Neighborhood Speeding Results in Car Crashing Into Home
	It was 7:15 in the evening when the Chaput family heard a huge bang and their whole house shuddered.  Dennis Chaput thought the gas barbecue out on the patio might have exploded.  But what really happened was teenagers speeding through the neighborhood had crashed into their house on Rue De Bois.  Teenage speeding has been a    growing problem in Guilbeau Park in recent years.  It has been a major complaint on Rue De Lis and a speed bump
	request is still pending for that road.  During the January 2003 Neighborhood Sweep police officers gave out 11 speeding tickets in as many days, most of which were on Rue De Lis by the community center.  Guilbeau Road has had cars crashing through fences at least four times in the last few years and street lights and signs are taken out from speeding almost every weekend.     The Chaput family and others from their area attended the January 15th GPOA meeting to bring the problem to the attention of the Board, the local SAFE officer, and  representatives from Councilman Castro's office.  With the help of the SAFE officer, Patrolman Milewski, they explored ways to combat the speeding specific to the Rue De Bois, Peuplier intersection as well as throughout the neighborhood.  Thirty two neighborhood residents signed a petition to ask for speed bumps in the accident area and     Councilman Castro's office will be assisting in their      paperwork processing.      One of Patrolman Milewski's suggestions was       getting the Cellular On Patrol organized for this area.  This is what the Board has been trying to do for years now.  For example, neighborhood residents can write down license plate numbers of speed violators and turn them into the Prue Station SAFE officer with official  complaints and they will follow up with families of the drivers.  His experience was that once the families know their children are driving recklessly they will usually get a handle on the situation.  However, we need to have people out there watching for the violators.  If we can get at least 20 people to sign up for the C.O.P. class they will even come and give the class at our community center to make it more convenient for everyone here.      If we are to take our neighborhood back from crime and make our streets safe again YOU need to get involved.  Stop making excuses why you can't help take care of your community.  Participating in the C.O.P. program can be as simple as carrying a cell phone with you when you walk your dog and watching for suspicious or dangerous        activity.  How about when you go jogging or exercise walks.  You can be doing both at the same time.  Call up your C.O.P representative, Daniel Villanueva (680-8263, pat.dan.villanueva@sbcglobal.net), and tell him you want to help.  Check out the C.O.P web page to see what it's all about.  You can find it linked from the GPOA website, www.gpoa.org.
							Damage to the Chaput home
						Federal Tax Deduction Changes: 2003
						Personal Exemption The personal exemption deduction for each taxpayer and dependent increased from $3,000 for 2002 to $3,050 for 2003. Standard Deductions The standard deductions for 2003 became:    * Single filers--$4,750    * Married couples filing joint returns, qualifying widow(ers)$7,950    * Head of household filers--$7,000    * Married couples filing separate returns--$3,975 Student Loan Interest Deduction All interest payments, including voluntary payments, are now       deductible. New Tuition Deduction Qualified persons may now deduct up to $3,000 in expenses for tuition and fees, regardless of whether deductions are itemized. Income limits will apply: only taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is at or below $130,000 (if married) or $65,000 (all others) may claim the deduction, and married persons filing separate returns are not eligible at all. New Educators Deduction of $250 IRA Deduction The amount you can contribute to an IRA goes up to $3,000 for 2003. If you'll be age 50 or older by the end of the year, your maximum is $3,500 instead of $3,000. Pension Contribution Deduction The maximum amount that you're able to contribute to your Keogh or other defined contribution plans increased to $12,000 for 2003. Personal Exemption
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