Community Corner

Family Forum: Tricky School Supplies

This column will explore questions and seek answers for and from local residents.

Family Forum is the new name of our previously named Moms Talk column. This is a new initiative on our Patch sites to reach out to local families.

Also, this new forum will allow you to reach out to your neighbors as well as we share comments and information with Sayville, Sachem, Bayport, Blue Point and Patchogue. We invite you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for families.

Each week in Family Forum, our council of experts take your questions, give advice and share solutions. If you are interested in joining our council, email Denise@patch.com.

Find out what's happening in Sayville-Bayportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for questions about local neighborhood schools, the best pediatricians, 24-hour pharmacies and the thousands of other issues that arise while raising children.

Family Forum will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. Do you know of local moms raising their children in the Tiger Mother's way and is it the best way? Where can we get information on local flu shot clinics for children? How do we talk to our children about the Tucson shootings? How can we help our children's schools weather their budget cutbacks?

Find out what's happening in Sayville-Bayportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today. Please tell us your opinion in the comments section below.

Today’s question: What is the hardest school supply to find?

Kiersten Bartolotta: Marble notebooks!

Debbie Bacon: The hardest school supply to find, by far, is the thin black Expo markers that the kids need so many of.  All the colored ones are on sale, but, no, we need black...thin, not thick, which are also on sale. Last year, I spent almost $20 on this overpriced 'chalk' for my three children.  I'm tempted to punch a hole through one, string it around my kids' necks, and have them come home with it every day!


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