Adults and teens are invited to celebrate Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month at the next Verse on the Vine poetry reading. Hosted by Livermore Poet Laureate Peggy Schimmelman, the program will feature special guests Tony Aldarondo and Nina Serrano. Refreshments will be served, and an open mic will follow the formal presentations. This free program will take place on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, at 3 p.m. in the Storytime Room of the Civic Center Library (1188 S. Livermore Ave).

Tony Aldarondo is a proud Latino of Puerto Rican descent. He is the author of three full-length poetry books published by Hummingbird Press and has been featured in venues throughout the Bay Area and Northern California, as well as in Japan, and even once while standing up on a JetBlue airplane! His poetry reflects not only his love for his Latino heritage but also his deep appreciation for Shakespeare, rhythm and rhyme, and theater. A pervasive thread of goodwill and empathy for humanity runs throughout his work.

Nina Serrano is a cultural activist and a 90-year-old prize-winning poet and media producer based in Vallejo, California. She has published three volumes of poetry: Heart Songs, Heart's Journey, and Heart Strong, as well as the forthcoming Out of the Blue. She has also published a novel, Nicaragua Way. Her plays have been produced in the United States and Canada. Currently, she produces monthly radio programs on literature and Latinx affairs on KPFA (94.1 FM) and OZCAT Radio (89.5 FM).