Young life digest

Monroe-Woodbury senior attends Creative Writing Institute at Alfred University ALFRED — Jennifer Gioia of Highland Mills attended an Alfred University Creative Writing Institute this summer. Gioia is a senior at Monroe-Woodbury Central School, Central Valley. She is a daughter of Peter and Amy Gioia of Highland Mills. The Institute is designed for students who will enter grades 10, 11 or 12 this fall. The program focuses on a variety of genres, including poetry, short fiction, creative non-fiction and drama. In addition, participants took part in writing intensive exercises designed to address the elements of craft, such as voice, character, image, scene and setting. In addition to workshops, participants enjoyed scheduled activities on and off campus, including picnics, campfires and hikes. Dr. Susan Morehouse, professor of English and chairman of the English Department at Alfred University, is director of the summer Creative Writing Institute. Rahul Mehta, lecturer in English at AU, is co-director Scouts now selling popcorn Monroe - Scouts throughout the communities of Dutchess, Orange, Rockland and Sullivan Counties in New York have begun their annual fall popcorn sale, to help fund their Scouting programs. The Trail’s End popcorn sale helps pay for local Scouting programs in communities all across the country, and Scouts enjoy a great return on their sale, with more than 70 percent of the purchase price going to fund local Scouting. In addition, consumers can again donate popcorn to U.S. military personnel by supporting Scouts in their popcorn sale. For every purchase of “military popcorn,” Trails End will ship the equivalent amount of popcorn to American military forces serving throughout the world. Parents offered ‘back to school’ programs Middletown - Cornell Cooperative Extension is offering “back to school” programs for parents and caregivers with many areas of skill building ranging from disciplining young children to transitioning into the teen years: Cyberbullying at the Albert Wisner Public Library in Warwick on Thursday, Sept. 16, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. No charge. Living With Your Teen: Enjoying and Surviving the Challenge - a four session series beginning Tuesday, Sept. 28, from 7 to 9 p.m. at SS Seward Institute in Florida, $30 family fee. The four session “Discipline is Not a Dirty Word” will be held Thursday, Sept. 30, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Pine Tree Elementary in Monroe and a five session series beginning, Tuesdays, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to noon at the George Robinson Center in Middletown. $30 family fee. A seven session series of Strengthening Families will be held at the Warwick Valley Middle School in Warwick beginning Tuesday, Oct. 5, from 6 to 8:45 p.m. and at Middletown High School beginning Wednesday, Oct. 6, from 6 to 8:45 p.m. No charge. Call 344-1234 to register, a brochure or to speak to parenting educators.