Whether you’re a recent high school graduate going to college for the first time or a returning college student, it will soon be time to get to campus – and payment deadlines for tuition and other fees are not far behind. The Internal Revenue Service wants to remind Students and parents responsible for paying college expenses that they should keep all of their receipts accrued from expenses of travel and moving into the dorms and also living on campus. Also, there are some tax benefits that can help offset college costs. These benefits apply to you, your spouse or a dependent for whom you …

Editor's Note: Parents in the South Orange-Maplewood School District have the added option of paying for hot lunches for their children through MealpayPlus. The district has been working toward making the meal options healthier and more appetizing; and most district schools even invite parents in to help introduce kids to delicious healthy eating through the CATCH program. Now that school is starting, does the idea of packing a healthy lunch for your kids make you break into a nervous sweat? Are you at a loss for creative ideas? Do your kids come home telling you that they didn’t eat because …

There are two back-to-school essentials college bound students should not leave home without—both are free and won't take up any room in the minivan. Sign your student up for a Patch newsletter, and let them know about adding the Patch apps for iPhone and Android phones.  Following Patch from new dorms and new states isn't only a great way to keep in touch with hometown news, but also a good remedy for homesickness. Your son or daughter can keep up with local news and events, including sports scores and what their siblings are up to back home. Besides, we want to stay connected to some of our…

School starts in South Orange and Maplewood on Sept. 6 — just a little more than two weeks from today. That news is eliciting yowls of "No!!!!!!!" from children across the towns, and companion shouts of "Yippee!" from their parents. But a few are crying, "Help!" and that's where you come in. As the Back-to-School frenzy gains momentum, the Parenting Center of the South Orange-Maplewood School District asks that everyone remember to pick up some school supplies — and gently used picture books — for kids in need while shopping for their own back-to-school supplies. You can drop off any school …

The other day, I read on Facebook that one of my friends just completed her main preparation for the onset of school. She described her “annual pre-school purging of widowed plastic lids and bottoms, missing cup tops and lonely snack sets.”  Basically, she takes a big trash bag and tosses any plastic ware that isn’t in tip-top shape and ready to perform its duties.  I was inspired by her zeal and even though I’ve just recently gotten around to emptying the backpacks from June, I decided to ask around and see what other preparatory rituals people take part in.  Although each mom seems to have …

As the Back-to-School frenzy gains momentum, the Parenting Center of the South Orange-Maplewood School District asks that everyone remember to pick up some school supplies — and gently used picture books — for kids in need while shopping for their own little Einsteins. You can drop off any school supplies for donation Monday through Friday at the Parenting Center at 525 Academy Street or at a special Patch to School Drop-Off event at the Maplewood Farmers Market on Monday, August 22 between 2 and 4 p.m. Maplewood Patch Editor Mary Mann (that's me) will be on hand to help collect the supplies …