It’s
February, that time when you find out whether you paid Uncle Sam too much or
not enough. There are many excellent tax preparers in the Mid-Columbia region, but
if your tax situation is relatively simple, there is free help available
through AARP Tax Aide. Since Tax Aide is supported by the AARP Foundation but
also other federal and private grants that focus on helping low to moderate
income persons or families equally, Tax Aide cannot give preference to any particular
age group.
Tax
Aide started last weekend and will continue through April 14th. In
the area, there are three Tax Aide sites: The Center from 2:00 – 6:00 on Fridays
and 9:00 – 1:00 on Saturdays; Tygh Valley Community Center from 9:00 – 1:00 pm on
Thursdays, and the Rufus Community Center in Sherman County on Saturdays where
you’ll need to call 541-993-1054 to make an appointment.
For
your Tax Aide appointment, you’ll need to bring several documents: last year’s
tax return; government issued identification for both tax payer and spouse even
if both are not present when the taxes are being prepared; and a Social
Security identification card (original, photocopy or a photo on your smartphone)
for all individuals listed on the tax return.
And finally,
don’t forget the obvious: all tax documents or statements that show income
received and all tax documents or itemized statement that show expense incurred
by you and your family.
One
benefit of getting older is that there are some things you just don’t have to
do anymore. For example, I’ve met more folks my age who tell me they don’t
drive at night anymore. But I’ve realized as I was driving to Portland after
dark, you must be out of your mind to want to drive at night - no matter your
age! Think about it. The dark stretches of road where you can only see as far
as your high beams reach; the barely visible street markings, the blinding
headlights of oncoming traffic, and I won’t even mention the fun of driving
through the rain in the dark.
How
did I ever think that was such a pleasure? And now if I don’t need to drive at
night, I can say to myself, “No, I think I’ll pass” and enjoy the evening at
home with my wife.
Whether
you are a railroad buff or not, you should check out the second of the annual
February Regional History Forums at the Original Wasco County Museum on
February 10th starting at 1:30 p.m. Retired math teacher Loren
Delaney, who was born in The Dalles and raised in Wishram, will present “Fourteen
Miles on the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railroad” - a tour of north shore
railroad history between mile posts 94 and 108.
A
couple quick reminders since I hear all too often, “I was planning on coming to
(fill in the blank), but I forgot!”
The
International Chicken Dinner is this Friday, February 9th from 5:00 – 7:00 sponsored
by The Springs at Mill Creek and prepared by Rick Leibowitz with assistance
from the Baldwin Saloon and desserts from Petite Provence. The cost is $20 per
person and only 200 tickets are being sold.
And Kerry
Cobb, Executive Director of the Columbia Center for the Arts, will be speaking
about “The Art & History of Photography” at the Center on Wednesday,
February 7th at 10:30. Learn about the origins of the photographic arts and
experience the work of noted photographers.
The
American who won a 1932 Olympic swimming gold medal and starred in the science
fiction film serial Flash Gordon was
Buster Crabbe. (I received correct answers from Sandy Haechrel, who also
remembers Buster Crabbe as Tarzan, Joanne Scott and this week’s winner of a
quilt raffle ticket, Kay Tenold.)
For
this week’s “Remember When” question, what was the name of the type of British-French
turbojet-powered supersonic passenger jet airliner that had a maximum speed
over twice the speed of sound and was first flown in 1969? Email your answer to
www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or send it with a
1997 New York to London round trip ticket on this type of airliner which cost at
the time only $7,995.
Well,
it’s been another week, enjoying this unusually mild winter weather. Until we
meet again, remember forgetfulness isn’t a memory problem, it is just a
retrieval problem.
“The
universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.” Neil DeGrasse Tyson
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