Weekend Forecast/Most Important Home Improvement/Tax Help

WEATHER
On Wednesday, there were 14 tornadoes in the US including in Texas. Today, there were 4 tornadoes and 2 of those were in southern California...not a common occurrence. A new storm system is pushing into the southwest US and on Friday there will be storms in the southwest, the central US and southern Florida. Southern plains and southeast will be mild with highs in the 70s and 80s. The northeast and northern states will be chilly with highs in the 30s and 20s. The west will be west with highs in the 40s and 50s. There will be some snow showers in the Great Lakes and rain/snow mix to D.C with some showers in the east.

Houston will be mild and pleasant on Friday. Humidity levels increase and clouds return Saturday. There will be some showers Saturday into Sunday as the next front moves through. Then lows and highs will be in the 40s and 60s respectively for several days starting Sunday. Next rain will be during the middle to later part of the coming week.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do legal hearing or vista, pronounced VEE-stah. There is an important vista coming up for parents of special needs kids. See the AND MORE section for more information.

Study after study confirms the benefits of early language learning. And I have a way for you to help your children embrace Spanish while being entertained. Order my award winning DVD, Let's Learn Spanish with Frank & Paco. And, you'll feel good about purchasing it, knowing that it has won awards from Dr. Toy and homeschool.com as a best educational product. You can find Volumes 1 or 2 at http://www.frankandpaco.com
, http://www.amazon.com, http://www.bn.com, http://www.bestbuy.com, or http://www.ebay.com/. Our ESL (English as a Second Language) version can be found at http://www.frankypaco.com.

AND MORE
Temperature and Precipitation Outlooks for February/March/April
The figures at right were just released by the Climate Prediction Center today. Most of the southern states are supposed to have below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation. The As mean above normal expected, the Bs mean below normal expected and no notation means average conditions expected.

POLL RESULTS
My poll on Simon Cowell leaving American Idol next season is closed. Only one answer was allowed. 25% said they will watch it next year. 12% said they won't watch it next year. 65% said they don't watch American Idol. Thanks to all who participated.

NEW POLL - FEATURE TO UPGRADE TO ATTRACT HOME BUYERS
My new poll is inspired by the fact that I have developed a new addiction to watching HGTV while I work out. I have been looking around our 12 year old home and noticing all the things we might want to update if we ever sell. So, my new poll is about which feature is most important to a potential home buyer. Then, I will listen to your answer and do the one that you recommend most (right Gordy?) Only one answer is allowed. Thanks in advance for participating.

TAX HELP FOR SPANISH SPEAKERS
It is time to start thinking about taxes and my buddy Raul Feliciano Sanchez (well known throgh the Houston air waves by Spanish speakers) forwarded this tax information for Spanish speakers. Please forward to anyone you think might need this help.
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is joining national TV network Telemundo in a special one-hour tax program for Spanish-speaking taxpayers on Sunday, Jan. 24.

The program, “Los Impuestos y Usted” (“Taxes and You”), will air at:

· 3:00 p.m. Eastern time

· 2:00 p.m. Central time

· 2:00 p.m. Mountain time

· 3:00 p.m. Pacific time

Consult your local listings for exact times.

“Los Impuestos y Usted” will focus on a variety of tax issues. In addition to topics such as who must file a tax return and who can claim deductions and benefits, the program focuses on the Earned Income Tax Credit – a valuable credit that unfortunately one in four eligible taxpayers overlook. Workers with incomes under $48,279 could receive larger refunds if they qualify.

In addition, the program will explain Free File, a service that allows many taxpayers to file their taxes online at no cost. The show will also discuss other kinds of free assistance available from the IRS.

Mónica Noguera, host for many of Telemundo’s special programs, will present the IRS program, which features in-studio interviews with IRS tax experts.

Information about the IRS is available in Spanish at http://www.irs.gov/espanol or toll-free at 1-800-829-1040, extension 8.

IMPORTANT HEARING FOR PARENTS OF SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS
The following was forwarded to me by Cheryl Sewell of the Arc of Fort Bend County. Please note that you can also email your comments if you can not make it to Austin for the hearing.
Public Hearing Annoucement - Task Force for Children with Special Needs

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING:
The Task Force for Children with Special Needs will hold a public hearing Wednesday, February 17, 2010, in Austin to hear testimony about its ongoing work.

The hearing will run from 4-7 p.m. in the Public Hearing Room of the Brown-Heatly Building, 4900 N. Lamar Blvd.

Public input helps the Task Force identify promising practices, system entry points and service obstacles.

Anyone with ideas or concerns relating to services for children with special needs is encouraged to testify. The Task Force will use this information in its efforts to improve the coordination, quality and efficiency of services for children with special needs. To ensure that all interested parties are provided the opportunity to speak; time for verbal testimony may be limited depending on the number of witnesses present.

Written testimony may also be submitted in addition to or in lieu of verbal testimony.

For those unable to attend the hearing, testimony may be emailed to opccy@hhsc.state.tx.us, or sent via U.S. mail to:

Task Force for Children with Special Needs

Texas Health and Human Services Commission
P.O. Box 13247
Mail Code: BH1542
Austin, TX 78711

For additional information, contact:

Kate Volti, Office of Program Coordination for Children and Youth

Health and Human Services Commission, 4900 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78751 (512) 487-3497
This meeting is open to the general public. No reservations are required and there is no cost to attend this meeting.

People with disabilities who need auxiliary aids or services for this meeting are asked to call Cassandra Marx at (512) 424-6963 at least 72 hours before the meeting
Task Force for Children with Special Needs.

Have a great weekend everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman