Coupons

The Washington County Commission on Aging Senior Nutrition Services Program will distribute Farmers' Market Coupon Checks Thursday at the three Hagerstown senior sites - Alexander House, Potomac Towers and Walnut Towers - and at the four county sites upon request. The coupon checks are free for seniors older than 60 based on need. The coupons may be used to receive fresh fruits and vegetables. Seniors applying for the coupons must show proof of age, and may use a driver's license, birth certificate or other identification that has name, address and date of birth.

The Humane Society of Washington County is selling the $20 Rotary International 2010 Value Book, which contains coupons valued at more than $500. Half of the proceeds from the sale of the books will be donated to the shelter. The book contains coupons for a variety of local businesses like golf courses, restaurants, historic sites, entertainment and family recreation sites. The book is available at the shelter's front counter during normal business hours - Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The book can also be purchased online at www.hswcmd.

By MARLO BARNHART Staff Writer The American Red Cross has an offer for those who play bingo for blood. Anyone who gives blood at the Halfway Volunteer Fire Company on Thursday, July 17, from 2 to 7 p.m. will get a $5 coupon for bingo, according to Chief Jeff Ringer. An added bonus will be a free ticket to a Hagerstown Suns game. "We are having critical shortages of O-negative blood," said Teresa Elwood, health services director at the Red Cross. That type is especially important because Washington County Hospital is a trauma center and O-negative blood is the universal donor.

Schools chief coupon gets a 1 for sense I couldn't help but notice the little "clip-n-save" coupon in last Friday's editions of The Herald-Mail, in which the Washington County School Board surveys what the public values in a new chief. Sort of like a personals ad for a superintendent. People are encouraged to fill out the survey and mail it back in to the board, but, frankly, that would cost me the price of a stamp, so I'll just fill it out here. Let's see, "Please circle the number of the group you represent: 1. Administrator.

Enough with the snow, already. We’re ready to find fun in our own backyards. Spring is the time for outdoor entertaining. So for tips on fuss-free ways to design a party-perfect yard, we went to the source: Participants in the upcoming Flower & Garden Show at Hagerstown Community College on Saturday, March 12, and Sunday, March 13.   Each year, vendors tout the latest and greatest in gardening during the yearly fundraiser for the...

 "The Q101: The Basics" is at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at Boonsboro Library, 401 Potomac St., Boonsboro. Susan Atkisson will discuss the who, what, when, where, why and how of couponing. Admission is free.  For more information, contact call the library at 301-432-5723 or email bns@washcolibrary.org .

Ward to talk about finding coupons for sales A coupon class with Jennifer Ward, “The Nifty-Thrifty Lady” blogger, will be held Tuesday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Sharpsburg Library. She will show participants how to find and use coupons to save on their monthly shopping bill.   Fire company to hold basket bingo Potomac Valley Fire Co. will hold a basket bingo Saturday at 1 p.m. at the fire hall in Dargan, seven miles south of Sharpsburg on Harpers Ferry Road.

Waynesboro High School FBLA Chapter members are getting experience in salesmanship and money management this school year.  The group is selling bonus books as its first fundraiser of the school year. Bonus books are coupon books full of savings to such places as restaurants, amusement parks, leisure activities and golf courses. To make sure the fundraiser is profitable, the FBLA advisers started giving lessons on how to efficiently sell the books. One technique that is being utilizing is telling potential buyers that they are not buying a bonus book, but they are buying the savings that the coupons will provide them.

Coupons valued up to $400, free or half-priced admission to children's attractions, discounted pizzas and more are available through the Maryland State Department of Education's Take 15 for the Family discount card. The discount card is part of a statewide program designed to help families turn everyday activities into learning opportunities. "The discount card is just one way that we are encouraging families to spend at least 15 minutes a day involved in interactive activities," said State Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick.

Grocery store technology has advanced to the point of instant coupons. That's where the register looks over your purchases electronically then spits out a manufacturer's coupon for some product it believes you may be tempted to buy in the future. I run into this phenomenon all the time with cat litter. I buy Happy Mess brand cat litter and with the purchase I get a coupon for Slopp Stopper brand cat litter and the next time when I buy Slopp Stopper brand cat litter I get a coupon for Tinkle Sprinkles brand cat litter.