The group features two poets (to be announced) and includes an Open Mic. Hosted by Paul Nash & Denise LaNeve, representing the North Jersey Literary Community and the Poets of the Palisades. This even is free and all are welcome!

DEBORAH GERRISH is the author of four collections of poems, Indeed jasmine (Resource Publications, 2022), Light in Light (Resource Publications, 2017), The Language of Paisley (Xlibris, 2012), and chapbook, The Language of Rain (2008). Her poems have appeared in Lips, Journal of New Jersey Poets, The Stillwater Review, The Practicing Poet, A Constellation of Kisses, The Strategic Poet.The Paterson Literary Review where her poems have received Editor's Choice and Honorable Mention in the Allen Ginsberg Poetry Awards, Royal Beauty, The Paulinskill Poetry Project: Voices from Here 2, Meta-Land: Poets of the Palisades II, and various magazines and anthologies. She received an Ed.D. in Literacy Education from Rutger's University where she was awarded an Edward Fry Fellowship for scholarship research work on poetry process and holds an MFA in Poetry from Drew University. As an educator, she taught English for over thirty-five years in NJ public schools and served as VP of Programs 
(2012-2015) and Board of Trustees (2015-2016) for Women Who Write. 

MARY MAKOFSKE is the author of six books of poetry. Her latest are No Angels (Kelsay, 2023, nominated for the Eric Hoffer Award); The Gambler's Daughter (chapbook, Orchard Street Press, 2022); World Enough, and Time (Kelsay, 2017); and Traction (Ashland Poetry, 2011), winner of the Richard Snyder Prize judged by David Wojahn. Her poems have appeared in 75 journals and 21 anthologies. She received the 2024 William Matthews Prize from Asheville Poetry review and also received first place prizes in Atlanta Review, New Millennium Writings, Littoral Press Broadside Contest, Lullwater Review, Spoon River Poetry Review, Quiet Diamonds, The Ledge, and Cumberland Poetry Review, and the Hudson-Fowler Prize for a five ­poem submission from Slant.