THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 Page 13 1. On Jan. 21, 1789, the novel “The Power of Sympathy: or, The Triumph of Nature” by William Hill Brown – thought to be the fi rst American novel – was fi rst published in what city? 2. Can yodeling trigger an avalanche? 3. To make sugar on snow, to what stage is maple syrup boiled: thread, soft ball or hard crack? 4. On Jan. 22, 2021, what pro baseball player died who had ended his career with 755 home runs? 5. Years ago, where in Massachusetts would you have found the wooden roller coaster called the Cyclone, which was once the tallest roller coaster ever built? 6. What mythical winged horse was Mobil’s trademark? 7. January 23 is National Pie Day; what two fl avors predominate in grasshopper pie? 8. Why was the Baltimore NFL team named the Ravens? 9. Historically, what ingredient separated Boston baked beans from other baked beans? 10. On Jan. 24, 1848, gold Answers was discovered in El Dorado County in what state? 11. What novel set in Salem, Mass., has a first chapter titled “The Old Pyncheon Family”? 12. Why are the Olympics held every four years? 13. What is the largest National Park in the continental United States? 14. On Jan. 25, 1961, what dog-centric film was released in the USA? 15. When did the first commercial rice cooker for home use debut: 1933, 1945 or 1962? 16. On Jan. 26, 1802, what group created one room for all government books and established the oldest U.S. Joint Committee, the Joint Committee on the Library? 17. How do frogs hibernate in winter? 18. How are Auric Goldfinger, Baby Jane Hudson and Cruella De Vil similar? 19. How many children did Paul Revere have: four, eight or 16? 20. On Jan. 27, 1813, what book by Jane Austen with the characters Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy was published? Tax Breaks for Caregiver of Elderly Parents Dear Savvy Senior, Are there any tax breaks that you know of for family caregivers? I help fi nancially support my 82-year-old mother and would like to fi nd out if I can write any of these expenses off on my taxes. Supplemental Sam Dear Sam, There are actually several tax credits and deductions available to adult children who help look after their aging parents or other relatives. Here are some options along with the IRS requirements to help you determine if you’re eligible to receive them. Tax Credit for Other Dependents If your mom lives with you and you’re paying more than 50 percent of her living expenses (housing, food, utilities, health care, repairs, clothing, travel and other necessities), and her 2021 gross income was under $4,300, you can claim your mom as a dependent and get a nonrefundable tax credit of up to $500. If you happen to split your mom’s expenses with other siblings, only one of you can claim your mom as a dependent, and that person must pay at least 10 percent of her support costs. This is called a “multiple support agreement.” The IRS has an interactive tool that will help you determine if your mom qualifi es as a dependent. Go to IRS.gov/help/ ita, scroll down to “Credits,” and click on “Does My Child/Dependent Qualify for the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents?” Medical Deductions If you claim you mom as a dependent and you help pay her medical, dental and/or longterm care expenses, and weren’t reimbursed by insurance, you can deduct the expenses that are more than 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income (AGI). So, for example, if your adjusted gross income is $80,000, anything beyond the first $6,000 of your mom’s medical bills – or 7.5 percent of your AGI – could be deductible on your return. So, if you paid $8,000 in medical bills for her, $2,000 of it could be deductible. You can also include your own medical expenses in calculating the total. You should also know that your state might have a lower AGI threshold, which means you might get a break on your state income taxes even if you can’t get one on your federal income taxes. To see which medical expenses you can and can’t deduct, see IRS Publication 502 at IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf. Dependent Care Credit If you’re paying for in-home care or adult day care for your mom so you are free to work, you might qualify for the Dependent Care Tax Credit which can be worth as much as $4,000. To be eligible your mom must have been physically or mentally incapable of self-care and must have lived with you for more than six months. To claim this tax credit, fi ll out IRS Form 2441 (IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/ f2441.pdf) when you fi le your federal return. Flexible Health Savings Accounts If you have a health savings account (HSA) or your employer off ers a fl exible savings account (FSA), you can use them to pay for your mom’s medical expenses if she qualifi es as a dependent. But be aware that if you use an HSA or FSA to pay for your mom’s medical costs, you can’t take a tax deduction on those expenses too. For more information, see IRS Publication 969, “Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans” at IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p969.pdf. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Revere man indicted for drug and gun possession By Christopher Roberson H eld in federal custody since July 2021, Cesar Rivera, 22, of Revere, was indicted on January 12 for the alleged possession of crack cocaine, fentanyl and a firearm. According to law enforcement offi cials, by December 2020, Rivera had amassed a number of outstanding warrants related to state firearm cases. Rivera allegedly failed to appear in court for more than one year. However, on December 22, 2020, police found him at a Malden car wash and took him into custody. At the time, Rivera was reportedly carrying more than 28 grams of crack cocaine, fentanyl and a fi rearm. He was subsequently charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams of crack cocaine and fentanyl as well as one count of possession of a fi rearm in furtherance of a drug traffi cking crime. If convicted, Rivera could face life plus 40 years in prison and up to $5.2 million in fi nes. ART | FROM Page 4 Commission member Rob Zierten said the call to street artists could be tied into a mural project for an underpass along the Northern Strand Community Trail, where there would be a half dozen artists painting a portion of the underpass each. “If we have a group of street artists working with the one Northern Strand spot, one could be given that mural,” after the work was judged on the Northern Strand, Zierten said. Commission member Brian Harkins said if there were street art along the underpass, he would like to see it done by someone from Revere. “This being street art done by taggers, we want to engage the Revere tagging community and engage with them so they do less of destructive tagging and more of creative street art using air cans,” said Harkins. McKenna said she likes the suggestions from Zierten and Harkins, and she suggested waiting until the Northern Strand project is further along before making a fi nal decision. “We can deter graffiti artists from tagging if it is a really good, aesthetically pleasing piece of art,” said McKenna. 1. Boston 2. No 3. Soft ball 4. Hank Aaron 5. Revere Beach 6. Pegasus 7. Mint and chocolate 8. “The Raven” is the name of a poem by Boston native Edgar Allan Poe, who died in Baltimore. 9. Molasses 10. California (the fi rst California gold claim to be endorsed by the President, James Polk) 11. “The House of the Seven Gables” by Nathaniel Hawthorne 12. Because the ancient games at Olympia, Greece, were held every four years. 13. Death Valley 14. “One Hundred and One Dalmatians” 15. 1945 16. The U.S. Congress 17. Many go below water in ponds and obtain oxygen through the skin 18. They are fi lm villains. 19. 16 20. “Pride and Prejudice”
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