Dr. M. Jerry Weiss, Professor Emeritus, Distinguished Service Professor of New Jersey City University and nationally recognized leader in the field of children's and young adult literature, has been honored with "The M. Jerry Weiss Center for Children's and Young Adult Literature" at New Jersey City University. The Center was dedicated at a ribbon cutting ceremony in October 2006 by the President of NJCU, Carlos Hernandez. This is the first such center for the promotion and study of young adult and children's literature and illustration in the state of New Jersey. The center is located in Grossnickle Hall, room 103. Click this link for more information.

Marcia Holtzman, retired assistant superintendent of Metuchen school system and active NJCTE member, has created a "writer's room" at the Edgar School, enlisting the help of parent volunteers as coaches. The result is the third edition of "Metuchen Musings," a journal of writings by members of this group of special tutors.

Beth Ann Bates, NJCTE member and FOCUS editor, has written for Animal Companion Magazine's premier issue (November 2006) and every issue since. Bates writes on freshwater fish for the publication. Go to www.animalcomp.com for more information.

Edie Weinthal, 2007 NJCTE English/language arts educator of the year - Barrons Educational Series has just published Teachable Moments: A Parent's Guide to Helping Your Child Excel. This book is for parents of children ages pre-k to 12th grade. Weinthal has used, she writes, "both her teacher hat and her parent hat" to create a book explaining things that parents would want to know to enhance their child's education and help him or her excel in school. It contains at-home specific activities for reading, writing, using the computer, reading the newspaper, doing research, etc. There are pages that give specific web sites for educational at-home activities, and there are lists of suggested readings for children from pre-k through high school. There is even a chapter on Back-to-School night including questions parents might want to ask of the teacher. Teachable Moments is a highly recommended, practical work.

Emily S. Meixner's article, "Understanding the Questions: A Community-Centered Approach to the Teaching of Multicultural Literature" (NCTE. Voices from the Middle March 2006. 15-19) should be required reading. Her argument challenges the view that the word "culture" defines one's race with the result that "multiculture" excludes the predominating white community from Native American, African American, Asian and also gays. Meixner, director of the Secondary English Education program at the College of New Jersey, invites her students to examine texts with questions that go beyond the facts of the book: to "moving progressively away from the protagonist to build a complex portrait of the world in which she or he lives, then return to this character and discuss the ways in which all of these communities have impacted his or her understanding of personal identity and agency." A graphic representation lists questions that start with the Individual, move to Affiliated Communities, then to Outsider Communities and to Society (the relation between the Affiliated and Outsider Communities), and back again to the Individual.

Sandra Giordano, freelance writer, has an article in each of two new anthologies about motherhood. "Baby's Bedtime" in The Kid Turned Out Fine, ed. Paula Ford-Martin (Adams Media, 2006), is an affectionate, funny look at what really happens when Mom decides it's time for her energetic toddler to go to sleep. "Play-Doh Perfection" in Chicken Soup for the Mother of Preschooler's Soul, ed. Jack Canfield & others (Health Communications, 2006) is part of the wildly popular "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series. With charm, grace and brutal honesty, Sandra examines the everyday emotional trials of motherhood. The doubts and fears all parents contrast with the incredible tenderness of a preschooler's love.

NJCTE Vice-President Joe Pizzo has received the US President's Service Award to recognize the more than 4,000 hours of community service that he has completed during his lifetime. Besides his involvement on the executive board of NJCTE, Pizzo has been a fund-raiser for the South River Food Bank and the American Heart Association. He has recorded magazines and other reading materials for the Mount Carmel Guild Center for the Blind and Visually Handicapped in Newark. He also hosted Education Matters, a cable TV show featuring his students, and School Bell, a series on WRNJ-AM featuring advice for parents of school-age children. Pizzo serves as a boy scout merit badge counselor, an executive board member of the Educational Foundation of the Chesters, and a facilitator at the annual Stamp Out Hate Teen Conference. He has been a member of the education committee of the American Cancer Society, the Somerset County Education Committee, and Morris County's MACLET Committee for teachers of video. He has also been a publicity representative for the New Jersey Network, a reviewer of materials for ABC network's Classroom Connection, and a speaker for the NJ Coalition for Better Television Viewing.

The Montclair Public Schools honored M. Jerry Weiss for his work with the Children's Literature Initiative. Gail Ciercierski and the language arts faculty at Glenfield Middle School hosted a buffet dinner and cocktails entitled "Book It" in his honor. The invitation read: "Dine with this man of letters who has shared his love of literature with students and teachers." They are absolutely correct. And you can also "Book It" by attending *S*T*A*R*S* 10 where Jerry will be the opening STAR.

The Quentin R. Howard Poetry Prize has been awarded by Wind Publications to What Feeds Us by Diane Lockward. The QRH Prize is awarded annually to an outstanding book of poetry published by Wind Publications and commemorates the late Quentin R. Howard who founded Wind Magazine in 1972. "In this brimming collection Diane Lockward's considerable wit engages both what is askew and awry and what to a lesser eye might seem to be standing up straight. She never takes you where you expect to go--that is part of her talent and her sassy wisdom. She is an original and a delight." - Baron Wormser, former Poet Laureate of Maine. "What Feeds Us is sometimes humorous and sometimes heartbreaking. Diane Lockward's language is both plain-spoken and rich, lush. This is a wonderful book that might not nourish your body but certainly will nourish your heart.” - Thomas Lux. "In these sparkling poems, Diane Lockward takes life as it comes and finds nourishment in it all: succulence of the peach, redolence of the pear, the “green grape of sorrow. I love these poems for their craft, sensuality and energy. Like high-wire acts of language and imagination, they almost leap in the air and come down again on the wire, balancing between witty and dark, personal and invented, idea and emotion.” - Patricia Fargnoli, Poet Laureate of New Hampshire. Diane is also the author of two previous collections, Eve's Red Dress (2003), and a chapbook, Against Perfection (1998). Her poems have been published in several anthologies, including Poetry Daily: 366 Poems from the World's Most Popular Poetry Website and Garrison Keillor's Good Poems for Hard Times. Her work has also appeared in such journals as The Beloit Poetry Journal, Spoon River Poetry Review, Poetry International, Poet Lore, and Prairie Schooner. Diane is the recipient of a 2003 Poetry Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and has received awards from North American Review, Louisiana Literature, the Newburyport Art Association, and the St. Louis Poetry Center. Her work has been nominated for four Pushcart Prizes, featured on Poetry Daily and Verse Daily, and read by Garrison Keillor on NPR's The Writer's Almanac. What Feeds Us is available from your favorite local bookstore, from Amazon, directly from Wind, or try our friends at Spring Church Books. Review copies available upon request. E-mail: books@windpub.com.

Diane Lockward's second full-length poetry collection, What Feeds Us, has just been released by Wind Publications. The book is available from your favorite local bookstore, Amazon.com, bn.com, Spring Church Books (800-496-1262), or directly from the publisher. Wind Publications, 600 Overbrook Dr., Nicholasville, KY 40356 e-mail: books@windpub.com ISBN:1893239578 $15.00. "This is a wonderful book that might not nourish your body but certainly will nourish your heart." - Thomas Lux. Diane hopes we will all agree. Check out Diane's new website at www.dianelockward.com.

Mary DeSena (formerly Mary DeAgazio), to whom the New Jersey English Journal was dedicated two years ago, passed away in March 2006. Mary was a member of NJCTE and a dedicated English educator. Donations may be sent to Hunterton Hospice, 2100 Wescott Drive, Flemington, NJ.

Walter H. Johnson, Cumberland County College, Vineland, NJ, offers his opinion on "The Sentence-Structure Dilemma" in the English Journal, January 2006, p. 14.

Diane Lockward, Poetry Writing Project, reports that her poem "My Husband Discovers Poetry" appears in Garrison Keiler's new anthology, Good Poems for Hard Times (Viking 2005). Keillor read the poem at a September joint reading with Billy Collins at the 92nd Street YMHA.

Lost and Found (NY: Forge, 2000), an anthology of stories of 13 authors based on their real-life experiences edited by M. Jerry Weiss and Helen Weiss is listed on p. 112 among the Notable Anthologies in Don Gallo's column "Bold Books for Teenagers" English Journal, January 2006.

Lynne Beriont, grade eight language arts teacher, McManus Middle School, Linden, NJ, is the Union County English/language arts teacher of the year

Phyllis Bolker, grade seven language arts teacher, Iselin Middle School, Woodbridge Township, NJ, is the Middlesex County English/language arts teacher of the year

Dorothy Quinn, teacher of English, publications and video production 9-12, Lakeland Regional High School, Wanaque, NJ, is the Passaic County English/language arts teacher of the year

Carol Smith, grade nine English teacher, Cherokee High School South, is the Burlington County English/language arts teacher of the year

Rosalie Sposito, reading teacher, grades K-5, Northeast Global Studies Magnet School, Montclair, NJ, is the Essex County English/language arts teacher of the year

Adele Stern, outstanding English educator and friend of so many at NJCTE, passed away on September 26, 2005. Tributes to Adele appear in the fall 2005 issue of FOCUS. Her most recent education position was at Fairleigh Dickinson University and the university is creating a scholarship in her name. Contributions, which will be greatly appreciated, can be made in loving memory to The Adele Stern Fund, c/o The Office of the President, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, NJ 07666.

Joseph Pizzo, teacher at Black River Middle School, Chester, and NJCTE Executive Board member, is the NJCTE Outstanding English Language Arts Educator for 2005. He was honored on May 26, 2005 with a NJ Governor's Award in Arts Education and also at a luncheon sponsored by NJCTE on June 11, 2005.

M. Jerry Weiss, Emeritus, New Jersey City University, and NJCTE Executive Board member, was honored at a reading and book signing for the publication of The Signet Book of Short Plays, which he edited. The event took place at Luna Stage in Montclair on Sunday, June 5, 2005. Montclair high school students in media & performing arts gave a superb reading of Blind Date, one of the plays in the book.

Muriel Becker, Emerita, Montclair State University, and NJCTE Executive Secretary-Treasurer, FOCUS editor & Student Awards Coordinator, has also been a member and officer of the Science Fiction Research Association, an international organization for the study of science fiction. At its 2005 annual meeting, Muriel received the Thomas D. Clareson Award for Distinguished Service, presented for "outstanding service activities, promotion of science fiction teaching and study, editing, reviewing, editorial writing, publishing, organizing meetings, mentoring, and leadership in science fiction/fantasy organizations."

Diane Lockward, NJCTE member, for the second year, organized and hosted a poetry festival at the West Caldwell Public Library on Sunday, May 15, 2005. Poetry Festival: A Celebration of New Jersey's Literary Journals brought to West Caldwell 13 journals (a couple from New York). Their editors provided subscription and submission information. Poets, representing each of the journals read throughout the afternoon. The 26 readings were quite varied and satisfying. Books were available for signing.

Rabbi-Reverend-Dr. Raine Teller, NJCTE member, has retired from Essex County Vocational School. For her "second career" she has established HaShem's House. This is a post-denominational synagogue and interfaith house of prayer at 395 Pleasant Valley Way, Suite 2C, West Orange, NJ 07052. She has scheduled Interfaith Sunday School, services, and a Women's Group as well as Shabbat Services. For information, telephone 973-324-5572.

Marcia Holtzman, retired, Metuchen Public Schools, and NJCTE Recorder-Historian, has published a poem entitled "The Girl in AP English" in Musings, edited by Julie Watson Shaver. This poem first appeared in FOCUS in spring 2004. For a copy of Musings, contact Julie Watson Shaver at jwshave@optonline.net or at 732-261-1075.

Nancy O'Reilly, retired, Mountain Lakes High School, and NJCTE member, has published Latin, Not Dead: Greek, Alive and Well in Today's Words: The Concise Handbook of the Building Blocks of our English Language. "It works with the 'average' student, the 'gifted' student, adult level Basic English students, for SAT and ACT review, with ESL students and with Special Education students," writes Nancy, who has taught all such students during her teaching career. For a copy of this book, go to www.wyndhamhallpress.com, www.amazon.com, or www.bn.com.

Josephine M. Waltz, teacher at William Annin Middle School, Basking Ridge, and NJCTE member, has published Write Out of the Oven: Letters and Recipes from Children's Authors. In the spring of 2001, Jo Waltz and her 6th grade reading students "embarked [as she says in the introduction to Write Out of the Oven] on an adventure to collect recipes from our favorite authors." For a copy of this book, go to www.teacherideapress.com, www.amazon.com, or www.bn.com.

Lisa K. Winkler, teacher at South Orange Middle School, and NJCTE member, has published the article "Celebrate Democracy! Teaching About Censorship" in the English Journal, May 2005. This journal is published by NCTE. For more information, go to www.ncte.org.

Have member news to share? Please contact Jennifer Persson at jpersson@njcte.org.