Local writer publishes third book of poetry

Local poet Lee Ribich's first audience was his family members who received an original poem written by Ribich as an annual Christmas tradition. Those poems and others were eventually combined and became his first published book of poetry in 2011.

Ribich's pen has been busy since, with a second book, "The Lines that Connect Us," released in 2012 and "Stones in a River," his most recent work, released this October.

As a retired English teacher, the written word has long been a central part of Ribich's life.

"I made sophomore English as much about writing as I could, so we had a section on poetry...