Tuesday, January 27, 2015

The clock is ticking. 186 hours left to apply for the Goodcity Incubator Program!





Have you resolved to start a Non-Profit or take your start-up Non-Profit to the next level? Apply now for the 2015 Goodcity Incubator Program! Goodcity's Incubator Program is designed to provide support to start-up Non-Profit Organizations in the areas of Capacity Development and Fiscal Services.

Please apply now as time is running out. Apply here!

The deadline is January 31, 2015.

Learn About the Anti-Eviction Campaign of Chicago and the DaddyDaughter Dance on WVON




Making Progress; Moving Forward!
Tune in to learn about the
Anti-Eviction
Campaign of Chicago
and
Preparing for the 2015 Daddy Daughter Dance
*************************************
Saturday, January 24, 2015
6:00 pm central time
On WVON -1690 AM
Join us at 7:00 pm Eastern; 6:00 pm Central; 5:00 pm Mountain; 4:00 pm Pacific; 3:00 pm Alaskan; 2:00 pm Hawaiian. Call-In number at 773-591-1690
Listen to The Black Star Project's
Internationally Acclaimed Radio Program
The Parent Revolution
Every Saturday on WVON 1690AM
Click Here to Tune In.
*****************************************************************
The Black Star Project thanks the Board of Directors of The Field Foundation of Illinois, the Board of Directors of Woods Fund of Chicago, Illinois State Senator Jacqueline Collins, Illinois State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford, Chicago Alderman Will Burns and Melody Spann Cooper of WVON for their generous support for our parenting programs.
Engaged Parents Are The Key To Children's Academic Success
Meet and Work with Other Parents
Who Want The Best for Their Children
Saturday, January 24, 2015, 9:30 am
at The Black Star Project
3509 South King Drive
Chicago, Illinois
Please call 773.285.9600 for more information.

Dangerous new scam update




Grand Crossing Park Neighborhood Network
"...What YOU can do for YOUR Neighborhood"
Neighbors and stakeholders,
The internet inadvertently serves as a conduit for myth, rumor and urban legend. There is a high likelihood that the I distributed in the "Dangerous Scam Alert" is, in fact, simply urban legend, as some of my good neighbors have reminded me, as they produced document which listed an identical story as a well known H-O-A-X established back before Y 2 K! Trusting the source, as I did, I passed it along like a Rookie Cop on Roosevelt Road!

But,... what we do know is the criminal mind is a beast, and is forever figuring, plotting and planning, using creativity to dupe, mimic, copy and utilize ideas and scams hatched in basements, garages and and jail cells. Then, voila, they creep from Pandora's box and experiment on the real world and innocents unaware.

There seems to be solid evidence that the practicality of such an exact method, as the one in that alert, is very moot, chemistry-wise, but it nevertheless can't be counted out as a ploy that many stupid, novice criminals may TRY to employ. Just because it doesn't work, textbook style, doesn't mean they won't try it. So, a word to the wise - stay on guard.

A recent neighborhood conference on "Molly" (Ecstasy) exposed us to what the local knit-wits are doing among teenagers, which is akin to the ploy in the mentioned scam. Then there's the newly discovered "25i" which has authorities nervous about possible abuses...

I thank my conscious and ever intelligent neighbors for the heads up. Let's always keep working together as a force for good. So, anyone who enjoyed smell shopping of perfumes and oils can breathe a little easier...but only a little.

I AM STRONG


I AM STRONG

 

 Because I have been weak

 

I AM BEATIFUL

 

 Because of my imperfections

 

I AM A LOVER

 

 Because I am a fighter

 

I AM WISE

 

 Because I have been foolish

 

I AM BLESSED

 

 Because I have known sorrows

 

I AM SUCCESSFUL

 

 Because I have been defeated

 

I AM HERE

 

 Because I will not give up

IRS Tax Tip 2015-05: Top 10 Tax Facts about Exemptions and Dependents

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IRS Tax Tips January 26, 2015

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Issue Number: IRS Tax Tip 2015-05Inside This Issue
Top 10 Tax Facts about Exemptions and Dependents
Nearly everyone can claim an exemption on their tax return. It usually lowers your taxable income. In most cases, that reduces the amount of tax you owe for the year. Here are the top 10 tax facts about exemptions to help you file your tax return.
1. E-file your tax return. Filing electronically is the easiest way to file a complete and accurate tax return. The software that you use to e-file will help you determine the number of exemptions that you can claim. E-file options include free Volunteer Assistance, IRS Free File, commercial software and professional assistance.
2. Exemptions cut income. There are two types of exemptions. The first type is a personal exemption. The second type is an exemption for a dependent. You can usually deduct $3,950 for each exemption you claim on your 2014 tax return.
3. Personal exemptions. You can usually claim an exemption for yourself. If you’re married and file a joint return, you can claim one for your spouse, too. If you file a separate return, you can claim an exemption for your spouse only if your spouse:
• had no gross income,
• is not filing a tax return, and
• was not the dependent of another taxpayer.
4. Exemptions for dependents. You can usually claim an exemption for each of your dependents. A dependent is either your child or a relative who meets a set of tests. You can’t claim your spouse as a dependent. You must list the Social Security number of each dependent you claim on your tax return. For more on these rules, see IRS Publication 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information. You can get Publication 501 on IRS.gov. Just click on the “Forms & Pubs” tab on the home page.
5. Report health care coverage. The health care law requires you to report certain health insurance information for you and your family. The individual shared responsibility provision requires you and each member of your family to either:
• Have qualifying health insurance, called minimum essential coverage, or
• Have an exemption from this coverage requirement, or
• Make a shared responsibility payment when you file your 2014 tax return.
Visit IRS.gov/ACA for more on these rules.
6. Some people don’t qualify. You normally may not claim married persons as dependents if they file a joint return with their spouse. There are some exceptions to this rule.
7. Dependents may have to file. A person who you can claim as your dependent may have to file their own tax return. This depends on certain factors, like the amount of their income, whether they are married and if they owe certain taxes.
8. No exemption on dependent’s return. If you can claim a person as a dependent, that person can’t claim a personal exemption on his or her own tax return. This is true even if you don’t actually claim that person on your tax return. This rule applies because you can claim that person is your dependent.
9. Exemption phase-out. The $3,950 per exemption is subject to income limits. This rule may reduce or eliminate the amount you can claim based on the amount of your income. See Publication 501 for details.
10. Try the IRS online tool. Use the Interactive Tax Assistant tool on IRS.gov to see if a person qualifies as your dependent.
If you found this Tax Tip helpful, please share it through your social media platforms. A great way to get tax information is to use IRS Social Media. You can also subscribe to IRS Tax Tips or any of our e-news subscriptions.
IRS YouTube Videos:
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Ald. Sawyer Wants To Bring Coffee Shops, Bars To Desolate State St. Stretch




DNAinfoChicago
January 26, 2015
High 27° F | Low 23° F | Clouds and sun
Englewood, Auburn Gresham & Chatham
Top Stories
Ald. Sawyer Wants To Bring Coffee Shops, Bars To Desolate State St.Stretch
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Task Force To Address Complaints About Chatham Methadone Clinic
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The South Side business owners say that the grant will allow them to hire more employees and expand. Read More...
Mr. Cub Urged Fans To Name Twins 'Clark' and 'Addison' ... And They Did
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Cubs fan Ron Stampley's twin boys grew up South Side Cubs fans, thanks in great part to Ernie Banks. Read More...
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