area. Already got a list...I figure young means under 40, at least it does to me...being 47. Happy to hear that Somerville Poet, Linda Conte was nominated for two Cambridge Poetry Awards, she deserves it.

Hello...the Cambridge Poetry Awards will be held next month. I used to cover them for Spare Change News. It's a good alternative award venue, considering all the academic poets in Cambridge, Ma. Ever hear of 96inc... A great magazine in Boston that publishes poetry and fiction. It also has a social service mission to help youth, and homeless youth, through the Arts. I will be interviewing founder Vera Gold for Poesy Magazine soon. (www.poesy.org) Harris Gardner is gearing up for his annual Poetry Marathon in April at the Boston Public Library. Poets will be reading successively on a Saturday and Sunday. Hey--this is a paid gig!

I will start training for my new Scat T. V. Show Tomorrow.

This is my new blog.