July 23 - 29 Column

Can you believe that is almost time for the kids to go back to school? Don’t wait till the last minute to get your back-to-school list together. There are plenty of sales going on right now. For example, Staples is offering a free backpack. Just join their Staples Reward program and purchase a backpack before June 25. You will receive 100 percent back in Staples Rewards. Check it out at www.staples.com.It is never too early to start saving for college. One rewards program called Upromise offers dollars towards your child’s college education. Just register your credit card then use it at participating restaurants and stores. You also can register your store loyalty cards, like the ones you use to get discounts at Kroger and CVS, to receive money. Tell your child’s grandparents and friends so they can register their cards. Go to www.upromise.com to learn more. Here are some back to school deals for the week.Staples:Zebra Cadoozles mechanical pencils pay $2.99 get a $2.99 rebate.Zebra Sarasa Gel Pens pay $4.99 get $4.99 rebate.Pental Handy Line Highlighters pay $4.99 get $4.99 rebate.Don’t forget Aug. 8th is Teacher Appreciation day at Staples. The first 100 teachers to the store will receive a free gift bag. Bring identification or your Teacher’s Reward card.Office Depot: Portfolios, 5 cents; protractors 5 cents; Papermate, 12-pack pens, 25 cents; Scholastic, 24-pack crayons, 25 cents.Office Max: Schoolio, colored pencils, 25 cents; Schoolio Poly Binders, 20 cents;Dual Pencil Sharpeners, 1 cent;composition Books 50 cents.Walgreen’s: White posterboard, two-pocket folders, No. 2 pencils, highlighters all 9 cents each. Plus, Kleenex Facial Tissue, 89 cents. Here are some other great savings.
■ Parent or teachers can enlist to declare war on flu and cold bugs with Kleenexhttp://www.battlethebug.com/join.aspx
■ Are you 50 or older? Join the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at University of Kentucky for a small fee giving you access to wonderful classes. New classes start this fall. http://www.mc.uky.edu/aging/olli.html
■ If you are 65 years or older become a student at UK where the tuition and fees are waived through the UK Academic Donovan Scholarship. Acceptance is based upon available space. Take classes for credit but not work toward a degree, or take classes for credit and be a degree candidate. Contact Laura Lakes at (858) 257-2657 or email LLake2@email.uky.edu.
■ Teachers order a sample Scholastic magazine for your classroomhttp://teacher.scholastic.com/products/classmags/sample.asp
■ Start school year with healthy and happy kids. Get free publications from The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs.cfm?from=
■ Teachers sign up to receive a free LEGO Smart Kit designed to promote creativity.http://www.legoeducation.com/forms/activitycontest.asp?i=0
■ Educators send NASA your name and address to receive a free Meet Our Solar System poster along with teacher tips, resources and student activities.http://discoverynewfrontiers.nasa.gov/
■ Get a free trial issue to Edutopia magazine. It covers what works in education, with a focus on technology, project learning, and examples from real-world situations.http://www.edutopia.org/free-trial-issue
■ Competitive Society wants to help support literacy around the world by giving you a free note pad and pen.http://www.competitivesociety.com/notepad.html
■ NASA wants to send your name to Mars. Fill in your information and your name will be included with others on a microchip on the Mars Science Laboratory rover heading to Mars in 2011.http://mars9.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/participate/sendyourname/index.cfm
■ Register for National Night Out 2009. Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009 you and your community are invited to be part of the Night Out 2009 Team. Sign up to get your kit filled with “how to” materials.http://www.nationalnightout.org/nno/reg.html
■ You can get into Disney World or Disney Land free on your birthday, now Nickelodeon Universe in Bloomington, MN is offering kids under 18 free admission on their birthday.http://www.nickelodeonuniverse.com/birthday-form.htmlThursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Estee Lauder Counters across America. Get a free 10-day supply of New Advanced Night Repair, no purchase necessary. Located at Macy’s and Dillard in The Fayette Mall on Nicholasville Road.http://www.esteelauder.com/anr/index.tmpl?cm_sp=SCLP-_-WhatsNew-_-NewANRText
■ Go see Lexington’s First Test Event for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games- Kentucky Cup Reining at The Kentucky Horse Park, Thursday at 6:30 pm. Free Admission
■ Kroger’s First Annual Healthy Living Fair at Beaumont Centre Circle on July 29th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Informational booths, free health screenings, kids identification kits, heatlhy lunch ideas for school. There will be some $2,500 in prizes.