Free tax help at Oasis, Liberty Tax appreciation days, Russel Allen Garden Day, Logan County Democrats, NHM supports HSLC, writing club, blood drives, Elkhart dinner lecture, Hartem FFA and Oasis auctions, HSLC spay-neuter, and scholarships in Close Up

[March 08, 2012]  Oasis offers free tax assistance program -- The Oasis Senior Center offers free tax assistance to seniors during the 2012 filing season, Feb. 1-April 13. The center will offer electronic filing, which improves accuracy and ensures each return is accepted by the IRS in a timely manner. Tax volunteers are trained in the "Tax Wise" software but are not trained tax professionals. If your form is complicated or outside the established guidelines, please seek the assistance of a tax professional.

The senior center is obligated to stay within the guidelines for a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Center. The guidelines prohibit the center from completing tax forms that involve the sale of property, business earnings, depreciation, stock sales, farm income, and other income or deductions that are not typical in nature.

For an appointment, call 732-6132.

Hours are:

• Mondays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Thursdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Fridays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

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Liberty Tax appreciation days

Liberty Tax Service offers free tax preparation to salute firefighters, police and law enforcement officers at participating locations. These tax breaks on preparation fees will be in effect from March 5-11 for those who are first-time customers.

For more information, call or stop by the Lincoln office on Woodlawn Road, 217-651-6382.

"This week we’ll honor the courage and dedication of our men and women in law enforcement and public safety to show appreciation for their work to keep this community safe," said Chris Fehr, owner of Liberty Tax Service in Lincoln.

There are also Liberty Tax offices in Decatur and Springfield.

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Master Gardeners host Russel Allen Garden Day

The University of Illinois Extension Logan County Master Gardeners will host Russel Allen Garden Day on Saturday, March 10, at the Meyers-Evans Student Center at Lincoln College. Sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with registration from 8 to 8:45 a.m. The public is invited for this event that will feature various presentations related to gardening, as well as displays by area plant and gardening societies. The day is in honor of Russel Allen, a charter member of the Logan County Master Gardener volunteer program.

To view a brochure and register online, visit the Logan-Menard-Sangamon website, http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lms/. For additional information, call 217-732-8289.

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Logan County Democrats

The Logan County Democrats will meet on Saturday, March 10, at 10 a.m. at the Owl's Roost Coffee Bar, 427 Pulaski St. in Lincoln.

Special guest will be Shirley McCombs, of Petersburg, who serves as the state central committeewoman for the 18th Congressional District. She will be speaking on "Using your Democrat Headquarters Effectively." All Logan County Democrats are welcome to attend.

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New Holland-Middletown supports Humane Society

A service learning project continuing through March at New Holland-Middletown School supports the Humane Society of Logan County.

Students are collecting pet food, treats and supplies. Also, a container for collecting change and cash donations is available in the school office. Donations from the public are welcome and can be placed in the school library in Middletown.

The Humane Society of Logan County is a not-for-profit organization committed to the prevention of cruelty, abuse and neglect of animals. The organization has a new shelter at 1801 E. Lincoln Parkway, Lincoln.

For more information about this project, call 217-445-2656. Faculty sponsor for the project is Diane Bicknell.

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Writing club meets

Lincoln Writers Club will meet Tuesday, March 13, at 6:30 p.m. in the Alumni Room of the Lincoln College dining hall. The Rev. Barbara Stroud-Borth will chair the meeting.

Suggested writing topics: Mardi Gras, Girl Scouting or Leap Year.

For more information, call 732-2723.

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Blood drives in Logan County need your help

To help ensure an adequate blood supply for our region, the Central Illinois Community Blood Center is offering several opportunities to donate blood in Logan County.

March 15:

• Elkhart -- Elkhart Christian Church, 113 S. Gillett; 3-6 p.m.

• Atlanta -- St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 805 Pearl St.; noon-6 p.m.

March 16:

• Mount Pulaski -- Mount Pulaski High School, 206 S. Spring St.; 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

For your convenience, call toll-free 1-866-GIVE-BLD (1-866-448-3253), ext. 158., to sign up, or schedule an appointment online at www.cicbc.org. Walk-ins are also welcome and truly appreciated.

Central Illinois Community Blood Center, a not-for-profit organization, is the provider of life-saving blood for 12 hospitals throughout central Illinois, including Memorial Medical Center and St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. CICBC is a division of Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center. CICBC and MVRBC collect over 180,000 units of blood annually and serve 80 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin.

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Elkhart dinner lecture on the 'Irish Connection'

The Elkhart Historical Society will present the second of a new season of lectures at the Wild Hare Cafe in Elkhart on Friday, March 16. "Abraham Lincoln in Logan County, and the Irish Connection" will be presented by Paul Beaver, professor emeritus of Lincoln College. Beaver will talk on little-known facts about Abraham Lincoln in Logan County during the years 1834-1860.

Lincoln was a surveyor, lawyer and politician in and around Logan County and left much documented information, some of which has previously been reported incorrectly in many publications over the years. Beaver will discuss the impact of the waves of Irish immigrants into Logan County, which had a direct influence on the political success of our 16th president of the United States.

Come join an entertaining Irish night with music and corned beef and cabbage (an additional entrée is available).

Reservation forms are available at www.elkharthistoricalsociety.org and the new www.wildharecafe-elk-il.com website.

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Hartem FFA consignment auction

The second annual Hartsburg-Emden FFA consignment auction will be on Saturday, March 17, at the Orvil Township machine shed in Hartsburg.

Proceeds from the auction go toward sending FFA members to the Washington Leadership Conference.

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11th annual Oasis Auction

The 11th annual Oasis Auction fundraiser will be on Sunday, March 25. Dan White of White Auction Service helps the Oasis make the event bigger and better each year. The auction is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at the "White House" auction center, 501 S. Kickapoo St. Prior to the sale, all items will be available to preview on Friday, March 23, from 9:30 a.m. till 2 p.m.

The business community of Logan County is extremely generous in donating items for the auction. This year's event will feature some gift certificates, craft items and numerous other donations from the caring community of Logan County.

Each year, Logan County neighbors spend the months of February and early March cleaning basements, attics and garages to donate gently used items to this event. Once again the call goes out. If you have gently used items, please contact the senior center at 732-6132.

A luncheon consisting of pulled pork sandwiches and homemade pies will be served starting at 11 a.m. and continuing through the sale.

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HSLC offers spay-neuter transport

The Humane Society of Logan County's next transport to the Animal Protective League of Springfield for spaying and neutering will be on Monday, March 19. Call 217-737-4042 now to make arrangements for your dog or cat to be spayed or neutered in March.

For all dogs except pit bulls and pit bull mixes, the fee per dog is $55. Pits are $25. Male cats are $35 to neuter, female cats are $45 to spay, and feral cats are $25. All animals must have proof of a rabies shot, or one must be given at the time of spaying or neutering. Other services are available at a reduced cost.

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Zonta scholarship

This year, the Zonta Club of Lincoln is able to offer scholarships for young women; among them is the Zonta Club of Lincoln's Women's Career Scholarship.

The scholarship being offered is open to any Logan County woman. The school to be attended need not be an Illinois institution; however, it must be accredited or recognized as an approved program in the field of study. Top candidates will be selected based on merit, activities, leadership, honors, awards and need. Awards are offered on a one-academic-year basis and applicants can reapply year after year. Students having less than one academic year remaining until graduation are not eligible for consideration.

Deadline for this scholarship application is March 19.

Scholarship applications are available at local high schools, colleges and university guidance offices.

More information is available in a Jan. 25 LDN article.

For further information or to obtain an application, contact Christel Huff, chairman, Zonta Club of Lincoln Scholarship Committee, 211 Latham St., Lincoln, IL 62656; phone [phone] (home) or 217-737-4470 (cell); or email [e-mail]. Applications can be emailed to applicants.

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Healthcare Careers Scholarship applications due March 30

March 30 is the deadline for the 2012 Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation Healthcare Careers Scholarship.

Scholarships may be awarded to students pursuing careers identified by Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital as relating to its present and future needs. Award amounts range from $10,000 for an associate degree up to $30,000 for graduate degrees. For every $2,500 awarded, the recipient is contractually obligated to a one-year employment contract at ALMH.

Graduating high school seniors, as well as students further along in their health career studies, are eligible to apply. Preferred career fields this year are nursing (ADN or BSN), physical therapy, medical laboratory technology and nurse anesthesiology (CRNA).

Applicants must be residents of Logan County, currently attending or accepted into a fully accredited school for their chosen field of study, and demonstrate a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale while maintaining a B average in core classes.

Detailed scholarship guidelines and application forms are available for download at https://www.almh.org/Giving-Back/
Scholarships.aspx.

Applicants are also required to simultaneously submit an ALMH job application specifically for the foundation scholarship. This application is available at: https://www.choosememorial.org/careers/
affiliates/ALMH-Job-Listings.aspx.

Both completed applications are due on March 30.

For more information about the ALHF Healthcare Careers Scholarship Program, contact Marty Ahrends, ALHF executive director, at 605-5006.

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Crime Stoppers accepting scholarship applications

The Lincoln-Logan Crime Stoppers board is currently accepting applications for the organization's 2012 scholarship awards.

The scholarships are available to Logan County residents who are either high school seniors or current college students pursuing a degree in the law enforcement field.

Applications are available at Logan County high schools, Logan County Regional Office of Education, Lincoln College and Heartland College, or call 217-732-5704 to obtain an application.

The submission deadline for scholarship applications will be March 31.

Completed applications should be submitted to:

Karen Petty
Lincoln-Logan Crime Stoppers
311 10th St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

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Mount Pulaski Rotary Club scholarship announcement

The Mount Pulaski Rotary Club is offering Mount Pulaski High School seniors the opportunity to apply for scholarships through a Rotary Club program again this year. Applications for the scholarships may be obtained from the high school guidance counselor's office.

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