On Saturday, April 11 th , the Starlight Lounge Poetry Series will be celebrating young local poets.

Anika Snyder is the featured reader, and she will be supported by several student-poets who are honing their skills at Willits High School. The reading will take place on Saturday April 11 at
the Willits Community Theatre Playhouse, 37 West Van Lane, beginning at 7 p.m.

Anika Snyder is a vibrant 25-year-old poet whose readings in Ukiah and elsewhere in the county have garnered praise from veteran poets and literati alike. Taking inspiration from talented
humorists like Dorothy Parker, Kurt Vonnegut, and Joseph Heller, Snyder has found that expression through words doesn’t always need to translate into tragedy even when the circumstances are dire. Her debut book, Syllable Soccer, has taken root in small town communities and has brought a sense of connection to those readers who are disenfranchised, misunderstood, mistreated, and at times, misdiagnosed. She is soon to release her second
book of poetry and is halfway done with her third.

Reading along with Snyder will be a number of student-poets from Willits High School, all of whom are members of the Willits High School Creative Writing Club, mentored this year by Katrina Hall. Last year, five Willits High School students who took a similar class were honored by having their poems published in the annual California Poets in the Schools statewide anthology.

Depending on logistics and available time, some open reading slots may be available to other local poets. Entry to this event is by donation. However, in keeping with a long Willits poetry
reading tradition going back to the Car Lords poetry series of the 1980s, no one will be turned away due to lack of funds.