However, filing them can be made easier if you are a retired senior citizen.

Betty Ellis, tax coordinator for the Rodgers Forge Chapter of AARP has the scoop. She informed us that this tax counseling service available for retired senior citizens will run from Feb. 7 until April 11. It will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. until noon at First and St. Stephen's United Church of Christ, 6915 York Road. Reservations are not necessary, as it is a walk-in site.

Betty urged interested and eligible persons to bring the following information to facilitate the process: the IRS and state packets received in the mail, federal and state income tax return copies, all 1099 forms, all 1099B forms, showing sales of stocks and/or bonds and cost basis, SSA 1099 & Form 703 (if applicable), RRB 1099 (green and black copies, if applicable), record of 2001 estimated tax payments, record of house or other property sales and/or record of income from rental property or mortgage and record of rebate received.

If you wish to have your tax return (prepared by someone else) checked, the tax counselors will do so. However, they will need all supporting documents. The facility will be closed if Baltimore City or Baltimore County schools are closed due to weather.

>Heaps of kudos to our 462 Dumbarton Middle School students, who made the Honor Roll for the first quarter of the 2001-2002 academic year.

These included 147 eighth graders, 149 seventh graders and 166 sixth graders. We are sorry that space does not allow us to name each one.

>Well, the snow season has certainly arrived in our neighborhoods but the Myers and Sullivan families of Gaywood enjoyed the wintry weather early, during the Christmas holidays.

Sheila and Jeff Myers took their daughters, Katie and Claire, to Cincinnati to visit family and they had a dusting of snow on Christmas morning. "It made the 10 hour drive worthwhile," laughed Sheila.

The Sullivans, Jill, Kip, and children Francie and Peter, spent the holidays in Connecticut and New Hampshire. They took the children skiing on Sunapee Mt., N.H. "It was their first time and they just loved it," exclaimed Jill.

>Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13, will begin the penitential season of Lent in our area churches. Many services will be held.

Ascension Lutheran Church will hold services at noon and 7:30 p.m.

At Central Presbyterian Church, the 7 p.m. service will begin a weekly service each Wednesday evening throughout Lent.

Ash Wednesday service at First and Saint Stephen's United Church of Christ will be held at 7:30 p.m.

Fran Nelson alerted us to the fact that Rodgers Forge United Methodist Church will join Idlewylde United Methodist Church at Idlewylde for a 7:30 p.m. service.

Masses at St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church will be at 7 a.m., 12:10 and 7:30 p.m. with prayer services at 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (family liturgy). Ashes will be distributed at all services.

Woodbrook Baptist Church is holding its service at 6 p.m.

>"We are having a tea for 60-plus," beamed Clara Young, associate pastor of First and St. Stephen's. She went on to say that "It is a very special day. We had one two years ago and it was a great success."

Clara told us that the tea is given by the Sunday School children and will be held on Feb. 10. "I even bring out my grandmother's china," she said.

>Meg Davis called to ask our help in locating past members of Boy Scout Troop #701.

The troop is celebrating its 50th anniversary on Feb. 3 and she and her colleagues would love to have former scouts, leaders, committee members, etc. come and reminisce.

The celebration will be held at Babcock Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m., with a reception following. Please call Meg at 410-821-7592 if you have been associated with Troop #701.