Honoring Our Presidents

Have you seen pictures of the most popular presidential monuments in Washington, D.C.? Maybe you’ve visited these sites in our nation’s capital.

The Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson Memorial have long been symbols of America. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial is the newest presidential monument, dedicated in 2020.

Presidents Day is on Feb. 20 this year. To celebrate, The Mini Page takes a tour of these famous monuments.

Monument to Washington

When French-American architect Pierre L’Enfant designed Washington, D.C., he included plans for a monument to America’s first president.

The design was chosen through a contest, as were most capital memorials. The winning designer was Robert Mills.

In 1848, workers began building the monument, but money ran out after six years. By the time work began again, 25 years later, workers had to get rock from a different quarry. As a result, the stone is a different color starting about one-third of the way up.

Lincoln Memorial

Abraham Lincoln is one of our most honored presidents. He took the first big steps toward ending slavery. He held the United States together during the Civil War.

As a result, the memorial to him has become one of the most inspirational sites in the world. Many world-changing events have been held there.

In 1939, a group would not allow singer Marian Anderson to perform in their hall because she was Black. First lady Eleanor Roosevelt helped arrange for her to sing at the Lincoln Memorial instead. Millions heard her concert on the radio.

In 1963, at a march for civil rights, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech there. The speech continues to inspire people throughout the world.

When Lincoln was president in the 1860s, the Potomac River came almost to the Washington Monument, about three-fourths of a mile away.

The Lincoln Memorial is built on former swampland that was filled in by the U.S. Army in the late 1800s. Work began on the memorial in 1914.

The 19-foot-tall statue of Lincoln inside is made up of 28 pieces of marble put together like a giant jigsaw puzzle.

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

When President Franklin Delano Roosevelt first came to Washington, D.C., he was surprised that there was no memorial to his hero, Thomas Jefferson. Roosevelt led the push to build a memorial to honor him.

Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. He also nearly doubled the size of America with the Louisiana Purchase.

Workers began building the memorial in 1938. The original statue of Jefferson was made of plaster because metal was needed for weapons in World War II. After the war, a bronze statue replaced the plaster one. Eisenhower Memorial

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial was dedicated in September 2020. According to the National Park Service, this memorial “pays tribute to this remarkable historic figure with heroicsized bronze sculptures, stone bas reliefs, and quotations from his most famous speeches and addresses.”

Resources

On the Web:

• bit.ly/ MPEisenhowerMemorial

At the library:

• “A Kid’s Guide to U.S. Presidents: Fascinating Facts About Each President” by Dylanna Press quarry. As a result, the stone is a different color starting about one-third of the way up.

Lincoln Memorial

Abraham Lincoln is one of our most

Try ’n’ Find

memorial in 1914.

The 19-foot-tall statue of Lincoln inside is made up of 28 pieces of marble put together like a giant jigsaw puzzle.

Words that remind us of Presidents Day are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:

ARCHITECT, CAPITAL, EISENHOWER, EVENTS, HONOR, JEFFERSON, LINCOLN, MARBLE, MEMORIAL, MONUMENT, PLASTER, PRESIDENTS, ROOSEVELT, SWAMP, WASHINGTON.

Cook’s Corner

Cottage Cheese Spread

You’ll need:

• 1 cup low-fat (or fat-free) cottage cheese

• 1/4 cup shredded carrot

• 1/4 cup chopped cucumber

• 1/4 cup chopped green pepper

• 1/4 cup chopped celery

What to do:

• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic herb spice blend

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium plastic container.

2. Chill for 1 hour to blend flavors.

3. Spread on crackers or sliced cucumbers. Serves 3-4.

7 Little Words for Kids

Use the letters in the boxes to make a word with the same meaning as the clue. The numbers in parentheses represent the number of letters in the solution. Each letter combination can be used only once, but all letter combinations will be necessary to complete the puzzle.

1. youngest in the family (4)

2. food you buy at the store (9)

3. crocodile cousin (9)

4. bee or beetle (6)

5. short test (4)

6. where you save money (4)

7. venomous snake (5)

Guide to U.S. Presidents: Fascinating Facts About Each President” by Dylanna Press

Mini Jokes

has four guys who don’t sing? Mount Rushmore!

the Pacific is now expected to linger into February or even March, according to the U.N. weather agency. For three consecutive years, the phenomenon has brought disastrous flooding to southeastern Australia as well as various other weather disasters around the world. “The first ‘triple-dip’ La Niña of the 21st century will continue to affect temperature and precipitation patterns and exacerbate drought and flooding in different parts of the world,” the World Meteorological Organization said in a statement.

Look in the newspaper for articles about Presidents Day.

Teachers: Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!

BY DAN THOMPSON

Stephen

How much do you have to make to file taxes?

Dear Savvy Senior, What are the IRS income tax filing requirements for retirees this tax season? My income dropped way down when I retired in 2022, so I’m wondering if I need to even file a tax return this year.

Recently Retired

Dear Recently, Whether or not you are required to file a federal income tax return this year will depend on how much you earned last year, as well as the source of the income, your age and filing status.

Here’s a rundown of this tax season’s IRS tax filing requirement thresholds.

For most people, this is pretty straightforward. If your 2022 gross income – which includes all taxable income, not counting your Social Security benefits, unless you are married and filing separately – was below the threshold for your filing status and age, you may not have to file.

• Single: $12,950 ($14,700 if you’re 65 or older by Jan. 1, 2022).

• Married filing jointly: $25,900 ($27,300 if you or your spouse is 65 or older; or $28,700 if you’re both over 65).

• Head of household: $19,400 ($21,150 if 65 or older).

• Qualifying widow(er) with de- pendent child: $25,900 ($27,300 if 65 or older).

To get a detailed breakdown on federal filing requirements, along with information on taxable and nontaxable income, call the IRS at 800-829-3676 and ask them to mail you a free copy of the “1040 and 1040-SR Instructions for Tax Year 2022,” or you can see it online at www.IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi. pdf.

Check Here Too

Be aware that there are other financial situations that can require you to file a tax return, even if your gross income falls below the IRS filing requirements: for example, if you earned more than $400 from self-employment in 2022, owe any special taxes like an alternative minimum tax, or get premium tax credits because you, your spouse or a dependent is enrolled in a Health Insurance Marketplace plan.

You’ll also need to file if you’re receiving Social Security benefits, and one-half of your benefits plus your other gross income and any tax-exempt interest exceeds $25,000, or $32,000 if you’re married and filing jointly.

To figure all this out, the IRS offers an online tax tool that asks a series of questions that will help you

By Jim Miller

determine if you’re required to file, or if you should file because you’re due a refund. It takes less than 15 minutes to complete.

You can access this tool at www. IRS.gov/Help/ITA – click on “Do I Need to File a Tax Return?” Or you can get assistance over the phone by calling the IRS helpline at 800-8291040.

Check Your State

Even if you’re not required to file a federal tax return this year, don’t assume that you’re also excused from filing state income taxes. The see SAVVY page 22

CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 23

ANDREWS

TODAY’S HISTORY:

• In 1825, the U.S. House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams as president, a decision that became necessary after no candidate took a majority of the electoral votes in the election of 1824.

• In 1861, Jefferson Davis was elected president of the Confederate States of America.

• In 1950, during a speech in West Virginia, Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin claimed to have a list of more than 200 “known communists” serving in the State Department.

• In 1964, the Beatles made their first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

TODAY’S FACT:

• The game of volleyball (then called Mintonette) was created in Holyoke, Massachusetts, on this day in 1895.

State track & field

CLOCKWISE (l to r): CVU’s Amelie Scharf, above, starts the girls 4x200 meter relay during the state track and field championships held at UVM on Saturday. CVU’s Grace McNally leads into the final lap of the girls 600 meter run. CVU’s Alice Kredell leads the pack in the girls 1000 meter run, going on to win the race. CVU’s Hayden Berard, center, competes in the boys 55 meter sprint. CVU’s Matthew Servin leads wire to wire to win the boys 1500 meter race.

Twist and shoot