Thank you!
Your support is sustaining the future of local news in our communities.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offering free assistance in the Annex

MILLERTON — The NorthEast-Millerton Library is participating with AARP Foundation for Tax-Aide assistance on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with required appointments.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Service provides free tax assistance to anyone, however, there is a focus on taxpayers with low to moderate incomes or are over the age of 50 years old. The program runs with Tax-Aide volunteers who receive training and are IRS-certified every year to ensure they are up-to-date on any latest changes to tax codes.

AARP Foundation’s mission has been to help reduce poverty not only for older adults, but with them as well. During the 10-week tax season, the foundation sends volunteers to more than 3,500 different communities to meet with taxpayers and maximize their tax returns.

The volunteers are able to help file a variety of income tax forms, yet need to stay within certain tax law and policies that are set by the IRS and AARP Foundation. Some returns the volunteers can prepare include: wages, interest, dividends, unemployment compensation, pensions, retirement income, Social Security, self employment, charitable cash contributions, qualified business income deductions and much more.

In 2023, according to the AARP website, the foundation was able to secure $563,947,534 through its Tax-Aide program, assisting tax refunds and credit to 918,774 older adults with low income.

For members of the community that struggle with low income, tax refunds can be one of their largest payments they receive all year. Last year, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide helped taxpayers secure an average refund of $905, which according to the AARP website, is equivalent to a year of cell phone service for an older adult with low income.

The program recently began on Friday, Feb. 7, and community members have the ability to use this service until Friday, April 11. Appointments will be held in the NorthEast-Millerton Library’s Annex, located across from the Post Office.

To ensure the volunteers can assist with your return, visit taxaide.aarpfoundation.org to learn more and to schedule an appointment dial 211 or call 1-800-899-1479.

Latest News

Toddler movement pilot demonstrates community-led approach for programming at NECC

Kim Yarnell, right, leads a group of toddlers and parents in basic ballet lessons at the North East Community Center office on South Center Street in Millerton on Sunday, Oct. 11.

Photo by Nathan Miller

MILLERTON — The North East Community Center is a great place to get the wiggles out.

That’s the consensus from a room full of bouncing toddlers at the final weekly “Toddler Movement” class at the NECC office on South Center Street on Sunday, Oct. 11. The six-week dance lesson program was a pilot spearheaded by Millerton parent Kim Yarnell to provide some much desired social time outside the house.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pine Plains school board votes to close Cold Spring

PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains Board of Education voted unanimously Oct. 6 to close Cold Spring Early Learning Center in Stanford, ending a debate that has lasted for more than two years.

Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, roughly 150 students in pre-K through first grade at Cold Spring will move to Seymour Smith Intermediate Learning Center in Pine Plains. “This decision was not made lightly or precipitously,” Superintendent Dr. Brian Timm said in a statement. “We will continue to provide frequent updates as we move through the transition process. Our priority remains what is in the best interest of our students.”

Keep ReadingShow less
County legislators propose covering Flock cameras if not removed

POUGHKEEPSIE — A resolution requiring Dutchess County to cover its deactivated Flock Safety cameras was unanimously advanced in the Dutchess County Legislature’s Public Safety Committee this week. That will include cameras in Millerton and Amenia, even if they’re on private property.

The cameras, which capture the license plates of passing cars, were decommissioned after a public forum in Pleasant Valley last month. Following that meeting, Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi and Sheriff Kirk Imperati announced on Sept. 25 that all 60-plus cameras owned or operated by the county would be immediately deactivated. The cameras are to be physically removed by Oct. 25.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Millerton News celebrates 5th anniversary as nonprofit, honors community leader Dick Hermans

From left, Board Chair Dan Dwyer, Publisher and CEO James Clark, Estabrook Community Leadership Award recipient Dick Hermans, his daughter Suzanna Hermans and Jubilee co-chair Joan Osofsky at the annual gala Oct. 11.

Photo by Patrick Stachniak

The Lakeville Journal and The Millerton News, published by the nonprofit organization LJMN Media, held their annual Jubilee gala at the Sharon Playhouse Sunday, Oct. 11, to celebrate five years of nonprofit ownership and honor Dick Hermans with the Estabrook Community Leadership Award.

About 200 attendees, including contributors, board members and staff, gathered in the Bok Gallery at the Sharon Playhouse at 49 Amenia Road to enjoy food and a live performance by The Joint Chiefs and pay tribute to Hermans.

Keep ReadingShow less
Amenia Harvest Festival returns for second year

Amenia’s annual Harvest Festival will celebrate its second year of family fun with expanded activities. The event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

East Main Street (Route 343, east of the traffic light) between Fountain Square and Mechanic Street will be alive with food, music, and a variety of vendors. Watch for a magician roaming through the crowd to delight children, along with a Bounce House and face painting.

Keep ReadingShow less

Fall wagon rides

Fall wagon rides

Residents celebrated their Fall Festival at The Fountains by joining in an annual tractor-drawn wagon ride on Wednesday, Oct. 7. They were on the first of three scheduled rides throughout the day, where residents toured the former Hope Farms and campus of the Greer School that once stood on land that is now The Fountains. Narrating the tour was Marcia Berry, Housekeeping Director at The Fountains, whose mother-in-law, Jan Berry, attended Greer School.

Photo by Leila Hawken

Residents celebrated their Fall Festival at The Fountains by joining in an annual tractor-drawn wagon ride on Wednesday, Oct. 7. They were on the first of three scheduled rides throughout the day, where residents toured the former Hope Farms and campus of the Greer School that once stood on land that is now The Fountains. Narrating the tour was Marcia Berry, Housekeeping Director at The Fountains, whose mother-in-law, Jan Berry, attended Greer School.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.