Hoosick

The Cheney Library on Classic Street in Hoosick Falls is holding a silent auction of items knitted and crocheted by the Tuesday Morning Group. All around the Library are colorful sweaters, mittens, scarves and blankets.
Come often and make your bids on these beautiful and lovingly made items. The auction runs the entire month of February. Winning bidders will be notified on February 28.
The Cheney Library is open on Monday 1 to 8 pm, Tuesday 10 am to 5 pm, Wednesday and Thursday 1 to 8 pm, Friday 11 am to 4 pm and Saturday 8 am to 1 pm.

1. Allan J. Hamilton MD’s Zen Mind – Zen Horse, gives valuable insight into the reasoning behind the horse’s reactions to the intentions we humans communicate. Just having scratched the surface of the equine training by Natural Horsemanship, we gain optimal performance by removing violence out of the lives of our animals with kinder and gentler techniques. Using body language and gestures, we express our desires to the horse to form a bond of mutual respect and trust within a safe environment. Dr. Hamilton is a Harvard surgeon and renowned horse trainer who has given clinics in the US and Europe.
2. Daniel Friedman’s – Don’t Ever Get Old. The title might lead you astray when really we are embarking on a quest with 87 year old retired Memphis cop, Buck Schatz, who learns that an old adversary may have escaped Germany with a fortune in stolen gold. And so we follow this cigarette smoking, and sometimes foul mouthed former homicide detective to catch an equally ancient Nazi war criminal. This is Daniel Friedman’s first novel. He is a native of Memphis and lives currently in New York City where he practices law.
3. Val McDermid – The Retribution. Clinical psychologist Tony Hill and police detective Carol Jordan are at it again. In this chilling, high velocity thriller this UK crime fighting team, who have been working together for quite some time, are trying to capture an escaped serial killer who is out for revenge on Tony and Carol because they put him behind bars some 12 years earlier. Val McDermid has written 24 best selling books so far. She lives in the north of England.
4. Anne Ursu’s – Breadcrumbs. Last, but certainly not least, for our young readers (ages 8-12) this is a story inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen.” It will take you on an adventure into the magical, mysterious and sometimes frightening areas of childhood and change. Hazel goes in search of her best friend, Jack. The crumbs lead her on the way to accept hope, friendship, sorrow and change. Anne Ursu is the author of three books and is a professor of writing for children. She lives in Minneapolis.
Don’t forget to visit our website www.cheneylibrary.org – learn about current and upcoming events right here in our library.

The Hoosick Area Church Association (HACA), for the ninth year, is offering free assistance to the public in preparing income tax returns through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or VITA program. The VITA site will be located at the HACA Center at 26 John Street, Hoosick Falls. The office will be open each Saturday beginning February 2 from 10 am to 3 pm and on Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 pm through February.  In March and April, offices will be open on Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm and on Thursdays by appointment. Office hours have been scheduled for evenings and weekends to accommodate people who find it difficult to take time off from work.  The service is free and is provided by IRS Certified VITA/TCE Volunteer Preparers.
To help accurately prepare their returns, taxpayers should bring the following:
• photo identification;
• valid Social Security cards for the taxpayer, spouse and dependents;
• birth dates for primary, secondary and dependents on the tax return;
• current year’s tax package, if received;
• wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R from all employers;
• interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099);
• a copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available;
• bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit;
• other relevant information about income and expenses;
• total paid for day care, and
• day care provider’s identifying number.
Call Alison at 686-9491 to make an appointment. Volunteer positions at the site such as reception, filing, photo copying or hostess are also available.
The VITA program offers free assistance to those with low-to-middle incomes (wage earners who make $51,000 or less) who file Form 1040EZ, Form 1040A, or a basic 1040 Federal tax return.  Most returns for both Federal and State (including Vermont and Massachusetts) can be filed electronically and upon request, refunds can be deposited electronically into a checking or savings account.