Somers Point Poet Laureate
The Arts Commission, in partnership with the Somers Point Unique Experiences Club, recommended the establishment of a Poet Laureate Program in the City of Somers Point and by Resolution, City Council authorized the creation of this two-year term position in 2014.
New Poet Laureate Announced
At the City Council meeting on January 25, 2024, Sarah Fertsch was formally approved as our newest Poet Laureate and will serve through December 2025.
She is a journalist, novelist and poet, and her varied works are semi-autobiographical and reflect the beauty of South Jersey. In 2018, she won ‘Best Student Writer’ award at Atlantic Cape Community College for her published poem, Winning the Ocean City Twin Contest. She is involved with the Somers Point Poetry Society and often helps facilitate those meetings. Below is a poem she recently wrote for our January Photography Exhibit and Reception.
She is a journalist, novelist and poet, and her varied works are semi-autobiographical and reflect the beauty of South Jersey. In 2018, she won ‘Best Student Writer’ award at Atlantic Cape Community College for her published poem, Winning the Ocean City Twin Contest. She is involved with the Somers Point Poetry Society and often helps facilitate those meetings. Below is a poem she recently wrote for our January Photography Exhibit and Reception.
On June 13, 2019, Erin Castaldi, was approved by City Council as Poet Laureate and served two terms.
As Poet Laureate, she participated in Poetry in the Park each year and was the MC for the event in 2022. She has provided poetry readings at a number of City Council sessions, has judged our 8th grade Poetry Contest and has led workshops for students at Jordan Road Elementary School. In addition she has offered a "Haiku Happening Corner" as an activity at Art in the Park every year.
Erin's specialty is Haiku and in 2021 she was selected to edit the Haiku Society of America’s annual anthology. The Haiku Society, a New-York based non-profit organization, founded in 1968 with international membership, produces a quarterly journal and newsletters and presents lectures, workshops and book awards throughout the year.
As Poet Laureate, she participated in Poetry in the Park each year and was the MC for the event in 2022. She has provided poetry readings at a number of City Council sessions, has judged our 8th grade Poetry Contest and has led workshops for students at Jordan Road Elementary School. In addition she has offered a "Haiku Happening Corner" as an activity at Art in the Park every year.
Erin's specialty is Haiku and in 2021 she was selected to edit the Haiku Society of America’s annual anthology. The Haiku Society, a New-York based non-profit organization, founded in 1968 with international membership, produces a quarterly journal and newsletters and presents lectures, workshops and book awards throughout the year.
Our first poet laureate was Maria Provenzano-Leonetti who was appointed in January of 2015 and served two terms. During this time she was involved in a number of community events to provide public poetry readings of her own work or the works of others. Such events included the annual Memorial Day Ceremony, the annual Love the Arts event, an Evening of Spoken Words & Music, and the City's reorganization meeting in January and during their April session to highlight poetry month.
In addition, she led poetry classes for our Somers Point teachers and our 7th grade students at Jordan Road School to show them the joy of writing poetry. And through “Writing Poetry Your Way: Foundations of Poetry for All Levels,” she provided local residents, high school age and above, the opportunity to participate in a series of sessions to learn about expression through this art form.
In addition, she led poetry classes for our Somers Point teachers and our 7th grade students at Jordan Road School to show them the joy of writing poetry. And through “Writing Poetry Your Way: Foundations of Poetry for All Levels,” she provided local residents, high school age and above, the opportunity to participate in a series of sessions to learn about expression through this art form.