Clinton Township Newsletter

2 5 n o v e m b e r 2 0 2 0 F E n C i n G d u R i n G C o V i d by Alex Lum-DeBono, Class of 2021, North Hunterdon High School COVID-19 has been a curveball that no one expected to happen. This pandemic has changed our lives and we have all had to adjust. Before the pandemic hit, I had a consistently busy schedule with school, work, and activities. Afterward, things became very uncertain for me and for everyone. In the beginning, everything was limited, including hanging out with my friends or going to the store. My Junior Prom was canceled and so were several SATs. There were losses at every turn. This has been a challenging year, but I do want to share some things that gave me a good foundation to ride through these difficult times. My teachers were spectacular this past school year in providing the best lessons and support that they could through online schooling. Also, I was able to continue to work by teaching kids Tae Kwon Do at Impact Martial Arts through Zoom. The magic of technology enabled me to seamlessly continue my piano lessons, also through Zoom, with my teacher Walter Aparicio, who lives in New York City. One activity that helped me stay focused was Fencing. I started fencing about two years ago at North Hunterdon High School and last year I was able to compete on the Varsity team. Fencing began as something that I enjoyed and it has evolved into a passion. First a bit about the sport: it has a long history which may have started with the Ivy Leagues. A fencing bout is a session between two fencers to see who can get to 5 or 15 points first, depending on the length desired. This is a series of actions between the two fencers which ends with a touch from the blade on the required target area. There are three weapons in fencing: Foil, Saber, and Épée. Saber is tremendously quick-paced and aggressive; each point is settled in a matter of seconds. Épée is more for thinkers. This form of fencing is slow and methodical because it is a test of patience and the ability to maximize opportunities that arise. Lastly, Foil is a nice combination of the quick attacks and the quick thinking that is required from Saber and Épée. During this time, my coach Darren Manchen, from Manchen Academy of Fencing was teaching through Zoom until he was able to open up the academy. When Manchen Academy was allowed to open, I was finally able to interact with others for the first time in a long while. Since you are naturally at a distance roughly two arm lengths away and also able to wear a mask under your fencing mask, this is one of the safest sports to do during the pandemic. Through fencing, I have gained more confidence, focus, and split- second decision making. During the past few months, I've been able to grow physically, but fencing has helped me grow on an emotional level too. A fencing bout is like a puzzle because you must instantly figure out which location to target and then complete the attack on that spot. You must not only find the right area; you must be able to react quickly and also be strong enough to pull this off. There are times when Fencing is exhilarating. During a tournament this past spring, I was down by 5 points in a 15-point bout. I had managed to pull back and win this 15-14. The amount of pride I had felt at this moment was incomparable. The confidence gained from fencing has helped me in fields outside of the sport. For instance, in piano I feel that my playing has improved because I have gotten more confident in my actions and I am also willing to fully commit to each note. This is also true for taking tests. Fencing helps develop not only mental strength, but it also bolsters creativity, ingenuity, self-motivation, and resilience. Fencing is a very safe sport. According to an injury report from the 2008 and 2010 Olympics, less than 5% of fencing athletes got injured. In comparison, sports like soccer had about 31% injury rate. According to my coach and teammates, colleges love high school students who compete in the sport of Fencing. Nearly 30% of men and almost 40% of women who compete in high school get recruited, according to Darren Manchen. Fencing is a welcoming community. To be sure there is a competitiveness to the sport but there is a deep camaraderie amongst not only team members but competitors as well. I wholeheartedly believe that you should try out fencing because this is a sport that will challenge you both mentally and physically. – Alex Lum-DeBono 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 C l E A R i n G t h E C l u t t E R ? h o w t o d E C i d E w h i C h R E C o R d s t o t o s s A n d w h i C h t o k E E p These days we're spending a lot more time at home and for some of us that means undertaking more household projects, including clearing out the clutter. Financial records are one of the things that seem to pile up quickly because we're never sure what to toss, what to keep and for how long. Here's a general guideline to help answer those questions. Income Records: W-2s, 1099s, and bank and investment statements are all necessary to support the income reported on your tax returns. For itemized returns, be sure to keep canceled checks, invoices, and receipts, too. The statute of limitations for the IRS to assess your tax returns is three years, with exceptions: • Six-year statute of limitations if you substantially underestimate your income (the substantial understatement threshold is 25% of gross income) • Seven-year statute of limitations if you claim a loss from worthless securities or file a deduction for bad debt. Note: The IRS can investigate at any time for failure to file or for filing fraudulent tax returns. Property Records: Property sales can result in a capital gains tax based on the cost basis of that property (exclusions apply for sales of primary residences). Cost basis is calculated by adjusting the actual cost of the property upward or downward based on certain factors, including major structural improvements. Retain receipts for major improvements for at least three years after the sale. Know that if you substantially overstate the cost of the property, the IRS has six years to act. • For rental properties, keep records of investments made in the properties and the depreciations deducted. Investment Records: While brokerage firms and mutual funds are now required to compute the cost basis of your investments, you'll want to hold on to confirmations and statements in case you switch brokerage firms or investment advisors. Paring down the clutter and getting your financial records in order is not only satisfying but it leaves you in good position for when tax time rolls around next year. – Victor Rotolo

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