Category Archives: San Mateo County

Joe has balanced his life as a home improvement contractor by day, author by night. He is from Maryland, imprinted Appalachian, educated midwestern, settled half a century under redwoods in La Honda, California. Joe is widely published around the world. Recently one of his poems was on display as a giant billboard in London, England.Continue reading “Joe Cottonwood”

Nikki Christiansen’s poem “Bombed” was among those selected during a competition administered in the spring of 2010 by the Community College Humanities Association and sponsored by the Library of Congress as part of then U.S. Poet Laureate Kay Ryan’s project, “Poetry for the Mind’s Joy.”

Stephanie Dobler Cerra is a general writer at Accenture, supporting Google. She has a master’s degree in literature from Indiana University, specializing in Victorian Studies. Her poem, “Photograph of a Minamata Disease Victim,” appeared in The Pennsylvania Review (1986). Poem ORACLE Dad out of state for work, mom got spookyShuffling her Tarot cards, gazing atContinue reading “Stephanie Dobler Cerra”

Louis Castoria has been a volunteer journalist for over 20 years while maintaining his full-time employment as a partner in two sequential law firms. He served for twelve years on a nonprofit’s (Insurance Educational Association) Board, six of them as Chair. He is a 1976 graduate of the University of San Francisco (Valedictorian, Student BodyContinue reading “Louis Castoria”

Josephine Carpignano, 85, retired educational psychologist, lives in San Mateo, California. In 2011 she won the National Senior Poet Honor Scroll Award with her chilling poem “The Yellow Bus.” She is a member of the SF/Peninsula Branch of the California Writers Club. Jo is author of the self-published book Madeline’s Story about her immigrant mother,Continue reading “Jo Carpignano”

Chuck Brickley, born in San Francisco in 1947, graduated from Westmoor High School, San Mateo College and San Jose State University, and currently lives in Daly City. His haiku, senryu, haibun and hay(na)ku have been published in leading haiku journals and anthologies worldwide since 1978. His collection of haiku, earthshine (Snapshot Press, 2017, in itsContinue reading “Chuck Brickley”

SevanKelee Boult (bka Lucky 7) is a well known Bay Area poet and East Palo Alto native. She has been seen on HBO Real Sex since 2000. She has represented several Bay Area slam teams over the past 10 years. In 2014, she became the only person in the Bay to win the honored titleContinue reading “SevanKelee Boult”

Jerry Bolick is a poet, teacher and adult literacy tutor, who has worked with youth and adults, encouraging reflection, self-expression and improved literacy through poetry. He sees haiku as a natural gateway to the larger world of poetry. He hosts the SMCL Haiku Club third Thursday of every month from 7:00 pm – 8:30.

Appointed as Poet Laureate by the City of Pacifica in 2017, Camincha Benvenutto began her four-year term at age 83. Originally hailing from Miraflores, Lima, Peru, she calls the United States her second home. A single mother, grandmother, multi-genre artist, and advocate for the arts and for immigrant rights, she keeps close to her rootsContinue reading “Camincha Benvenutto”

Jorge Tetl Argueta, appointed to serve as San Mateo County Poet Laureate from 2022 to 2024, is a celebrated Salvadoran poet and writer whose bilingual children’s books have received numerous awards. His poetry has appeared in anthologies and textbooks. He won America’s Book Award, among other awards for his first collection of poems for children,Continue reading “Jorge Argueta”