WESTFIELD — The Westfield Memorial Library will celebrate National Poetry Month with a reading by local poetAdele Kenny on Wednesday, April 15 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Adele Kenny is the author of 26 books and chapbooks (poetry and nonfiction). Her poems, reviews, and articles have been published throughout the U.S. and abroad, and her poems have appeared in books and anthologies published by Crown, Tuttle, Shambhala, and McGraw-Hill.
She has been poetry editor of Tiferet Journal since 2006 and is the founding director of the Carriage House Poetry Series (1998-present). Ms. Kenny is the recipient of various honors and awards, including a 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award from Kean University, and her book A Lightness A Thirst, or Nothing at All was a Paterson Poetry Prize finalist. She has also received first place in the Allen Ginsberg Poetry Awards, two poetry fellowships from the New Jersey State Arts Council, a Merton Poetry of the Sacred Award, a first place Merit Book Award, and a first place Henderson Award.
In 2011, she was honored with a Women of Excellence Award (Union County Commission on the Status of Women) for her achievements and volunteer work in the arts and humanities.
She was named Poet Laureate of Fanwood by the Mayor and Council in March 2012 and has twice been a Geraldine R. Dodge Festival poet. Along with teaching English and gifted education for 20 years, she has also taught report writing at the Stamler Police Academy and creative writing at the College of New Rochelle. Her most recent collection of poems is Where Eternity Is Learned (Welcome Rain Publishers). More can be learned at www.adelekenny.com.
On Thursday, April 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the Mental Health Practitioners Book Club will meet in the Local History Room on the second floor to discuss “If You Were My Daughter” by Marianne Richmond. This book club is open to local area mental health practitioners, including but not limited to: social workers, psychologists, and nurses. The club meets monthly and members rotate picking books. Those who are interested in joining should email the Community Liaison, Jack Serzan, at jserzan@wmlnj.org.
That same day, Crafterdark will meet from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Local History Room. Crafters are invited to bring whatever project they are currently working on and to join a group of fellow crafters for fun, encouragement and inspiration.As long as the project is portable, it’s perfect for this evening. No registration is required.
DreamMakers, a handcrafting group will meet on Saturday,April 18 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. As part of its (Re)Imagining Westfield initiative, MLK Westfield and the library have started a multigenerational handcrafting group to meet on alternate Saturday afternoons. This group provides a place for experienced and inexperienced knitters, crocheters, quilters, cross-stitchers, etc., to come together and work on their handcraft and to help others who are interested in learning. Everyone and all types of handcraft are welcome.
Westfield Memorial Library is a public library dedicated to providing free and equitable access to information, resources, and cultural experiences for residents of Westfield and the surrounding community. Through innovative programming and responsive services, the library advances literacy, lifelong learning, and civic engagement.
Visit the library’s website at wmlnj.org/ to register for the Sunday afternoon event, sign up for a library card or learn more about library programs and resources. The library is located at 550 East Broad Street and hours are Monday – Thursday 9:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday 1:00-5:00 p.m.
