Toys for Tots sets volunteer meeting, key dates
Toys for Tots of Clinton County is hosting a volunteer meeting. Any person, organization or company that is interested in volunteering for the 2015 season is invited to attend at the Wilmington Public Library on Friday, Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. in the community room. If you have any questions prior to the meeting or if you cannot make the meeting, feel free to email [email protected].
Any family that has been registered in the past three years is welcome to register online this year. Please go to http://wilmington-oh.toysfortots.org to request toys.
Registrations for Clinton County will take place for the 2015 Christmas season at the Wilmington Municipal Building, 69 N. South St.:
• Monday, Nov. 30, 6-8 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 2, 6-8 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 11, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Please come on these dates and times, as they are not open other days. These registration dates are open only to Clinton County residents. Applications will not be accepted without required documents; you must bring the following documents to apply:
• Photo I.D for applicant (driver’s license, state id, passport)
• Address verification (utility bill, lease, phone bill, mail)
• Proof of Income (pay stub, SSI notice, Unemployment notice, etc.)
• Birth Certificates for ALL children
• Medicaid, Caresource, Molina, or UHC Cards if received.
Southern Ohio Music Fest upcoming
The Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival will be Nov. 13-14 at the Roberts Centre in Wilmington. Host band Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers will celebrate the best in bluegrass music with guests including Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Flatt Lonesome, Dailey & Vincent, Remington Ryde, Larry Efaw & the Bluegrass Mountaineers , Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road, Newtown , Kenny & Amanda Smith and more. The family-friendly environment is smoke-free and alcohol-free. Parking is free.
Pre-sales continue through Nov. 7; general admission passes are $35 for one day or $65 for two days. Ticket sales resume at the door during the festival at 10 am daily for $5 more. General admission seating for children 16 and under is free with an adult ticket purchase. Tickets are available now at www.somusicfest.com.
Programs, presentations at Wilmington library
Fall Garden Activities program presented by the Clinton County Master Gardeners at the Wilmington Public Library will be Monday, Nov. 2 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Learn about vegetables for fall planting, planting now for fruit next year, seed saving, starting a mulch bin, and lasagna gardening bed for next year.
Family Night at the Wilmington Public Library will be Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. This month’s theme is “Amazing Airplanes.” Read stories, make crafts, have a snack, and try out your favorite paper design in our flying contest.
Energy Choice Program at the Wilmington Public Library is Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. Confused about the different energy suppliers? Need help understanding your bill? Learn energy conservation and consumer protection tips. This program is presented by a representative from PUCO (Public Utilities Commission of Ohio). You are encouraged to bring your utility bills in with questions.
Community Conversations: Ask questions, get answers at the Wilmington Public Library on Monday, Nov. 16 at 6:30 p.m. to hear about “What’s Happening in Clinton County.” Presenters for the evening will be Mark Rembert, Director Wilmington-Clinton County Chamber of Commerce; Bekah Muchmore, Executive Director Main Street Wilmington; and Taylor Stuckert, Co-founder Energize Clinton County.
IRS seeks volunteers for free tax help
The Internal Revenue Service seeks local volunteers to assist low-income families and individuals as well as seniors to file their 2016 tax returns and claim qualifying, valuable tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC).
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free preparation of federal income tax returns to taxpayers with annual incomes up to $53,000. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program offers free tax preparation and filing services with a focus on seniors age 65 and older. AARP’s Tax-Aide program is the IRS’s major partner for its TCE program, both locally and nationwide.
Most volunteer tax preparation sites will operate from mid-January through mid-April 2016. Some sites will remain open beyond the April 18, 2016 tax return filing deadline.
Volunteers join a program that has helped millions of people file tax returns at no charge for more than 40 years. No experience is required. Volunteers receive training on income tax preparation from IRS-certified instructors or via online courses. Volunteers are certified upon successful completion of the required training.
“VITA and TCE volunteers are friends and neighbors helping friends and neighbors in Clinton County and across the state and nation,” said Jennifer Jenkins, IRS spokesperson for Ohio. “We’re fortunate to have dedicated volunteers with partner organizations who come back year after year to support the VITA and TCE programs. Each year, though, we lose some volunteers to relocation, medical or other reasons. Sustaining 2015 volunteer levels would be great, but it would be even better if in 2016 the volunteer levels and number of taxpayers helped could grow.”
To become a VITA or TCE volunteer or to find out more, visit IRS.gov and type “tax volunteer” in the search box. Prospective VITA volunteers must submit their volunteer interest information on IRS.gov at IRS Tax Volunteers. Those seeking to assist with AARP’s Tax-Aide program can get more information on the AARP website at http://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/info-2006/volunteer_aarp_tax_aide.html. Volunteers can connect with the VITA coordinator for Clinton County, Verletta Jackson, at [email protected].
Crossroads Hospice will host a recognition ceremony for veterans November 5 at 2 p.m. at the Clinton County Senior Center, 717 North Nelson Ave., Wilmington. Call 937-655-2163 to RSVP by October 29. For more information, visit Crossroads’ website at www.crossroadshospice.com.
