Local poets garner kudos

PIKE COUNTY — Two members of the Upper Delaware Writers Collective received honors in the Betty June Silconas Poetry Contest sponsored by Sussex County Community College (SCCC). Marcia Nehemiah of Lackawaxen, won the Judge’s Award for her poem “Bittersweet” which, along with two additional poems, will be published in “Poetry from the Center,” an awards anthology. Kathleen Grimaldi of Lords Valley, will have her poems “Wordscapes” and “Spring Song” included in the anthology. Martin Farawell, associate director of the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Program, was the judge for the contest. Nehemiah and Grimaldi will present their work at the Awards Reading, part of the Idiom Reading Series at SCCC, on Friday, March 7, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Atrium of the Performing Arts Center at the college in Newton, N.J. For information, call 973-300-2194. Founded and directed by poet and teacher Mary Greene, The Upper Delaware Writers Collective, headquartered in Narrowsburg, N.Y., is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the literary arts in the Upper Delaware region. Activities include workshops, readings and chapbook publications. The Collective serves as a networking organization to bring writers together and has been recognized for its ongoing contributions to the community, including readings, radio events and the publication of chapbooks. It is a member of the United Poets Coalition. For more information, call 845-252-7506.