The INDEPENDENT, April 1, 2004
Tax forms change in 2004
The Oregon Department of
Revenue is starting to process
returns and wants to remind
taxpayers about a few impor-
tant changes to this year’s
forms.
All dollar amounts must be
rounded. Taxpayers should not
include any cents on their Ore-
gon return. Including cents
could cause the department’s
processing system to calculate
an incorrect tax amount and
delay processing.
Use the text highlighted in
orange. Because Measure 30
did not pass, taxpayers should
use the text highlighted in or-
ange (not green) found
throughout the full-year resi-
dent or part-year resident/non-
resident booklet.
The surcharge did not be-
come law. Taxpayers must
leave the surcharge line blank
or enter a zero (Form 40S, line
19, or Form 40, line 44).
The “short” Form 40S looks
different this year. Income
amounts must be entered in
each of the boxes that apply
(8a – Wages, 8b – Unemploy-
ment compensation, 8c – Inter-
est and dividends) and the sum
entered on line 8d.
Taxpayers who already have
filed and may have had errors
do not need to do anything un-
less the department contacts
them for more information. The
department will correct many of
the errors in processing. How-
ever, some errors may cause
refund delays.
Master Gardener Performance by
will hold plant Broken Glory
sale on Apr. 24
Broken Glory will perform at
The eighth annual Garden
Fair and Plant Sale sponsored
by the OSU Columbia County
Master Gardeners will be on
Saturday, April 24, at the St.
Helens High School Com-
mons, 2375 Gable Rd., St. He-
lens. The Fair will be open from
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
As in past years, Master
Gardeners will be selling toma-
to plants for $1 each. They
plan to have all of the standard
favorites as well as heirloom
types; descriptions of each va-
riety will be available. The
tomatoes are being grown this
year by Nelson’s Nursery in
Warren, and Shaft’s Farm in
Scappoose.
There will also be educa-
tional materials on growing
vegetables, roses and rhodo-
dendrons; help with identifying
weeds; an example of a cold
frame, and information on
dealing with pests. Master Gar-
deners will also staff a plant
clinic to answer gardening
questions.
Raffle tickets are on sale for
$1 each. Prizes include a mini
greenhouse, compost bin,
cedar windmill, garden carts,
tools, gloves, plants, trellises,
birdhouses, garden art, gift
certificates and more.
For more information con-
tact the OSU Extension office
at 503-397-3462 or go to
<www.mstrgardener.org>.
the Vernonia Grange Hall, April
16 and 17 at 7:00 p.m., in a
performance featuring mostly
original music written during
the last eight months.
The band is composed of
Jake Brock on lead vocals and
guitar, Arlene Kulunki on lead
guitar, Aaron Hunt on drums
and percussion, Matt Bonora
on keyboard, guitar and vo-
cals, and Myles Brock on bass.
“We’ve all worked hard on
this and the majority of the
songs in this show will, poten-
tially, end up on our album,”
said Jake Brock. “There have
been a lot of personal hard-
ships this year with death, ro-
mance and growing up, and
many of these songs represent
that” he added.
“Of course, we will do a cov-
er or two,” he said. “How could
we do a show without a song
from Crosby, Stills and Nash?”
The Vernonia Grange is lo-
cated at 375 North Street.
Cinco De Mayo
Taco Feed and
Silent Auction
See next issue for
More Info.
Page 9
Bits & Bites
By Jacqueline Ramsay
First
off – a
B i t e .
D o w n
the chain
of com-
m a n d
from Bill,
the Ver-
n o n i a
Lake park caretaker. He asked
me to pass this along to the
public. He received it from high-
er up. Sooooo, dog walkers,
leash your pets at all times
walking the lake perimeter.
Carry and use your doggie-do
bags. Other folks want to enjoy
their walks the same as you. All
other folk, pick up your trash,
please. This means on the lake
for you boaters. Keep it in your
boat, then put it in the cans pro-
vided by the park people.
We are very fortunate to
have a lake to enjoy. We should
take pride in wanting to share it
with others coming to our city.
Pretend, if necessary, it is your
front yard. You do keep that un-
cluttered, don’t you?
Now – a word from a senior
who is very disturbed by who
knows who? We all enjoyed the
wrought iron bench provided by
a local group, that sat in front of
the Center. I think you must
have, too, but I fail to under-
stand how you could totally de-
stroy, for no reason, honest or
imagined, something put there
for the use of all of those want-
ing to rest. Yes, I even saw a
person sleeping on it one day
this past month before it was
wasted. My suggestion to the
responsible folk – go to the Se-
nior Center chair-person, admit
your fault and make amends.
The Center is there to help
young and old but not to be
used and have a “So What”
thrown at them.
OK. I’m off my soap box for
a moment. Spring…I finally got
out in my yard. I think that is
what it is called, it’s still too soft
and squishy to know for sure.
And where the flowers belong,
it is clay. I think I shall become
a pot or tub gardener.
I did not see the St. Paddies
parade but the Sr. Center had
their Corned Beef and Cab-
bage Rolls a week later; good
food, good music, and a full
house.
For those wondering, or not,
yes, I’m still reading…at pres-
ent, Tony Hillerman’s Finding
Moon. A break from his Indian
lore but still full of heartfelt in-
trigue set in Cambodia and
Vietnam in 1975.
We’ve had a spring rain,
seems we are lucky, no hail, no
thunder, and no lightening, so,
til next time…
Thank the Flicker for eating
up to 50,000 ants per day (by
the way, it’s a woodpecker).