A8 The BulleTin • Friday, FeBruary 26, 2021
Tax bill
DEAR ABBY
Continued from A7
Write to Dear Abby online at dearabby.com
or by mail at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Dear Abby: I recently had
a child with a man who is
now incarcerated. I was wid-
owed when I met him, and
although he brought me
happiness, it has come at a
steep price.
I pay for literally every-
thing. I love him very much,
but his entitlement was an is-
sue even before he had legal
issues. Now he has become
very nasty and minimizes
everything I do.
If I send $100, he’s upset
that I didn’t send $200. If I
have a day off from work
that I don’t spend communi-
cating with a lawyer and the
courts, I’m “not taking initia-
tive.” He has even gone so far
as to say it was my fault he
got in trouble because I was
on his case so often that he
“had to go out to get some
peace.” His only redeeming
quality is his wonderful rela-
tionship with the kids, who
see none of our fights and re-
gard him as a father figure.
He is now even more
negative and derogatory
than when he was at home.
I manage a busy restau-
rant and a household of five
children. Since he has been
away, I’m ashamed to say life
has actually been less stress-
ful.
I think my loneliness
when I met him made it eas-
ier to ignore red flags. In ev-
ery other aspect of my life, I
am an independent woman
who has the respect of my
peers. Is it too late to set
boundaries with him?
— Growing in Florida
Dear Growing: This emo-
tionally abusive individual
is milking you like you are
a Guernsey cow. His ingrat-
itude is boundless. You are
not the reason he got himself
in trouble with the law, and
it isn’t your responsibility to
get him out or support him
financially.
It is way too late to set
boundaries with this ma-
nipulative ingrate. He won’t
change. What you must do
now — for your own sake
and for your children’s — is
tell him you are finished and
cut ties with him.
Dear Abby: I live in Kan-
sas and my boyfriend lives
in another state. We talk on-
line all the time, but I hav-
en’t heard from him in three
days and I don’t know what
to think. My friends say I’m
being paranoid, but I can’t
help but think that he might
be seeing another girl. I’ve
had problems like this before
and ended up getting hurt
because I didn’t listen when
my friends told me that a
guy was cheating. What
should I do?
— Long-Distance Love
Dear L.D.L: Recognize
that as much as two people
might care about each other,
long-distance romances
don’t always have fairytale
endings. I don’t know if your
boyfriend is cheating. Nei-
ther do you and neither do
your friends.
It’s time for you to have a
calm conversation with your
boyfriend. Tell him you were
worried by his three-day si-
lence because it was unusual.
Let him respond. If you are
satisfied with his answer,
change the subject. However,
if you aren’t, ASK him if he
has met someone closer to
home and tell him to level
with you. It takes courage to
do this, but it will save you a
lot of pain in the long run.
YOUR HOROSCOPE
By Madalyn Aslan
Stars show the kind of day you’ll have
DYNAMIC | POSITIVE | AVERAGE | SO-SO | DIFFICULT
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR FRIDAY, FEB. 26, 2021: Empathic,
sensitive and magnetic, you move people deeply. This year, your dedicated
attention earns you many followers. July will be your most ambitious month.
If single, you can be a shy lone wolf, and must make an effort this year if you
want to be with your soul mate. If attached, you and your partner can com-
municate without speaking. Your bond is unbreakable. SAGITTARIUS helps
you take yourself less seriously.
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
Your sense of adventure deepens. You’ll yearn to wander and explore.
Dreams and visions must not be taken literally. Direct your heightened imag-
ination and creativity into constructive ends. A domestic matter demands
your attention and can be sorted out. Tonight: An especially healthy meal.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
Today ushers in a cycle of happiness. Reach out to those you care
about (even one you haven’t talked to in a long time), visit an art display, or
complete creative projects. Get all the facts before acting. Tonight: Patience
is a must.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
Seek inner harmony and release stress. A family member is feeling very
adventurous and may surprise you by taking a gamble. Take sensible pre-
cautions and all will be well. Genealogical study uncovers interesting facts.
Tonight: It’s a wonderful time to redecorate your workspace.
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
A sibling or neighbor is changing. Don’t be in denial when obvious
signs are being sent. Be diplomatic when discussing controversial issues. Call
ahead and confirm plans. Transportation needs are being considered and
information exchange is very important. Tonight: Return calls promptly.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
Thoughts mostly revolve around your earning power. You work
hard for your family’s security. Shop for an item you’ve long coveted in the
days before the pandemic. Keep receipts; a purchase might have to be ex-
changed. Tonight: Study your habits regarding money.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Today marks one of the most promising times all year. Career and
personal opportunities abound. Enjoy life and put plans in motion for future
dreams. Write your new resolutions, schedule appointments and begin proj-
ects you’ve been interested in. Tonight: Celebrate quietly.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Memories of a lost love must be kept in perspective. Your interest in
helping the disadvantaged grows. Quietly, you will act and do much good in
the world. Tonight: There are thoughts and feelings you’d prefer to keep to
yourself for the time being.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
You will enjoy chance meetings with those from your past. A reunion
with a longtime friend is likely. You reconsider the pursuit of a dream once
abandoned. Get in touch with your inner voice for direction. Tonight: Consult
with a group.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Today is all about professional aspirations and your ambitions. You
will attract attention. Pursue opportunities that showcase your capabilities.
You’re entering a more promising security cycle. You might have gone from
rags to riches more than once. Tonight: A sigh of relief.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Expect an increase in energy and motivation. Take time to exercise.
Travel is favored, as are journeys of the mind and spirit. There is much to
learn. If you’ve always yearned to write, now is the time. Tonight: A sense of
the miraculous prevails.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Today puts you in tune with your potential. Fate is at work in your life.
Some things just are or are not meant to be. Appreciate synchronicities, and
you’ll be guided to manifest what’s best. Heed signs. Tonight: Your energy
level is especially high.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
Today reveals much about a close partner. Companions offer sug-
gestions. Reality is clouded. If in doubt, wait for the facts to be revealed
before making choices. Revel in the attraction of opposites. Tonight: A much
sought-after dinner with a loved one.
e
e
Looking for local events or want to add your own? Go to bendbulletin.com/events
Questions? Call 541-383-0304 or email go@bendbulletin.com.
But Oregon is one of six states that allow
taxpayers to deduct a portion of their federal
tax payments from their state income taxes.
Most years, the deduction functions as a
state tax break. But when the federal govern-
ment is giving out stimulus payments it re-
duces the size of that break. A lower federal
tax bill means there’s less to deduct from your
state taxes.
The Legislative Revenue Office estimated
in May that Oregon will collect an additional
$103 million this year, and $9 million next
year, from taxes generated by those initial
stimulus payments. That’s 3.6% of the $3.1 bil-
lion in stimulus payments that Oregonians re-
ceived last spring.
That tax hike won’t hit everyone, though.
Low-income Oregonians with no federal tax
liability won’t pay more in state taxes, and
some high-income residents with large federal
tax bills won’t pay, either.
Congress intended the stimulus payments
to be tax free, according to U.S. Rep. Peter De-
Fazio, D-Springfield.
“It is unconscionable to ask those working
families who have struggled the most during
this crisis to bear the weight of the state’s bud-
get shortfall,” DeFazio wrote in a letter to Gov.
Kate Brown and legislative leaders last week.
He asked them to relieve Oregonians of those
higher taxes.
Oregon State Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lin-
coln City, plans to introduce a bill to protect
Oregonians’ stimulus checks from state tax im-
plications.
Jobless
A shopper
wears a face
mask in No-
vember as
he walks
past a store
displaying a
hiring sign in
Wheeling, Il-
linois.
Continued from A7
The benefits will be made
retroactive, officials said. Peo-
ple who applied for unem-
ployment aid after Dec. 27
can receive retroactive pay-
ments back to Dec. 6. Those
who applied before then and
were turned down can receive
retroactive payments dating
back to when they first ap-
plied.
With unemployed Amer-
icans now receiving a $300
weekly federal payment on
top of state benefits that av-
erage about $320 a week, the
retroactive aid could result
in significant lump sum pay-
ments. The department esti-
mates that states won’t be able
Nam Y. Huh/
AP file
to update their jobless-ben-
efit systems to include the
new criteria until late March,
which could mean that the
first payments would amount
to about four months of ben-
efits.
Workers whose place of
employment have closed be-
cause of the pandemic are
already eligible to receive job-
less aid from the federal pro-
gram. But workers who were
laid off even as their company
remained open, such as wait-
ers at a restaurant that stayed
open for delivery, weren’t eli-
gible. This directive will now
cover those workers, the La-
bor Department said.
Where Empowerment Replaces Fear & Knowledge Creates Options
Potato Head
Continued from A7
Barbie maker Mattel re-
leased a gender-neutral doll
line in 2019. But Mr. Potato
Head is one of the biggest
brands to do so.
“It’s setting this new stan-
dard,” Mierzejewski said.
GLAAD, an LGBTQ advo-
cacy group, applauded the gen-
derless toy potato.
“Hasbro is helping kids to
simply see toys as toys, which
encourages them to be their
authentic selves outside of the
pressures of traditional
gender norms,” said Rich Fer-
raro, GLAAD’s chief commu-
nications officer, in a state-
ment.
Charitie Faith Lansing
of Metolius, OR
Nov 22, 1976 - Feb 17,
2021
Arrangements:
Bel-Air Funeral Home 541-
475-2241 www.bel-airfu-
neralhome.com
Services:
Funeral Service Sat.
2/27/21 @ 10:00 AM
Free Methodist Church in
Madras.
Bruce W. A. Rogers
of Bend, OR
May 13, 1932 -
February 18, 2021
Arrangements:
Autumn Funerals, Bend
541-318-0842
www.autumnfunerals.net
Services:
A gathering will be held at
a later date
Verner W. Clapp, Jr
of Bend, OR
March 20, 1932 - Feb 21,
2021
Arrangements:
Autumn Funerals, Bend
541-318-0842 www.au-
tumnfunerals.net
Services:
Private services will be
held at a later date
541-788-5858
905 SW Rimrock Way Suite 100A
Nolan Town Square • Redmond, OR
ladiesofleadusa@gmail.com
Sharon Preston
OBITUARY DEADLINE
Call to ask about our deadlines
541-385-5809
Monday-Friday 10am-3pm
Email: obits@bendbulletin.com