Page 22 - Abacoa Community News - March '25

Page 22, Abacoa
Town Of Jupiter News

By Jim Kuretski, 4 meeting, the Town Council approved construction on the our rich history, the people, places, events, stories, and
Mayor, Town of Jupiter first three—Indian Creek Park, Jupiter Community Park, moments that have made Jupiter the incredible place and
The Town Council works and Maplewood Park. community that it is today.
with our town manager, staff But that’s not all. The town has a roadmap to renovate A little history lesson – our annual Jupiter Jubilee was
and others to address issues all 11 parks over the next 5 years and we would like your created to be a community event that brings us together to
affecting our residents and help in building the future of Jupiter’s playgrounds. We’re perpetuate our small town feel in a uniquely Jupiter way.
businesses. The following gearing up to design the playground at Abacoa Community It began 25 years ago and commemorated our town’s 75th
provides a summary of Park, and we want your input. What cool features would birthday. It has always been our annual birthday bash, but
actions and achievements you love to see? Town staff are reaching out through various the celebration was bigger this year because the very next
since last month’s channels to secure your ideas. day, Feb. 9, marked Jupiter’s official 100th birthday!
community newspaper Jupiter Jubilee 2025 Jupiter’s Centennial Celebrations
report: The Feb. 8 Jupiter Jubilee event was returned to the We have a full calendar of exciting events planned
Town Parks: Playground Upgrades town’s governmental campus. It was held offsite in Abacoa throughout the year. We encourage each of you to join in and
Exciting playground upgrades are coming! The town is Community Park the past two years due to construction of actively participate in this once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
on a journey to revamp all of its playgrounds. At our Feb. our new Town Hall. Find the complete schedule of events at the town’s website
This year’s Jubilee was extra special because we
celebrated a truly historic milestone—Jupiter’s 100th year at Jupiter.fl.us/Centennial.

Stay tuned.
Commissioner’s anniversary! This year should and will be all about honoring

Update Bagpipes In The Fire Service
Becoming desperate to earn money to support their families,
Professional Firefighters they took the jobs that no one else wanted because it was a dirty,
Free Tax Services Offered To And Paramedics Of dangerous and physically demanding way to earn very little
pay and even less respect. They became firefighters and police
Palm Beach County Residents Palm Beach officers.
One of the Irish traditions they brought with them was the

By Mayor Maria County bagpipes. In an effort to keep their traditions alive, the firefighters
G. Marino would play the bagpipes while at work, and over time it became
It’s that time of This article was published part of the firefighter culture.
year when the United last year, but there are so many Few things evoke a firefighter’s emotions like the sounds of
Way of Palm Beach new residents, and many may not pipes and drums. Feelings of pride and joy swell a firefighter’s
County teams up with know the history or significance of heart when listening to up-tempo Irish and Scottish tunes at a
IRS-certified Volunteer bagpipes in the fire service. Each joyous occasion, just as the ever-present pride and overwhelming
Income Tax Assistance year around St. Patrick celebrations, we are often asked why fire sorrow breaks the firefighter’s heart when hearing the wail of
(VITA) volunteers for a departments have pipe and drum bands. Amazing Grace at the funeral for a fallen firefighter killed in the
tax-free filing campaign. If you see firefighters in kilts and hear the unmistakable line of duty.
This initiative offers free, sound of bagpipes during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, there Next time you hear a fire department pipe and drum band,
confidential, and secure is a reason why those sounds and images have become a part of please remember just how it came to be such a deep-rooted part
tax preparation and e-filing for qualified taxpayers. Taxes the Fire Service traditions. of our tradition.
Filed Free provides two easy and stress-free ways to file at Parades featuring fire department honor guards and pipe and Steen Eriksson,
no cost: taxpayers can file online at www.MyFreeTaxes. drum bands take place across the United States, and especially Community Relations – HOA North,
com anytime and anywhere, or they can meet with an in the Northeast as part of St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Professional Firefighters/Paramedics of Palm Beach County,
IRS-certified volunteer in person at one of 16 locations This often piques the curiosity about the relationship IAFF Local 2928,
throughout the county. Volunteers are available to assist firefighters and police officers have with the bagpipes, and HOAN@iaff2928.com
in English, Spanish, Creole, and sign language, with no how it has become part of our
appointment required. tradition.
To make it easier to prepare your return please bring the In the mid-1800s, there was
following items to the VITA sites: a massive migration of Irish to
• Last year’s Federal Income Tax Return (2024 income the United States, mainly to
tax returns) cities in the Northeast. This was
• Social Security Cards for you, your spouse (if due largely in part to the potato
married), and all dependents listed on the return famine in Ireland prompting
• Correct birth dates for all names listed on the return people to search for a better
• All W-2s for 2024, including spouses life. Initially, the Irish were not
• Form 1098 – Mortgage interest, property taxes welcomed here, and as they
• Form 1099 – DIV, G, INT, MISC, NEC, K, Q, R, searched for jobs, they were
RRB, SSA for 2024 usually greeted by signs stating
• Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit ‘Irish need not apply.’
of your refund (This is optional, but it gets your cash to you
fast) Book Review
• A Photo ID card (driver’s license, etc.), including
spouse’s, if married and filing joint return
• For Dependent Care Credit, bring care provider’s The Backyard Book Club, which became an
name, address, SSN/EIN, and amount you paid international bestseller
• For Education Credit, bring 1098T or 1098E and Chronicles and the inspiration for
amount paid for qualified expenses the hit motion picture
• Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace By Nils A. Shapiro of the same title.
Statement Nils began his career Af t e r l e a r n i n g
If married and filing a joint return, both spouses must as marketing director for of the book, I had
come to the VITA site. a major book publisher. immediately decided to
VITA volunteers will NOT prepare Schedule D He has since edited the schedule it for review
(Complex), Schedule E, Employee Business Expenses, authors’ manuscripts’ for in my column, thanks
Moving Expenses and Nondeductible IRA. more than 20 published t o m y d a ug h t e r s’
This free tax assistance is offered from Thursday, Jan. books, written more than thoughtfulness, a clear
22 to Tuesday, April 15. Don’t miss this deadline! 200 book reviews, served indication that they are
To find a VITA site location near you, call 211 or visit as publisher of several very much tuned in to
www.TaxesFiledFree.org. million-plus circulation my reading tastes, this
national magazines, created very special book was already in my hands. And now, as I
the official yearbooks for teams in Major League Baseball, have just turned the last page I am in awe of every aspect
the National Football League, National Basketball of this remarkable work:
Association and National Hockey League, and “retired” • the very concept of the book—a day by day dated
as president of a successful telecommunications company. journal of the author’s experiences watching and inter-acting
Captain’s was established in 1980 servicing It was a wonderful surprise—and coincidence—when with the natural lives of the wide variety of bird species that
Palm Beach County and is a privately a copy of this book arrived at my home one Monday as a visit her home’s backyard in the San Francisco Bay area;
owned and managed company. gift from my two daughters, Brett and Hillary. Just a day • the author’s writing skills that reflect the wide range
Captain’s is committed to providing earlier I had noted The Backyard Book Chronicles at the of emotions she (and we) feel through her experiences; the
dependable, reliable and professional top of the Sunday New York Times nonfiction bestseller more than 130 drawings, sketches and color illustrations
ground transportation to and from all
South Florida Airports and Seaports. PBCVH212 list, and Barnes & Noble bookseller chain’s naming it as Tan herself learned to create that include many which
To reserve your vehicle: their “Book of the Year.” compare favorably to the iconic Audubon paintings,
561-798-2180 or 800-634-7890 www.captainsairport.com Such success is not new to author Amy Tan, whose
ten earlier books include the novel, The Joy Luck Book Review on page 23