Clinton Township Newsletter

1 9 O c t O b e r 2 0 1 8 Victor A. Rotolo is a long-time resident of Clinton Township and the founder of Rotolo Karch Law. Call Rotolo Karch Law today: 908.534.7900 to discuss any legal situation confronting you. Your half-hour consultation is free of charge! Their attorneys and staff are ready to serve your legal needs. Rotolo Karch Law • 502 US 22 West, Lebanon, NJ 08833. www.RotoloKarchLaw.com k e e p i n g k i d s s a F e W H e n T H e Y d o n ' T r e a l i z e T H e Y ' r e i n d a n g e r It always amazes me what kids – especially teens – will do to gain increased popularity. Having immediate access to a constant stream of information on the internet doesn't help. Many potentially dangerous activities our kids are involved in come in the form of internet challenges. Some are silly (Mannequin Challenge); some helpful (Ice Bucket Challenge); and others (Cinnamon Challenge, Saltine Challenge, Gallon Milk Challenge) can make your child temporarily sick or result in severe – even life-threatening injuries (Boiled Water Challenge, Fire Challenge and Second Story Challenge). Still others blatantly promote self- harm. Even activities that appear harmless on the surface can harbor hidden dangers. Take, for instance, a recent snack craze called Dragon's Breath (aka Dragon Puffs, Nitrogen Puffs). Dragon's Breath is a snack coated immediately prior to consumption in liquid nitrogen, a compound often used to preserve food. The problem is liquid nitrogen is so cold it can cause severe burns if mishandled. There have been at least six reports of injury or illness related to this snack so far in New Jersey. What's the attraction? When you eat Dragon's Breath, it looks like you're exhaling steam through your mouth and nose, which makes for entertaining video posts on social media. Health officials have issued warnings against this snack citing that leftover liquid pooling in the bottom of the cup can burn skin on contact and, if ingested, damage internal organs. One Florida mother even alleged the snack provoked a severe asthma attack in her son. These warnings have caused some merchants in New Jersey and surrounding areas to pull the snack from their offerings. Why would kids participate? Because they're impetuous; they act without considering the consequences. Although they're only a few years away from being considered adults under the law, developmentally they're not there yet. The part of the brain that controls rational thought isn't fully developed until our mid-20s. The best thing we can do to keep our kids safe is to keep the lines of communications open. Stay informed; ask about their friends, school trends, their opinions rather than their actions. In other words, talk to your kids. – Victor Rotolo u n i T e d W a Y H o s T s T a x p l a n n i n g s e m i n a r United Way of Hunterdon County United is hosting a free Tax Planning Seminar. This informational session will be led by United Way Board Members, Kathy Closs (VITA tax preparation volunteer) and Brian Reiss (Three Bridges Wealth Advisors). The session will provide highlights of the new tax changes and their potential impact on household income and long-term planning. Participants will identify key questions to ask their financial planner. The Free Tax Planning Seminar will be held on Wednesday, October 24 from 9:00 am-10:00 am at the United Way of Hunterdon County Community Volunteer Center, 20 Fulper Road, Flemington. Space is limited; RSVP to Rachel at: Rachel@uwhunterdon.org or 908.782.3414 ext. 32. About United Way of Hunterdon County: Every individual deserves the opportunity to thrive. United Way focuses on poverty prevention, financial empowerment and advocacy to create positive change in our community. United we ALL win. Follow United Way of Hunterdon County on Facebook and Twitter or visit them at: www.UWHunterdon.org. Call Susan Hall– Your Kind of Agent! Clinton Township – Your Kind of Town! 908.735.8080 Office 908.310.7226 Cell susanjhall1030@gmail.com Susan Hall CRS, GRI, SRES ® , ASP ™ Broker/Sales Associate 186 Center Street Suite 150 Clinton, NJ 08809 "Magic is really very simple, all you've got to do is want something and then let yourself have it." – Aggie Cromwell, Halloweentown (1998) "Love the trees until their leaves fall off, then encourage them to try again next year." ~ Chad Sugg

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