Assortment of odd tools /
What is it?
Assortment of odd tools /
It’s spring! And with spring come flowers, muddy dog paws, and lots of garage sales. Listings of items on “MV Stuff 4 Sale” and other sites are also picking up speed. Recently, I was scrolling through these sites, because I didn’t want to organize my taxes, and came upon the following post: “Suspicious tool found.”  Now, I have some questions — mostly because I still don’t want to organize my taxes. First of all, what exactly makes this tool suspicious? Was it peeking into people’s windows? Was it asking for money? Did it pass out on someone’s back porch? Does it match the description of a tool that recently committed a crime? Does it have a cord? If so, is this cord long enough to strangle someone with? Is the tool sharp enough to cut through say, a tree or a femur bone? How big is it? Could it hide out in someone’s pocket undetected, and randomly leap out onto an unsuspecting passerby?  Look, just because this tool isn’t familiar to the person who found it doesn’t make it suspicious. Maybe it’s a perfectly sober, sane tool, beloved by a carpenter who is home right now crying because it’s missing. Jeez. We need to take it easy on the assumption-making. OK, fine, I’ll go organize my taxes.  If you need a little help with your taxes, there are several local CPA firms and tax services, including Vineyard Tax Matters in Vineyard Haven, H&R Block in Oak Bluffs, and free tax assistance via the Community Action Committee of Cape Cod and Islands (CACCI) VITA program for qualifying individuals, that can assist you. If you’re 60 or older, the Up-Island Council on Aging (UICOA) has your back. Call 508-693-2896 for information on local tax assistance and property tax work-off programs.