NORWAY — Now in its ninth year as part of the Norway Arts Festival, Poets on the Porch will happen from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 9, in front of the Norway Memorial Library.

Here is this year’s roster of poets: Rijah Newell, Norway; Lisa Campobasso, Norway; Greg Zlemansky, Norway; Mark Swiedom, Hebron; Mary Hargreaves, Sumner; Brigid Gallagher, Norway; Michelene Hague, Otisfield; Eric Dibner, Casco; Siiri Cressey, Lewiston; Rockie Graham, Waterford; Lisa Moore, Harrison; Ben Hull, Norway; John Governale, Norway; Joanna Reese, Greenwood; Tom Fallon, Rumford; Nate Leland, Orr’s Island; Martin Steingesser and Judy Tierney, Portland.

This year, Poets on the Porch will be dedicated to Oxford bard Tom Foley (1927-2011). Several of the poets will read poems in honor of Tom, both his originals and favorites by others.

Audiences will be treated to rich and diverse poetry of very high caliber. Many of the local poets gather as the Mountain Poets Society. The group meets regularly (the second Sunday of each month at 4 p.m. in the Fare Share Commons on Main Street) and welcomes newcomers and listeners.

POP IX will appeal to all ages and tastes. It’s free and open to all. “Although this is our ninth time around, we’re really just getting started,” Moore says. “Nine years is very brief in poetry-time.”

The Norway Arts Festival, co-sponsored by the Western Maine Art Group and Norway Downtown, will be held from July 7-9. For the second time, Main Street will be closed to traffic that day so that festival-goers have maximum freedom to enjoy a huge variety of arts: performance, music, dance, mime, juggling, painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, fabric art, puppets, food, poetry and more. This year, the festival focus figure is Tony Montanaro and the Celebration Barn Theater, which celebrates its 40th year this summer.

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