People who earn less than $54,000 in annual family income are eligible for free help in preparing basic personal income tax returns at Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Downtown Milwaukee Campus, 700 W. State St.; and the Oak Creek Campus, 6665 S. Howell Ave.

Milwaukee Campus Dates and Hours
Tax help will be offered Jan. 27 through April 15 (closed April 11); Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5 - 7 p.m.; and Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The first 25 clients will receive assistance weeknights and the first 50 clients will be served on Saturdays. Senior citizens will receive priority service. Go to the VITA office, Room M173 of the Main Building at 1015 N. 6th St. Enter at 6th and Highland. A volunteer will be assigned exclusively for taxpayers 62 and older.

Oak Creek Campus Dates and Hours
Tax help will be offered Jan. 28 – April 4, Wednesdays, 4 - 7 p.m.; and Saturdays, 9 a.m. – noon. The first 25 clients will be assisted at each session. Enter at the back of the cafeteria, Room A100.

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Friday & Saturday

• Check out some great art and chill with the beautiful people during Winter Gallery Night, featuring 47 venues throughout downtown.

Saturday

• Temps are projected to be balmy (in the 20's) on Saturday. Perfect weather for a 5k run, right? Get out into the fresh air and raise some money for the zoo during their Samson Romp and Stomp, named after Milwaukee's favorite late, great ape.

• Remember roller derby? Well, it's back. See it for yourself as Milwaukee's own Brewcity Bruisers duke it out on the track.

Saturday and Sunday

• Gear up for Tuesday's inauguration by sending our new president some love through video. Discovery World will have a video crew on hand from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday - Monday to tape Obama's well wishers. They will also be featuring a $4.40 discount in honor of what will be our 44th presidency!

Image by Stacey Williams-Ng

After receiving a complaint from a student, PETA has asked Marquette University to refrain from requiring students to experiment on rats, frogs and turtles as part of an experimental physiology class. According to a PETA newsletter, classroom methods involve hitting turtles in the head with hammers and operating on live rats and frogs. They are asking the university to replace these experiments with humane, non-animal methods, and have asked PETA sympathizers to strengthen the campaign by contacting university officials to request they cease these actions.

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The Milwaukee scene will soon be losing two great shops: the owners of Anomaly Design, a funky Brady Street gift boutique, and HERS, an upscale Third Ward clothier, have each announced that they will soon be closing for good. Unfortunately, both shops have taken a hit due to our current low sales trend, and staying open is no longer viable. Let's hope to see them in another incarnation when our economy stabilizes -- but for now, drop by each shop with an eye out for clearance sales.