Panelists from U.S. Army War College to discuss threats to National Security throughout the World

President Obama announced the official end of the United States combat mission in Iraq this past August, yet viable threats to national security still exist across the world. From the recent package bombing attempts, to piracy in the Gulf of Aden, to the drug wars in Latin America, to the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, national security is still of utmost concern to the current administration.

Visiting panelists from the Eisenhower Series College Program will share personal views based on their own experience, research, and reflection at the Peters Township Public Library on Tuesday, February 15 at 7:00 p.m. The panelists include: Captain William G. Davis, Director of National Security Studies and the Eisenhower Program; Colonel Eric Tilley, who will speak about the United States' role in NATO; and Lieutenant Colonel Harrison B. Gilliam, who will discuss Afghanistan Policy. Register for this program by emailing the library, at the library circulation desk, or call 724.941.9430. The McMurray Veterans of Foreign Wars POST 764 is providing support for the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh 2010-2011 program series.

The Eisenhower Series College Program was established in 1996 as a War College academic outreach program. It encourages dialogue on national security and other public policy issues between students of the Army’s senior educational institution and the public. Each panel member focuses on his/her study on a geographic region such as Europe, Russia/Eurasia, Asia, the Americas, Middle East, and Africa. To learn more about the Eisenhower Series College Program, visit their web site.

New Service for 2011 - AARP Tax Assistance

In partnership with the AARP, tax assistance will be available at the library on Mondays and Tuesdays beginning Monday, February 7, 2011. AARP Tax-Aide will provide this free service to help low and moderate income taxpayers who are age 60 years and older.

You must visit the library in person to schedule an appointment for the month of February. The March appointment calendar will be released in February. Appointments are one hour long and begin at 9:15 a.m., with the last scheduled appointment for the day at 3:45 p.m. At the time of registration, the library will provide you a copy of the list of items you will need to bring when you arrive for your personal tax preparation session.

The list below includes the forms that are eligible for preparation by AARP TAX-AIDE consultants assigned to Peters Township Public Library:
*1040 with Schedules A, B, and D
*Schedule C up to $10,000 expenses/C-EZ up to $5,000 expenses (Schedule C has same requirements for CEZ – no employees, no inventory, no losses or depreciation etc.)
*Schedule EIC and EIC Worksheets
*1099 Misc. (box 7 nonemployee compensation is reported on Schedule C/CEZ)
*1099 Misc (box 1 or 2 – rents, royalties, reported on Schedule E with no expenses, depreciation)
*1099 Misc (box 3 other income is reported on 1040 Line 21)
*1040 – ES (Estimated Payments)
*2441 (Child and Dependent Care)
*5329 Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans, Part 1
*8283, Section A, Part 1 – non-cash contributions to charity exceed $500.00 but less than $5,000
*8606 (Nondeductible IRA) Part 1
*8880 (Qualified Savings Credit)
*8812 (Additional Child Tax Credit)
*8863 (Education Credits)
*9465 (Installment Agreement)
*8379 (Injured Spouse)
*1040X (Amended Returns, if trained in the tax year being amended)
*Schedule K – 1 that provides information only for interest, dividends and capital gain distributions and royalties (Schedule B, D, E)

Please bring the following items with you when you come for your scheduled appointment at Peters Township Public Library:
• Current year’s tax forms and preparation booklet
• Copy of last year’s income tax return
• W-2 forms from each employer
• Unemployment compensation statements
• SSA-1099 form if you were paid Social Security benefits
• All 1099 forms (1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-B, etc.) showing interest and/or dividends and documentation showing original purchase price of sold assets
• 1099-misc. showing any miscellaneous income
• 1099-R form if you received a pension or annuity
• All forms indicating federal income tax paid
• Dependent care provider information (name, employer ID, Social Security number)
• All receipts or canceled checks if itemizing deductions
• Social Security cards or other official documentation for yourself and all dependents

For further information, please call the library at 724.941.9430.

New Year - New Gear!

The library will be holding a “New Year – New Gear” Technology Fair on Saturday, January 29, 2011 from 1-3 p.m. in the main lobby of the library.

The library has recently purchased an iPad, eReaders, and an iPod to provide hands-on experience for patrons in using these new technologies and to fully benefit from the new library resources that are available. Library staff will offer help sessions to download audio books and eBooks to a home computer or to an iPod. Demonstrations of new children’s technologies like BookFlix, Tag, and Interactive Books will be taking place as well throughout the afternoon. Patrons can also register for UniversalClass™, a site that offers non-credit courses covering a wide range of topics. Other services, such as online registration for adult programs and the library’s weekly e-newsletter will be discussed as well.

Registration is not required for this event, and patrons are encouraged to drop by the library during the afternoon hours to take advantage of this special program to assist them with their technology questions. For more information, call the library at 724.941.9430.

Budgeting and Learning to Save -- A program that makes cents

–“Thrift is the new black” according to “The Wall Street Journal Guide to the New Rules of Personal Finance" by Dave Kansas, who recommends now is the time to “…start with the foundation of eliminating debt and saving money.” To that end, members of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) will discuss budgeting, establishing sound financial priorities, and learning how to save at “Budgeting and Learning to Save: A Program that Makes Cents” on February 10 at the Peters Township Public Library. Register for this program online, at the library circulation desk, or call 724.941.9430.

Program participants will include: Vic Conrad, CFP®, ChFC, AIF®, CPA (inactive) of Pinnacle Financial Strategies in Wexford; Jack Ellsworth, CPA, CVA of Cottrill Arbutina & Associates in McMurray and Robert Henkels, CPA, MED of R.D. Hoag & Associates in Pittsburgh. They will form a panel discussion from 7:00 – 8:00 P.M. and will field audience questions from 8:00 – 8:30 P.M.

Even though the economy is slowly recovering and job growth is still quite slow, you will learn at this session that it is not how much you make, but how much you spend. PICPA’s experts will also help you formulate your financial priorities and how to pay yourself first.

The Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) is committed to helping improve the financial literacy of Pennsylvania residents. In partnership with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and as part of a national effort, PICPA seeks to educate the public about fiscal responsibility, money management, and other issues relating to life’s stages through a variety of local programs and resources. For additional resources, visit their web site.

Update on Tax Forms at our library

The Peters Township Public Library participates with the IRS and Pennsylvania Department of Revenue to provide both Federal and State Tax forms for our patrons. The Pennsylvania State Tax forms will begin arriving at the library the week of January 24, and property tax forms begin shipping February 10.

Shipments for the Federal Tax Documents including forms and publications have begun arriving at our library. However, shipment has been delayed (possibly until late January) for several tax publications, including Instructions 1040-ALL and Instructions 14040 A, due to the delay in passing the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010.

The library will soon be receiving copies of Publication 4893 – Important Information for Taxpayers Who No Longer Receive Tax Packages.

Individuals with a valid Peters Township Public Library card may access our library computers for tax forms and publications. Patrons choosing to print from library computers are charged a minimum fee to cover library costs. To access federal forms, visit www.irs.gov and to access state forms, visit www.revenue.state.pa.us.

You may call the following phone numbers for further assistance:
Federal Tax Help for Individuals 1-800-829-1040
Federal Tax Forms and Publications 1-800-829-3676
State Tax Help 1-717-787-8201