Fargo Library holds lefse classes this week
Maybe you’ve let the lefse tradition lapse a little in your family and need a re-introduction, or perhaps you are totally new to this Scandinavian delicacy. Either way, come and learn lefse-making basics at the library. You’ll get a chance to roll and flip, plus you can even bring a few pieces home with you in time for the holidays. Bring your apron, and get ready to roll up your sleeves! Sessions are planned at all three library locations and are set for the following dates and times:
Thursday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m. at the Dr. James Carlson Library
Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m. at the downtown Main Library
Saturday, Dec. 13, at 2 p.m. at the Northport Library
All materials will be provided; participants are asked to bring an apron. These sessions are geared for adults and teens. Space is limited; pre-registration is required. Register online or call the Main Library Information Desk at (701) 241-1492 for details. For information on these and other upcoming events at the Fargo Public Library, visit www.fargolibrary.org.
Fargo Public Library events are free and open to the public. Adults must accompany children under 10 years old.
1500 Block of 5th Avenue South to close
Starting Thursday, Dec. 11, 5th Avenue South will be closed between 15th and 16th Streets South for sanitary service repairs. The closure will be in place until Monday, Dec. 15. Detour signs will be posted.
Find a complete list of road closures online at www.FargoStreets.com. Follow @FargoStreets on Twitter.
Tobacco compliance check results
On Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014 the Fargo and West Fargo Police Departments, with assistance from Fargo Cass Public Health, conducted tobacco compliance checks. In Fargo, 61 businesses were checked, four failed. In West Fargo, eleven businesses were checked, none failed.
Failed in Fargo:
Casey’s General Store, 2701 S. University Dr. –1st fail in 12 months
Casey’s General Store, 1401 S. University Dr. – 1st fail in 12 months
Loaf N Jug, 1201 N. University Dr. – 2nd fail in 12 months
Fargo South Pointe, 3202 33rd St S – Subsequent offense
Penalties in Fargo and West Fargo are as follows:
The 1st failure in a one year time period – one year probation
The 2nd failure in a one year time period – 3 day suspension of the tobacco license
The 3rd failure in a one year time period – 10 day suspension of the tobacco license
Subsequent offenses — 30 day suspension of the tobacco license
Roni Delaney Benefit
CATS Cradle Shelter together with the friends and family of Roni Delaney will host “The Roni Delaney Benefit” to help Roni with her rising medical care costs.
Last June, while providing moral support for her mother, who is currently in remission from Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, 23-year-old Roni was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. She immediately started chemotherapy and had extensive surgery in October 2014. Due to complications from the surgery, Roni’s follow-up chemo was postponed. She faced further hospitalizations and will begin chemotherapy again in December.
Roni is a lifelong Moorhead resident. She graduated from Moorhead High School in 2008 and from MSUM in 2013.
The Roni Delaney Benefit is scheduled for 1-5pm on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at the El Zagal Shrine, 1429 3rd Street N, Fargo, ND. There will be a baked potato bar, entertainment, and a silent auction.
Lend A Hand, a program of Dakota Medical Foundation, is providing up to $5,000 of matching funds to provide more help for the family.
Question regarding the Roni Delaney Benefit may be directed to:
· GailVentzke, 701-367-1511, gadams38@cableone.net
Online donations may be made to:
· www.dakmed.org/lendahand, click “Donate”
Cash/Check donations payable to Roni Delaney Benefit Fund may be sent to any Gate City Bank location.
Ag Producers Should Do Income
Tax Planning Before Year Ends
Agricultural producers should do tax planning before the end of the year based on the information known at this time. Traditionally, producers try to do tax planning to limit their tax liability.
“In tax planning, it is best to start with year-to-date income and expenses and estimate them for the remainder of the year,” says Ron Haugen, North Dakota State University Extension Service farm economist. “Do not forget any income that was deferred to 2014 from a previous year.
“Depreciation also needs to be estimated,” he says. “It is best to try to spread out income and expenses so producers don’t have abnormally high or low income or expenses in any one year. However, caution should be used in deferring too much income into future years because it may push you into a higher tax bracket.”
These are items to note for planning 2014 tax returns:
* The section 179 expense election is at $25,000 for 2014 unless Congress acts.
The section 179 expense generally allows producers to deduct up to $25,000 of new or used machinery or equipment purchased in the tax year. There is a dollar- for-dollar phase-out for purchases above $200,000. This is a significant drop from $500,000 in 2013. At this time, Congress is considering reinstating the $500,000 amount.
* The additional first-year bonus depreciation has expired. At this time, Congress is considering reinstating this provision.
* Income averaging can be used by producers to spread the tax liability to lower income tax brackets in the three previous years. This is done on schedule J. North Dakota farmers who elect to use income averaging for federal purposes also may use Form ND 1FA (income averaging) for North Dakota income tax calculations.
* Crop insurance proceeds and government crop disaster payments can be deferred to the next tax year if a producer is a cash-basis taxpayer and can show that normally income from damaged crops would be included in a tax year following the year of the damage.
* A livestock income deferral is available for those who had a forced sale of livestock because of a weather-related disaster.
Here is what producers can do before the end of the year to limit their current tax liability:
* Prepay farm expenses. Feed, fertilizer, seed and similar expenses can be prepaid. Typically, discounts are received by paying for these expenses in the fall. Producers can deduct prepaid expenses that do not exceed 50 percent of their other deductible farm expenses.
* Pay real estate taxes or interest. Paying taxes or interest can be done before the end of the year to increase 2014 expenses.
* Defer income to 2015. Crop and livestock sales can be deferred until the next year by using a deferred payment contract. Most grain elevators or sales barns will defer sales until the next tax year. Producers should be aware that they are at risk if the business becomes insolvent before the check is received and cashed.
* Purchase machinery or equipment. Machinery or equipment purchases can be made before the end of the year to get a depreciation or 179 expense deduction in 2014.
* Contribute to a retirement plan such as a simplified employee pension plan, savings incentive match plan for employees, individual retirement account or a solo 401K.
Information on agricultural topics can be found in the Farmers Tax Guide, Publication 225. It can be obtained at any IRS office or can be ordered by calling (800) 829-3676. Any questions about these topics should be addressed to your tax professional or the IRS at (800) 829-1040 or http://www.irs.gov. North Dakota income tax questions can be addressed to the North Dakota Tax Department at (877) 328-7088 or http://www.nd.gov/tax/.