METRO DIGEST || CASA volunteers

CASA volunteers

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning County Court Appointed Special Advocates Guardian ad Litem Program is seeking volunteers for the fall 2014 training class.

Volunteers speak up for children with abuse, neglect or dependency cases in the county’s juvenile court.

After 30 hours of classroom instruction from the national CASA curriculum regarding abused and neglected children, trained volunteers are appointed guardian ad litem for dependent children in the court.

They agree to follow a child’s case through the court system, averaging 10 volunteer hours per month. At the end of their investigation, volunteers are required to present a written recommendation to the court on where the child or children should live.

Call the CASA program at 330-740-2239 for information on volunteering.

Win local produce

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Inner City Garden is having monthly drawings for participants to win produce donated by local gardeners.

These gardens are No Yo Farmz, Iron Fire Chili’s, Flannel Farms, Maple Leaf Acres, The Lettuce People, Jackson Maters’ and Goodness Grows. The winners are drawn the first Sunday of each month at noon; winners do not need to be present. All proceeds benefit the Inner City Garden’s Building and Maintenance Fund.

For information on the gardens, visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/YoungstownFoodForest.

Butterfly program

MERCER, PA.

Munnell Run Farm, 753 Greenville Road, is hosting a Wildflower and Butterfly program Aug. 14 for children age 5 to 10. The program consists of a craft, picking and identifying wildflowers, and catching and identifying butterflies.

The class will meet from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Pig Barn. Participants will learn about wildflowers by touching, smelling and identifying them, discussing their characteristics and identifying them while on an exploratory hike.

Guests will create a wildflower craft made of colored cupcake holders and Popsicle sticks. The group also will explore the farm in search of butterflies, which will be caught, observed and released. Finally, there will be a wagon ride during which guests will observe butterflies and wildflowers native at the farm.

Cost is $5 per child. Register by Aug. 12 by calling 724-662-2242.

Classes on organic composting set

YOUNGSTOWN

Grow Youngstown will offer organic composting classes from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Aug. 16, and from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 13 and 20. They will take place at Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek Park. The classes will be lecture and hands-on. To register, visit www.growyoungstown.org.