Tax day is almost here

Tax Day is quickly approaching with the deadline to file your federal income tax returns scheduled for April 18.

Unfortunately, expert tax help for seniors provided by trained American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) personnel at the Joslyn Center is fully booked until filing day, but the center is still offering late-filing seniors a chance for help by giving them a waitlist spot.

Seniors can join the wait list by calling the Joslyn Center at (909) 399-5488. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Similar tales of fully booked up appointments and waitlists were echoed when the COURIER called other city’s community centers. Glendora’s La Fetra Center and the San Dimas Senior Center are still taking spots on their wait list while the La Verne Community Senior Center is booked. with no waitlist.

Residents can call the La Fetra Center at (626) 914-0560 or the San Dimas Senior Center at (909) 394-6290 to be put on the waitlist.

Seniors in the area who have not filed yet do have some hope over in Upland. The city’s George M. Gibson Senior Center, 250 N. Third Ave., is still taking appointments for expert tax-aide services until next Friday, April 15.

Residents can make an appointment by calling the center at (909) 981-4501.

Garden Tour is fast approaching

The Claremont Garden Club’s annual fundraiser, the Garden Tour, is back again this year and is scheduled for Sunday, April 24. The tour is a chance for residents and gardening enthusiasts to see some creative Claremont gardens, talk to the owners and get some inspiration for their own gardens, according to the club’s website.

This year’s fundraiser is called “Claremont Eclectic: a tour of six local gardens.” and will begin at the California Botanic Gardens, 1500 N. College Ave. There, residents will pick up the event’s brochure and a map to the gardens starting at 10 a.m. The final call for residents to pick up maps and brochures is 1 p.m.

Participating 2022 gardens will be open from 1 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Tickets begin at $20 and can be purchased online at: claremontgardenclub.org or in person at Claremont Heritage in Memorial Park, and at Rio de Ojas, 250 Harvard Ave.

Tickets also include entrance to the California Botanic Garden on the day of the tour and one other day during the following month. The proceeds from the tour will allow the garden club to cover expenses and make contributions that benefit the community

Contributions “pay for speakers, door prizes, printing and miscellaneous costs, garden tour and flower show expenses, and books for our free lending library,” it continued. “They have allowed us to make donations to school gardens at Oakmont, Vista, Chaparral, and Claremont High School; to Claremont Heritage, along with flower arrangements for their home tours; to the CalBG volunteers; to the Sustainable Claremont Green Crew for children’s planting tools; to Uncommon Good; and to the City of Claremont to replace some trees.”

For more information about the tour, visit claremontgardenclub.org or contact Sustainable Claremont at (909) 625-8767 ext. 238.