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Former Warren resident Julia Wendell and her husband, Barrett Warner,will share excerpts from their latest books “Take This Spoon” and “My Friend Ken Harvey,” on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. in the Slater Room at the Warren Public Library.

According to David St. John, “Julia Wendell’s Take This Spoon is an absolutely ingenious collection, melding recipes for the kitchen with poems reflecting upon family life-and it’s nothing less than delicious. The shifting constellations of parents and children, the insistent place of food in our domestic dynamics, all of the fruits of the earth and the fruits of our families, these are the currency of Julia Wendell’s exciting and moving new book. The conversational ease of these poems allows us a truly remarkable intimacy with the poet. Trust me; this is a book to read slowly, savoring every page.”

Sue Ellen Thompson, winner of the 2010 Maryland Author Award and editor of The Autumn House Anthology of Contemporary American Poetry states: “Don’t be fooled by the delicious-sounding recipes that open each section of Julia Wendell’s startling new collection, Take This Spoon. This is not a book about cooking, although food is both her inheritance and her obsession. These are poems about the ingredients that go into the making of a life-in this case, that of a woman whose struggles with anorexia and addiction have taught her how to use language as the “pinch of salt” that brings out the flavor-tart and poignant-for the reader. As I joined Wendell on her cook’s tour of what it means to be a mother and a daughter, I caught whiffs of Louise Gluck and Jane Kenyon. Who can blame me for devouring the entire book in a single sitting?”

Julia Wendell grew up in the Allegheny Forest of northwest Pennsylvania. Educated at Cornell University, Boston University, and the University of Iowa, Writer’s Workshop, she left her mid-careers as teacher and editor for the world of horses and three-day eventing. Her children John Logan (a classical sitarist) and Caitlin Saylor (an actor/playwright), grew up with their mother and her husband, poet and critic, Barrett Warner, on their horse farm in northern Baltimore County, where Julia and Barrett still live and work. Julia is enamored of jumping horses over immovable obstacles while galloping cross country.

Barrett Warner’s latest publication, My Friend Ken Harvey, is the winner of the 2014 Chris Toll Prize. Chris Toll was a beloved and respected member of the Baltimore literary community for 40 years. He was also mentor, teacher, and friend to many poets and writers of that community, known for his gentle encouragement, sharp poetic eye, and fearless honesty. The Chris Toll Memorial Writing Prize is for an unpublished chapbook. It honors one poet each year whose work indicates the belief that poetry is the best of all callings, who carries poetry through life like a grim, hard, and happy duty, who knows, as Chris did, the finest expanse we might measure is for the love behind the word. The Prize thus honors the memory of Chris Toll and the bright, brittle artifacts-the poems-he left behind.

Barrett Warner’s poems and stories have appeared in paper, newsprint, and online since 1982. “He covered stock car racing and fast horses as a freelance journalist before making a marginal career with a few talented Thoroughbreds. In 2011, the shy bookworm left the racetrack. Today he reviews books, writes essays, and lectures. The Maryland “hard boot” holds an MFA degree from a small college in North Bennington, Vermont. Currently, he is compiling his fifth issue of Free State Review, a nonpartisan literary journal which he edits with Hal Burdett, J. Wesley Clark, and Bob Timberg. He is also an acquisitions editor for Galileo Books, a 501-C publisher of poetry and prose collections. A migratory sociopath by nature, Barrett is inherently lazy. Averaging two furlongs a year, he has only moved twelve miles from his Westminster birthplace. Many of those years have been spent with his wife, the poet Julia Wendell. Together, the nappy pair raise horses, persimmons, apples, and a mischievous amount of Cain at An Otherwise Perfect Farm.”

Reservations are appreciated but not mandatory; call the library at 723-4650.

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Hear ye! Hear ye! The 2014-15 season of Warren Players’ kicks off with the hilarious Monty Python’s Spamalot, a musical comedy “lovingly” ripped off from the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. This spectacular show tells the tale of the legendary King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table on their quest for the Holy Grail. However, diverting a bit from the traditional story, this musical showcases all the things you expect (and don’t expect!), from the humor of Monty Python. Featuring flying cows, killer rabbits, a visit to Finland, and gorgeous showgirls to the Knights Who Say Ni and a flatulent Frenchman. If you look on the bright side of life, look no further than this Warren Players’ production! These hilarious antics will take to the stage of the Struthers Library Theatre on Oct. 23, 24, and 25 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 26 at 2 p.m.

Director Paula White Roney leads this talented, merry band of players including John Beard as the Historian, Logan Beard as Sir Lancelot, Allan Branthoover as Sir Bedevere, Kevin Hunt as Sir Robin, Adrianne Hunt as the Lady of the Lake, Patrick Mulligan as Sir Galahad, Jim Stowe as King Arthur and Michael Sternberg as Patsy. Rounding out a very raucous but talented ensemble that perform a myriad of roles are Nyssa Brumagin, Tristan Brumagin, Emma Darling, Sarah Dietsch, Alex Dolinger, Jeff Ewing, Kari Ewing, Jillian Funari, Tyler Haslett, Samantha Hensley, Molly Huey, Jen Hoffman, Mark Hurst, Bryan Johnson, Abby Koebley, Bonnie McAnallen, Sarah Myers, Erica Lucks, Sarah Roney, Kamie Shepherd, Alana Stewart, Rachel Stowe, Olivia Thompson and Gabe Yucha.

Spamalot has an amazing support team, including Lynn Sears as production manager; Sue Spencer, Jen Koebley, Molly Dies, Laura Sears-Baldensperger, choreographers; Carolyn Yurick, stage manager; Brian Waterfield, set design; Charmaine Check, costumes; Barb Crowley, lights; Sam Bailey, sound; Mary and Jack Donaldson, properties; and Michael Roney: ROCS music operator.

Tickets can be purchased at the office of Struthers Library Theatre during regular business hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and at the box office one hour prior to each show. For additional information, call the theater at 723-7231.

This show is rated PG-13.

Starting at $3.50/week.

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