HALLOWELL — “Maine Speaks!” featuring poets Tom Lyford, Susann Pelletier, Kevin Sweeney, Marcia Wall Simmons and blue-grass musician, Stan Keach, is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at the Harlow Gallery, 160 Water St.

Lyford hails from Dover-Foxcroft, a 1964 graduate of Foxcroft Academy, and graduate of UMF. He has taught at the Academy for the last 23 years as a high school English teacher. His trademark writing leans toward the humorous and nostalgic. He is well published with five chap books of poetry and two full-length collections. His writer’s website is www.tomlyford.com.

Susann Pelletier is a native of Lewiston. Her work gives voice to her deep connections to her Franco- American heritage, and her vision of social justice and dignity at home and beyond our borders. She is widely published home and abroad in anthologies, literary journals, chapbooks and political and environmental magazines.

Sweeney spent his early childhood years on Peaks Island. He has published poems in a variety of journals, and is a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee. He has taught at Southern Maine Community College since 1983 where he is department chair of English. He serves as an assistant poetry editor at the Café Review and has three books published from Moon Pie Press his latest, Imminent Tribulations.

Wall Simmons is a native Mainer born in Bar Harbor. She began writing poetry in 1971 when her family moved to Winthrop from Bucksport. She graduated from Winthrop High School, and attended UMA. She married her husband Ed in 1979 and has two children, Jacob and Casey and four granddaughters, Acadia Loveday, Aurora Rose, Saffron Moxie and Guinevere Lupin. She considers writing as balm for the soul, which becomes quite evident through her beautiful and unique Maine voice.

Keach, poet and musician, has several musical endeavors. He leads The Maranacook String Band, a band started through the gifted and talented program at Maranacook High School. If you hear the name, Sandy River Ramblers, he’s there, too. He plays bluegrass, hillbilly rock, country and some classic rock. He often brings young, talented singers, and the seasoned and stalwart together to share his fantastic energy, humor and generosity to music lovers all over Maine.

During the reading, guests can enjoy “Fine Print,” an exhibition featuring artwork by 43 Maine artists which incorporates or is inspired by text or typography.

Gallery hours are noon-6 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.

For more information, call 622-3813 or visit harlowgallery.org.


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