Clinton Township Newsletter

2 5 J a n u a r y 2 0 2 1 t e n g r e a t r e a s O n s t O s h O p l O C a l l y : • Shopping locally creates jobs. Shops in our town create local employment and self-employment. These people,in turn, spend in the local community. • Local independent shops invest more in our communities. Local businesses are proportionately more generous in their support of local charities, schools and community events. Supporting local shops means a financial impact on our community. • Local shops sell a wide range of great products at affordable prices. Many people fall out of the habit of shopping locally and are then surprised by the range of products and gifts available. • Shopping locally saves you money. Out-of-county shops have done a good job of convincing us that local business equals expensive. However, if you add travel, fees to transfer items and your time, the overall cost is often much higher. • Shopping locally retains our communities. People don't like losing shops and services in small towns, but don't equate this to how they spend their money. • Shopping locally retains our distinctiveness. Independent shops create distinctive shopping experiences and stock different products. Local businesses respond quickly to the needs of local customers, stocking products to meet the changing population needs. • Shopping locally saves the environment. Local shops often stock a high percentage of local sourced goods which do not require long car and bus journeys, helping to reduce our global footprint. • Local shops are for everyone. Most people can get to their local shops easily and this is especially important for the elderly and young generations and those without transportation. • Local shops value you more. People receive better customer care and service locally. These businesses survive by their reputation and repeat business, which means you get a higher standard of service. • Shopping locally saves services. Private and public sector services tend to cluster around shops. As shops disappear so do hairdressers, banks, restaurants, etc. s O s h O p s m a r t . s h O p l O C a l l y ! Look for the Guild of Clinton stickers in windows throughout downtown Clinton and support these merchants and professionals who make Clinton the amazing downtown that it is! C a s a s h a W s e e k s a d v O C a t e s Every year there are more than 100,000 reports of child abuse or neglect in NJ and more than 10,000 children are removed from their homes because the Court has found it to be too dangerous for them to remain in their homes. Court Appointed Special Advocates of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties (CASA SHaW) recruit, screen, train and supervise community volunteers to act as advocates in court for children living in foster care. CASA volunteers are appointed by a family court judge to discover the best possible outcome for an abused or neglected child's future as well as make recommendations that support the child's current needs. Volunteers receive support and supervision from a trained social worker throughout the duration of their cases. To find out more, visit: www.casashaw.org, call 908.689.5515, or email: info@casashaw.org. O v e r e a t e r s a n O n y m O u s Overeaters Anonymous will resume meetings at Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington every Saturday from 9:00 am - 10:00 am once the Covid-19 situation ends. For additional information, go to: www.OA.org. 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 O n s u m e r s b e W a r e : d e b t C O l l e C t i O n r u l e s a r e a b O u t t O C h a n g e Anyone who's ever been contacted by a debt collector knows the stress those phone calls evoke. Imagine if the calls were followed by emails, text messages and even private posts via social media. That's what consumers can expect as the result of a recent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ruling. About 70 million people, or one out of every four consumers, have a debt in collection at any given time, according to the National Consumer Law Center. The business shutdowns and work furloughs of 2020 can only increase that statistic. Currently, the law allows debt collectors to contact consumers only by phone and regulates the number of calls and hours during which they can be made. The new ruling, effective October 31, also allows for unlimited emails, texts, and private social media messages. While consumers can opt out of receiving electronic messages, the details of how have yet to be announced. Until then, the following can protect you from undue harassment. • Verify the debt – The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act of 1977 gives you the right to know who the original creditor is and how the debt total was calculated. • Beware of "zombie" debt – New Jersey's statute of limitations for most debt is six years. By making a payment on expired debt, you revive the debt (a.k.a. 'zombie' debt) and your responsibility for it. • Protect sensitive information – Don't reveal personal information (i.e., social security number, birth date, bank and/or credit card numbers) until you verify the debt and are setting up a repayment plan. • Check credit reports – Look for accidental errors (i.e., debts incurred by someone with the same name, or paid debts not properly recorded), and evidence of identity theft whereby someone opened accounts or took out loans in your name. • Negotiate – Explore the possibility of settling for a lower amount of debt that you can afford to repay. • Automate repayments – Automated payments can help you meet your obligations but be aware of any renewal terms that may apply. Hiding from debt never works; but do ensure you're only paying what you owe. – Victor Rotolo "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." ~ C.S. Lewis

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