Peninsula Poets Host Monthly Readings

“Poetry is one of the arts in Door County that doesn’t get talked about so much,” said June Nirschl, one of the organizers of the new Peninsula Poet series of monthly readings to be held at the Sister Bay-Liberty Grove Library.

On the third Tuesday of each month, beginning Oct. 15, both novice and established poets are invited to meet at 1:30 pm in the Community Room of the library to read their poetry. Each session will showcase one or two featured local poets who will each read fifteen minutes, followed by an open mic that gives all writers present the opportunity to read one of their poems. Those who choose to attend and only listen are also welcome.

Northern Door poets Hanne Gault, Phil Hansotia, and Judy Roy, along with Nirschl, planned the series of reading as an adjunct to the popular long-running Dickinson Poetry Series that presents a featured poet and open mic at 7 pm on the second Wednesday of each month at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Ephraim.

“Some people don’t like to go out in the evening,” Nirschl said, explaining the choice of the afternoon time for the readings. A master of ceremonies will manage each event; no critiques will be offered, only the response of an appreciative audience that encourages budding poets to step up to the open mic.

“The program will fit in well with the new writing center,” Nirschl added, referring to Write On, Door County!’s venture to create a writing center. Poets will now have one more venue for sharing their work.

Those who would like to be considered for one of the open featured reader slots should contact Judy Roy via email at [email protected].

The organizers of the series are well known in the Northern Door writing community, as all four have published chapbooks, given readings of their poetry, won awards for their work, and appeared in a variety of publications. They, too, will be featured readers in the upcoming programs.

The Peninsula Poets Featured Reader Schedule

• Oct. 15: **

• Nov. 19: * Estella Lauter

• Dec. 17: * Phil Hansotia

• Jan. 21: * Karen Wilson

• Feb. 18: Ralph Murre and Sharon Auberle

• March 18: Meg Vermillion and Cynthia Oliver

• April 15: * Rolf Olson

• May 20: Cynthia Johnson and Lee LeVoy

• June 17: * Gary Jones

• July 15: Hanne Gault and Loraine Brink

• Aug. 19: June Nirschl and Judy Roy

** Two openings for a featured reader. (If none come forward for this program, Gault, Hansotia, Nirschl, and/or Roy will fill in.)

* One opening for a featured reader.