Greetings everyone,

I hope you are all looking forward to the annual Naomi Cherkofsky Memorial Contest award celebration and open mic in honor of National Poetry Month. We’ll be meeting this coming Saturday, April 16, 11 a.m., at the Beverly Public Library. This is always a joyous and entertaining event as members gather to celebrate the gift of poetry and congratulate our talented contest winners. So tell your friends and relatives, spread the word, polish up some of your best work and head on down.

This year’s winners include:

• C. H. Coleman
• Richard Samuel Davis
• Lee Eric Freeman
• Diane Giardi
• Claire Keyes
• Maryellen Letarte
• Suellen  Wedmore
• Lucille Morgan Wilson

Congratulations everyone!

I also wanted to let you know about a few other poetry events that are taking place this week.

The Gloucester Writers (GWC) hosts a local poets reading tonight Wednesday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m., at 126 East Main St., featuring readings by a few NSPF friends including: Nathan Cohen, Ruthanne (Rufus) Collinson, Ruth Maassen, and Sage Walcott.

The Tin Box Poets hosts their 13th annual open mic and National Poetry Month celebration at the Swampscott Library on Thursday, April 14, at 6:30 p.m. (doors/sign-up starts at 6 p.m.) This annual event draws spoken word artists of all abilities and disciplines from Swampscott, Marblehead, the North Shore, and beyond. The Tin Box Poets’ goal is to promote and encourage the appreciation of poetry in our lives.

Also on Thursday, April 14, at 7:30 p.m., at the Paul M. Scott Library in the main building of Montserrat College of Art, NSPF member (and contest winner) Claire Keyes hosts a poetry reading and fundraiser for the Massachusetts Poetry Festival featuring the work of Boston resident Fred Marchant and Rowley resident Carla Panciera. Suggested donation is $20, $10 students. For additional information, visit http://masspoetry.org/2011/03/13/a-pre-festival-celebratory-reading-and-fund-raiser-on-april-14/.

On Sunday, April 17, from 3-5 p.m., Elizabeth McKim hosts a house concert of Poetry/Story/Song at her loft in Lynn. The event features Kato Mele, Rozi Theohari, Eliz McKim, Don White, Walnut, Mike Mele, and others. Tickets are $15. Reservations are available by e-mail at jocelynalmy@tlguts.com or call 781-715-1445.