Enhanced 2010 editions of the bestselling, award-winning Summer Bridge Activities series are now available—complete with stickers, flashcards, and certificates of completion—and are sure to keep kids engaged as they prepare for the upcoming school year. All-new activities in math, language arts, science, social studies, and physical fitness can help your child make the grade as they embark on new levels of learning. The program only requires 15 minutes a day for 12 weeks, fitting right in with busy summer schedules.

Our kids have worked through these every summer since they’ve been in kindergarten, and it’s helped them retain what they learned the previous school year and given them a head start on the material they’ll be learning in the fall.

Use Coupon Code BYN7666R to get 25% off one of these (valid through May 20, 10).

Summer Bridge Activities: Bridging Grades Kindergarten to First

Summer Bridge Activities: Bridging Grades First to Second

Summer Bridge Activities: Bridging Grades Second to Third

Summer Bridge Activities: Bridging Third to Fourth

Summer Bridge Activities: Bridging Fourth to Fifth

Summer Bridge Activities: Bridging Fifth to Sixth

Summer Bridge Activities: Bridging Sixth to Seventh

For a limited time, kids eat free at Quiznos.

Buy an entree and get a Kidz Meal free. Kidz Meals come with a kids toasty sub or pizza, drink, and choice of chococate chip cookie or applesauce.

When I checked with our local stores, I was told that they do not know when this deal will end.

Quiznos has two stores in Frederick:

Shops at Monocacy
1700 King Fisher Drive Unit 25
301-668-2090

Westview
5253 Buckeystown Pike
301-682-8229

Where: MDL Holiday Cinemas (100 Baughman’s Lane).
When: Every Wednesday and Thursday morning at 10 through the summer.
Cost: FREE admission; Kids’ Paks ($4.75, cash only) include candy, drink, and popcorn.

Large groups of 40 or more must call for reservations–(240) 674-6257 or (301) 662-9392.

From RegMovies.com:

REG Free Family Film Festival Beginning June 2010!

We have planned a fun-filled summer of select movies for kids and parents. Regal has proudly offered this free summer fun since 1991. Oh, did we mention that it’s FREE!

Selected G or PG movies start at 10:00am every Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. Tickets and seating are first-come, first-served and are limited to theatre capacity.

The Free Family Film Festival is safe, lots of fun and a great way for kids to spend a weekday morning in the summer. Tickets for our 2010 Free Family Film Festival are exclusively available at select theatres’ box office on the day of the show.

Westview Stadium 16
5243 Buckeystown Pike
Frederick, MD 21704
(301) 620-1726

Valley Mall Stadium 16
17301 Valley Mall Road
Hagerstown, MD 21740
(301) 582-1000

Germantown Stadium 14
20000 Century Blvd
Germantown, MD 20874
(301) 916-9139 [Read more →]

Building on Governor Martin O’Malley’s EmPOWER Maryland program, the Maryland Appliance Rebate Program will begin on April 22, 2010. This program is made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), in partnership with Maryland’s electric utility service providers. Purchases made before this date will not qualify for the ARRA-funded rebate.

Available rebates:

• Receive $25 back on your super-efficient dishwasher purchase.
• Receive $75 back on your super-efficient clothes washer purchase.
• Receive $25 back on your electric clothes dryer WITH MOISTURE SENSOR.
• Receive $1.50 to $3 back on your next CFL purchase.
• Receive up to $25 back on your programmable thermostat purchase.
• Receive $25 back on your room air conditioner purchase.
• Receive $50 back on your energy-efficient refrigerator purchase.
• Receive $25 back on your energy-efficient freezer purchase.
• Receive up to $200 back on your energy-efficient central air conditioner purchase.
• Receive up to $200 back on your heat pump purchase.

From the online rebate/coupon booklet:

This is an Allegheny Power and EmPower Maryland initiative. Costs to implement these rebate programs will be recovered through a monthly EmPower Maryland surcharge paid by all customers. The money you save through participation in one or more programs can help offset the surcharge.

Details here.

The Frederick County Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM) is hosting a truckload compost bin sale on Saturday, April 17, 2010, 9am-3pm.

The event will be held outdoors, rain or shine.

The bins being sold are Earth Machines, which regularly retail for $100 and will be offered for $40, including tax and a composting handbook. Kitchen compost collectors and compost turners will also be available for purchase.

The sale is being held in the FrederickTowne Mall parking lot. For more information, email acreamer@FrederickCountyMD.gov.

Thanks, Moira!