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The fall semester is just around the corner, and parents with kids will be out hitting Target, Staples and Wal-Mart, shopping for all those pens, pencils, erasers, ruled paper binders, markers, glue sticks, rulers, composition books, backpacks, etc. A survey sponsored by the National Retail Federation found that the average American family will spend nearly $22 billion on supplies, clothes, shoes and electronics for their children in grades K-12 — an average of $606 per family.

Interestingly, only about 16 percent of that, or $96, will be spent on school supplies. About 30 percent, $182, will go for computer and electronics items, including laptops, net books, smart phones and MP3 players, and a whopping 54 percent, $308, will be spent on shoes and clothing.

What with the state of the economy, more families are trying to reduce their outlay by shopping at discount stores, watching for sales and comparison shopping online. One way to economize is to re-use last year's supplies. When my children were in grade school, I tried hard every fall to collect all the reusable items that I could find. But the lure of fresh new supplies is hard to resist, and here I am, 13 years after the last one left sixth grade, still with bags and boxes full of usable colored pencils and crayons, folders and marble composition notebooks. I'd be happy to give them away, if anyone is interested!

However, there are families in our community who find that even when they try to reuse and economize, their budgets are stretched by the need for school supplies. For this reason, the Savage Community Association is again sponsoring a school supply drive. Donations of supplies may be dropped off at the Savage Post Office on Baltimore Street or at the 2-Go Convenience Store on the corner of Howard Street and Route 1.

Eat up

A "Chef Event" will take place at the Savage Senior Center from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday. There will be made-to-order omelets with sides, and musical entertainment by former Senior Idol Lou Redd. The program is free, although a donation of $3 is suggested. For more information, call Edie Bennett at 410-880-5915. The Savage Senior Center is located at 9525 Durness Lane in Laurel, just off Gorman Road adjacent to the Savage branch library.

Hall restorations continue

Saturday is another work day starting at 8 a.m. at the Carroll Baldwin Hall, Baltimore and Foundry streets in Savage. Come any time and work for as long as you wish; there is plenty to do on the continuing repair and restoration of the hall. Lunch will be provided. Any questions, contact Louise or Dennis Thornton at 301-498-0934.