EQUINUNK — Nathaniel Warner, the son of Russell and Gayle Warner of Equinunk and a student at Hamilton College, went south for vacation. But instead of heading to the beaches of the Bahamas or Cancun like other spring breakers, Warner spent a week of spring break volunteering with The Nature Conservancy at Blowing Rocks Preserve in Hobe Sound, Florida, from March 13 to 17.

Warner and other students helped with environmental clean-up and building trails at Blowing Rocks, a barrier island sanctuary sheltering 500 wildlife species and one of the most productive sea turtle nesting sites on the Atlantic coast.

Alternative Spring Break is sponsored by the Hamilton Action Volunteer Outreach Coalition (HAVOC), a student-run organization providing community service for Oneida County since 1988.

Warner, a senior majoring in geology at Hamilton, is a graduate of Honesdale High School.

Fifty-seven other Hamilton students are spent their spring break doing community service projects such as building houses, working in homeless shelters and soup kitchens, doing environmental clean-up, and tutoring children in Alabama, South Carolina and Washington, D.C.

LIBERTY — Jerry Mills, an internationally recognized educator and singer/songwriter, will present "Creating Positive Outcomes For All Young People," on Thursday, March 23 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Sullivan County BOCES Administrative Building on Ferndale-Loomis Road in Liberty.

The program is open without charge to new teachers, parents, educators and others interested in promoting positive outcomes for children/students.

Covered in Mills’ presentation will be the five basic needs that influence all choices and all behavior, why too many kids feel disappointed or frustrated at school, how to improve communication and collaboration between home and school, and positive approaches to the challenges of ADD/ADHD related problems.

Mills is an award-winning educator, singer/songwriter, and motivational trainer from Michigan who offers hope, inspiration and a powerful message about overcoming adversities to achieve success. He has received national recognition for his outstanding work with schools and communities. Most recently, the National Attention Deficit Disorder Association presented him with the "National Mentor and Role Model" award.

To register call Debbie O’Malley at 914/292-0082, ext. 140.

NEWBURGH — Rock Hill resident A. Kelly Cooke-Laufersweiler, class of 2000, was one of 18 Mount Saint Mary College students named an Aquinas Scholar at the college’s Academic Investiture ceremony on February 19.

Cooke-Laufersweiler, an English major pursuing a dual certification in education/special education, is a Dean’s List student.

The title Aquinas Scholar is awarded to juniors and seniors who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership and college community involvement. Candidates, who were nominated by faculty members and approved by the Mount’s Academic Standards Committee, must have attained a 3.6 grade index out of a possible 4.0. Only up to three students per division per class may be nominated.

To learn more about the Mount, visit www.msmc.edu.