Theresa Whitehill • Poet

Laura Pope and Noyo High School Students, Poetry At The Cobalt
2025-02-09 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Cobalt Gallery, 430 Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA, 95437, United States
Super-Soul Reading
“Why, what’s the matter,
That you have such a February face,
So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness?”
THIS IS AN INVITATION TO ALL POETS, WRITERS, READERS, AND LOVERS OF LITERATURE, YOUNG, OLD, IN BETWEEN, KNOWN, UNKNOWN, SUBMERGED, EMERGED AND EMERGING: Rhyming, free verse, expensive or expansive verse, reverses, metered, learned, unlearned, experimental—all varieties, styles and non-styles are welcome.
The reading series, Poetry At The Cobalt, is located in downtown Fort Bragg at the beautiful Cobalt Gallery, thanks to Button Quinn, artist and gallery owner who has graciously made the space available to us. The readings are the 2nd Sunday of the month, 4–6 pm. The next reading at the Cobalt Gallery will be Sunday, February 9, 2025, featuring Laura Pope, and Noyo High School students, followed by open mic readings. There is a signup sheet and each poet reads for 5 minutes. Please get this around far and wide, as we’d like to reach all over Mendocino County and beyond. Any suggestions or ideas you have, including other people to invite, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, and looking forward to seeing you Sunday, February 9th at the Cobalt Gallery.
PEGASUS SOARS NO MATTER WHAT,
Larry Felson & Joe Smith
510-684-8270
BIO OF LAURA POPE
Laura Pope has been an artist, mother, and reasonably decent human on the Mendocino coast for 26 years. Her art path has traveled through wood working, jewelry making, painting, mixed-media sculpture, poetry and music. Laura exhibited in the Laguna Sawdust Festival and the Laguna Beach Festival of Art for 20 years. Finding herself in the company of several astoundingly deep, brilliant poets, she discovered that writing poetry is contagious. She has presented poetry in interviews on KZYX and KMUD. Her paintings are currently on display at The Bookstore on Larel street in Fort Bragg.
Tribe
It’s the moment when’
Mom tells you she’s marrying the boyfriend
who touches your breasts
when she’s not around
Dad loses his job
in a town, a county
where there are no more jobs
You learn your husband
has the worst kind of cancer
Or the lump is in your breast
For millions
this moment is happening
now
The boy at the cash register
The woman waiting for the bus
The man who always sits alone
We all feel so alone
in our heads
yet our bones are all humming
the same half-remembered tune
roared ecstatically by a sun
billions of years ago
Take a step to the right
we are all tugged along
They say if a single atom was removed
the universe would collapse
You are the atom at the center
holding us all together
You are the gift
we’ve been waiting for
If your husband is hurting you
take a step to the left
then another
until you are surrounded by people
who smile when they see you,
If someone wants to hurt you
they circle around you
like a herd of mama elephants
protecting the young
You are the gift
You are the gift
You are the gift
we’ve been waiting for
Noyo High Students will present poems in connection with the exhibit of their artwork, currently on display at the Cobalt Gallery.

LOBA Poetry Series at the Ukiah Library
2025-02-15 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-03-15 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-19 15:00 - 16:00 | Ukiah Branch Library, 105 North Main Street, Ukiah, CA, 95482, United States
LOBA POETRY SERIES
Monthly Poet Features & Open Mic
Join Ukiah Branch Library staff as we host in-person poetry events on the third Saturday of each month at 3 p.m. This free event is open to both teens & adults – all are invited to share poems in any form or style, or just listen to others.
Please contact the Ukiah Branch Library at 707-463-4490 or carrm@mendocinocounty.gov for more information.
SERIE DE POESÍA LOBA
Funciones mensuales de poeta y micrófono abierto
Únase al personal de la biblioteca sucursal de Ukiah mientras organizamos eventos de poesía en persona el tercer sábado de cada mes a las 3 p.m. Este evento gratuito está abierto tanto a adolescentes como a adultos; todos están invitados a compartir poemas en cualquier forma o estilo, o simplemente escuchar a otros.
Comuníquese con la biblioteca sucursal de Ukiah al 707-463-4490 o carrm@mendocinocounty.gov para obtener más información.

Rhythm Running River on KZYX Public Radio
2025-02-16 15:00 - 17:00, 2025-03-02 15:00 - 17:00, 2025-03-16 15:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-06 15:00 - 17:00, 2025-04-20 15:00 - 17:00, 2025-05-04 15:00 - 17:00 | KZYX & Z, 88.1, 90.7, & 91.5 FM, 9300 HWY 128, Philo, CA, 95466, United States
Rhythm Running River poetry programming every 1st Sunday and every 3rd Sunday from 3 to 5 pm on KZYX&Z Public Radio, 90.7, 91.5, and 88.1 FM with host Dan Roberts.
For playlists, visit Rhythm Running River on Out Far Press. Stream the audio here.

Bill Churchill, Point Arena Third Thursday Poetry & Jazz - hybrid event
2025-02-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Think Visual Gallery, 240 Main Street, Point Arena, 95468, United States
On Thursday, February 20, at 7pm The Third Thursday Poetry & Jazz Reading Series will feature Bill Churchill.
The reading will take place at Think Visual Gallery, located at 240 Main Street in Point Arena. Doors open at 7pm, event begins at 7:15pm. Bring something to sit on, something to eat and/or drink (if you want!), your words, music and ears!! The reading will begin with live improv jazz, followed by a featured reading, then an open mic with jazz improv, and finally the reading will conclude with more live improv jazz.
Third Thursday Poetry & Jazz is supported by The Third Thursday Poetry Group, anonymous supporters, and Poets & Writers, Inc.

Thomas Roberdeau and Scott Croghan, Mendocino Poetry Series
2025-02-22 16:00 - 18:00 | Mendocino Art Center, 45200 Little Lake Street, Mendocino, CA, 95460, United States
Dear Poets and lovers of poetry,
You are invited to attend the February 22nd Mendocino Open Mic Poetry Series at the Mendocino Art Center.
The February featured readers are poets Thomas Roberdeau and Scott Croghan. There is a sign-up sheet available for poets reading in the open mic following the featured readers.
Directions:
Mendocino Open Mic Poetry Series
Last Saturday of the month: February 22nd
Mendocino Art Center at the Stevenson Studio
Time: 4-6 pm
Format: Reading begins with featured readers in the first hour and is followed by an open mic.
Open mic poets are asked to read one or two poems no longer than five minutes total.
Questions Contact:
Devreaux Baker
dbaker@mcn.org
www.devreauxbaker.org

Larry Felson, Writers Read Ukiah
2025-02-27 19:00 - 21:00 | Grace Hudson Museum Community Room, 431 South Main Street, Ukiah, CA, 95482, United States
Writers Read Ukiah last Thursday poetry series will meet on Thursday, February 27, at 7 PM at the Grace Hudson Museum in Ukiah. The featured reader is Larry Felson.
Open mic session will follow the featured reading. Maximum time for each reader is six minutes. Event will end at 9 PM.
For Information, contact Writers Read Ukiah MC Michael Riedell, innisfreeriedell@gmail.com
Writers Read happens on the last Thursday of almost every month and has been happening in Ukiah since 1999. This reading series is sponsored by Colored Horse Studios, Michael Riedell, Dan Barth, the Poet Laureate Committee of Ukiah, the Grace Hudson Museum and donations. Since the start of 2023, donations have not been keeping up with expenses. Please consider a one-time or once-a-year larger than usual donation to help us keep this reading series going. Contact Michael—innisfreeriedell@gmail.com—if you can help. Thanks.

Spirit of Place: Fundraiser Reading for Anthology
2025-02-28 18:30 - 20:30 | Grace Hudson Museum Community Room, 431 South Main Street, Ukiah, CA, 95482, United States
Join poets Bill Churchill, Georgina Marie Guardado, Linda Noel, Michael Riedell, and Theresa Whitehill in a reading to benefit the anthology Spirit of Place: Mendocino County Women Poets
Friday, February 28, 2025
6:30 pm
Grace Hudson Museum
431 South Main Street, Ukiah, CA 95482
$10 Donation (benefits the anthology project)
Produced by Devreaux Baker, Poet Laureate of Mendocino County along with a group of co-editors
For more information: poetryanthology2@gmail.com

Fort Bragg Library Poetry Open Mic
2025-03-06 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-04-03 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Fort Bragg Library Meeting Room, 499 East Laurel Street, FORT BRAGG, CA, 95437, United States
First Thursday Poetry Open Mic in Fort Bragg, CA has returned to meeting in person. You can also attend this event via Zoom.
Since the library is a crossroads and we want to reduce risk of illness, we still ask you to wear masks while you’re in the audience. Wear a sweater because we need to ventilate the room well. When you’re at podium reading poems, you won’t need a mask.
We ask that you keep your reading under 10 minutes and stick to poetry in all its variety of forms.
To receive an invitation to the Zoom reading, or for more information, contact Dan Hess, Branch Librarian (info in Organizer section below).

Open Mic Celebration of International Women’s Day, Poetry At The Cobalt
2025-03-09 16:00 - 18:00 | Cobalt Gallery, 430 Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA, 95437, United States
THIS IS AN INVITATION TO ALL POETS, WRITERS, READERS, AND LOVERS OF LITERATURE, YOUNG, OLD, IN BETWEEN, KNOWN, UNKNOWN, SUBMERGED, EMERGED AND EMERGING: Rhyming, free verse, expensive or expansive verse, reverses, metered, learned, unlearned, experimental—all varieties, styles and non-styles are welcome.
The reading series, Poetry At The Cobalt, is located in downtown Fort Bragg at the beautiful Cobalt Gallery, thanks to Button Quinn, artist and gallery owner who has graciously made the space available to us. The readings are the 2nd Sunday of the month, 4–6 pm. The next reading at the Cobalt Gallery will be Sunday, March 9, 2025, and will be an open mic Celebration of International Women’s Day. There is a signup sheet and each poet reads for 5 minutes. Please get this around far and wide, as we’d like to reach all over Mendocino County and beyond. Any suggestions or ideas you have, including other people to invite, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, and looking forward to seeing you Sunday, March 9th at the Cobalt Gallery.
PEGASUS SOARS NO MATTER WHAT,
Larry Felson & Joe Smith
510-684-8270

Theresa Whitehill, Point Arena Third Thursday Poetry & Jazz - hybrid event
2025-03-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Think Visual Gallery, 240 Main Street, Point Arena, 95468, United States
On Thursday, March 20, at 7pm The Third Thursday Poetry & Jazz Reading Series will feature Theresa Whitehill.
The reading will take place at Think Visual Gallery, located at 240 Main Street in Point Arena. Doors open at 7pm, event begins at 7:15pm. Bring something to sit on, something to eat and/or drink (if you want!), your words, music and ears!! The reading will begin with live improv jazz, followed by a featured reading, then an open mic with jazz improv, and finally the reading will conclude with more live improv jazz.
Third Thursday Poetry & Jazz is supported by The Third Thursday Poetry Group, anonymous supporters, and Poets & Writers, Inc.

Devreaux Baker, Writers Read Ukiah
2025-03-27 19:00 - 21:00 | Grace Hudson Museum Community Room, 431 South Main Street, Ukiah, CA, 95482, United States
Writers Read Ukiah last Thursday poetry series will meet on Thursday, March 27, at 7 PM at the Grace Hudson Museum in Ukiah. The featured reader is Devreaux Baker.
Open mic session will follow the featured reading. Maximum time for each reader is six minutes. Event will end at 9 PM.
For Information, contact Writers Read Ukiah MC Michael Riedell, innisfreeriedell@gmail.com
Writers Read happens on the last Thursday of almost every month and has been happening in Ukiah since 1999. This reading series is sponsored by Colored Horse Studios, Michael Riedell, Dan Barth, the Poet Laureate Committee of Ukiah, the Grace Hudson Museum and donations. Since the start of 2023, donations have not been keeping up with expenses. Please consider a one-time or once-a-year larger than usual donation to help us keep this reading series going. Contact Michael—innisfreeriedell@gmail.com—if you can help. Thanks.

Ed Balldinger and David Parch, Mendocino Poetry Series
2025-03-29 16:00 - 18:00 | Mendocino Art Center, 45200 Little Lake Street, Mendocino, CA, 95460, United States
Dear Poets and lovers of poetry,
You are invited to attend the March 29th Mendocino Open Mic Poetry Series at the Mendocino Art Center.
The March featured readers are poets Ed Balldinger and David Parch. There is a sign-up sheet available for poets reading in the open mic following the featured readers.
Directions:
Mendocino Open Mic Poetry Series
Last Saturday of the month: March 29th
Mendocino Art Center at the Stevenson Studio
Time: 4-6 pm
Format: Reading begins with featured readers in the first hour and is followed by an open mic.
Open mic poets are asked to read one or two poems no longer than five minutes total.
Questions Contact:
Devreaux Baker
dbaker@mcn.org
www.devreauxbaker.org

Mendocino Coast Writers' Conference Registration 2025
2025-04-01 | Online Event
Registration for MCWC 2025 opens April 1!
MCWC 2025 conference registration and contest submissions will open Tuesday, April 1. The deadline is Monday, June 30.
For more information, visit the Mendocino Coast Writers’ Conference website here.
KEY DATES
April 1: Conference registration and contest submissions open
May 1: Extended Registration (fee increases to $900)
June 30: Deadline for conference registration and contest submissions
July 31 – August 2: In-person conference

Joe Smith & Larry Felson: Starlight Lounge
2025-04-12 19:00 - 22:00 | Starlight Lounge, Willits Community Theatre, 37 W Van Lane, Willits, CA, 95490, United States
Fort Bragg poets Joe Smith and Larry Felson are the featured readers at a poetry reading to be held on Saturday, April 12, at the Willits Community Theatre Playhouse, located at 37 West Van Lane, in Willits. The reading will begin at 7 p.m.
An open reading will follow the featured readers. Entry by donation; suggested donation $10. However, no one will be turned away due to lack of funds.

Lorene Zarou Zouzounis & Tribute to Palestinian poets, Poetry At The Cobalt
2025-04-13 16:00 - 18:00 | Cobalt Gallery, 430 Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA, 95437, United States
THIS IS AN INVITATION TO ALL POETS, WRITERS, READERS, AND LOVERS OF LITERATURE, YOUNG, OLD, IN BETWEEN, KNOWN, UNKNOWN, SUBMERGED, EMERGED AND EMERGING: Rhyming, free verse, expensive or expansive verse, reverses, metered, learned, unlearned, experimental—all varieties, styles and non-styles are welcome.
The reading series, Poetry At The Cobalt, is located in downtown Fort Bragg at the beautiful Cobalt Gallery, thanks to Button Quinn, artist and gallery owner who has graciously made the space available to us. The readings are the 2nd Sunday of the month, 4–6 pm. The next reading at the Cobalt Gallery will be Sunday, April 13, 2025, featuring Lorene Zarou Zouzounis & Tribute to Palestinian poets, followed by open mic readings. There is a signup sheet and each poet reads for 5 minutes. Please get this around far and wide, as we’d like to reach all over Mendocino County and beyond. Any suggestions or ideas you have, including other people to invite, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, and looking forward to seeing you Sunday, April 13th at the Cobalt Gallery.
PEGASUS SOARS NO MATTER WHAT,
Larry Felson & Joe Smith
510-684-8270

Janferie J Stone, Point Arena Third Thursday Poetry & Jazz - hybrid event
2025-04-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Think Visual Gallery, 240 Main Street, Point Arena, 95468, United States
On Thursday, April 17, at 7pm The Third Thursday Poetry & Jazz Reading Series will feature Janferie J Stone.
The reading will take place at Think Visual Gallery, located at 240 Main Street in Point Arena. Doors open at 7pm, event begins at 7:15pm. Bring something to sit on, something to eat and/or drink (if you want!), your words, music and ears!! The reading will begin with live improv jazz, followed by a featured reading, then an open mic with jazz improv, and finally the reading will conclude with more live improv jazz.
Third Thursday Poetry & Jazz is supported by The Third Thursday Poetry Group, anonymous supporters, and Poets & Writers, Inc.

Haiku Night, Writers Read Ukiah
2025-04-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Grace Hudson Museum Community Room, 431 South Main Street, Ukiah, CA, 95482, United States
Writers Read Ukiah last Thursday poetry series will meet on Thursday, April 24, at 7 PM at the Grace Hudson Museum in Ukiah. This will be Haiku Night, in connection with the UkiaHaiku Festival.
Open mic session will follow the featured reading. Maximum time for each reader is six minutes. Event will end at 9 PM.
For Information, contact Writers Read Ukiah MC Michael Riedell, innisfreeriedell@gmail.com
Writers Read happens on the last Thursday of almost every month and has been happening in Ukiah since 1999. This reading series is sponsored by Colored Horse Studios, Michael Riedell, Dan Barth, the Poet Laureate Committee of Ukiah, the Grace Hudson Museum and donations. Since the start of 2023, donations have not been keeping up with expenses. Please consider a one-time or once-a-year larger than usual donation to help us keep this reading series going. Contact Michael—innisfreeriedell@gmail.com—if you can help. Thanks.

Martin Hickell and Jamie Armstrong, Mendocino Poetry Series
2025-04-26 16:00 - 18:00 | Mendocino Art Center, 45200 Little Lake Street, Mendocino, CA, 95460, United States
Dear Poets and lovers of poetry,
You are invited to attend the April 26th Mendocino Open Mic Poetry Series at the Mendocino Art Center.
The April featured readers are poets Martin Hickell and Jamie Armstrong. There is a sign-up sheet available for poets reading in the open mic following the featured readers.
Directions:
Mendocino Open Mic Poetry Series
Last Saturday of the month: April 26th
Mendocino Art Center at the Stevenson Studio
Time: 4-6 pm
Format: Reading begins with featured readers in the first hour and is followed by an open mic.
Open mic poets are asked to read one or two poems no longer than five minutes total.
Questions Contact:
Devreaux Baker
dbaker@mcn.org
www.devreauxbaker.org

2025 ukiaHaiku Festival
2025-04-27 | Ukiah Civic Center, 300 Seminary Ave, Ukiah, CA, 95482, United States
As the New Year approaches, we hope you might find time to enter the 23rd ukiaHaiku Festival contest. Residents of Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma, and Humboldt counties, from kindergarten age through adult, can enter haiku in ten different categories (two for Spanish). There is also one category open to planet Earth, the Jane Reichhold International Award. Writing haiku, one of the simplest and most accessible forms of poetry, gives you a chance to capture and reflect upon being present in a special moment of experience.

There will be a celebration of winning haiku on April 27th, 2025 at the Civic Center Council Chambers where we invite winners to attend and read their haiku. Winners will receive awards, including gift certificates to local bookstores. We will also produce a publication of the winning haiku.

In recognition that the Pomo People are the original inhabitants of Mendocino County and that the name Ukiah itself is from a Pomo language, this year, we are making an open call to our Pomo neighbors to share haiku that are in Pomo languages or express a Pomo perspective. (These can be written in English, Spanish and Pomo Languages, with English translations.)

Haiku submissions can be made on our website: www.ukiahaiku.org

The website also has information on writing haiku including advice from the late Jane Reichhold (a haiku scholar), in her videoed lesson for local teachers (see “resources” at the bottom of the website page). These resources are intended to help show what our judges are looking for in a haiku.

If you have any questions, please contact Colter Jacobsen at Ukiahaikufestival@gmail.com or 415-832-0978.
If you prefer to submit haiku via snail mail, there are entry forms at the Mendocino County Library in Ukiah. Or you can print a pdf from our website and send it to:

ukiaHaiku Festival
Mendocino County Library
105 N Main St
Ukiah, CA 95482

Both online and snail mail submissions must be postmarked by February 8th.

Visit the website for more information and to read more winning haiku from previous festivals.
I hope you will participate with entries and come join the celebration!

Sincerely,
Melissa Eleftherion Carr
Ukiah Poet Laureate Emeritus 2021-2023

The ukiaHaiku Festival Youth Outreach was awarded a grant by the California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities and sponsored by North Coast Opportunities.

instagram: @ukiahaikufestival

Steven Rood, Poetry At The Cobalt
2025-05-11 17:00 - 19:00 | Cobalt Gallery, 430 Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA, 95437, United States
THIS IS AN INVITATION TO ALL POETS, WRITERS, READERS, AND LOVERS OF LITERATURE, YOUNG, OLD, IN BETWEEN, KNOWN, UNKNOWN, SUBMERGED, EMERGED AND EMERGING: Rhyming, free verse, expensive or expansive verse, reverses, metered, learned, unlearned, experimental—all varieties, styles and non-styles are welcome.
The reading series, Poetry At The Cobalt, is located in downtown Fort Bragg at the beautiful Cobalt Gallery, thanks to Button Quinn, artist and gallery owner who has graciously made the space available to us. The readings are the 2nd Sunday of the month, 5–7 pm. The next reading at the Cobalt Gallery will be Sunday, May 11, 2025, featuring Bay Area poet Steven Rood, followed by open mic readings. There is a signup sheet and each poet reads for 5 minutes. Please get this around far and wide, as we’d like to reach all over Mendocino County and beyond. Any suggestions or ideas you have, including other people to invite, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, and looking forward to seeing you Sunday, May 11th at the Cobalt Gallery.
PEGASUS SOARS NO MATTER WHAT,
Larry Felson & Joe Smith
510-684-8270

Scott Bird, Point Arena Third Thursday Poetry & Jazz - hybrid event
2025-05-15 19:00 - 21:00 | The Record, 265 Main Street, Point Arena, CA, 95468, United States
On Thursday, May 15, at 7pm The Third Thursday Poetry & Jazz Reading Series will feature SF poet Scott Bird.
The reading will take place at The Record at 265 Main Street in downtown Point Arena. The reading begins with live music, followed by a featured reading with the musicians accompanying Bird, then an open mic with musical improv, and finally the reading concludes with a live music jam. Poets, storytellers, and musicians welcome.
Scott Bird is a poet, painter and musician originally from Western Colorado, living in San Francisco. He is the co founder of the Coit Tower Poetry Club, a monthly reading series at the top of Telegraph Hill, and editor of their magazine Apocrypha. His book Twenty Two Madrigals is out from Apocrypha Press and is available for purchase at Murphy’s Tack n Feed Store in Chugwater, Wyoming. Scott works as a gardener and a California Naturalist for the Presidio in San Francisco. His forthcoming book Paradox will be out from a Lithic Press later this year.
Third Thursday Poetry & Jazz is supported by The Third Thursday Poetry Group, anonymous supporters, and Poets & Writers, Inc.
