It may be late in the year but it is certainly not too late to save money on taxes.  Here are some important items for you to consider: #1 Buy big stuff – cars, equipment, computers, phones and tablets, furniture and certain building improvements if in service for your business by year-end, are all deductible. The new tax law allows you to depreciate aggressively so that you can maximize these deductions. By the way, you do not even need to pay in full by the end of the year in order to qualify for the deduction.

‘Doubles is different, but it’s really fun.’ WESTFIELD, NJ — The tennis duo competed in the state doubles tournament championship match in October, the first time since 2005 that a Lady Blue Devils pair made it to the final. Recognized by the school board on Tuesday, seniors Charlotte Clausen and Eliza Weiniger are this week’s Ron Bansky and Associates Allstate Westfield Athlete of the Week. “We had a lot of fun this season,” said head girls tennis coach Matt Varhley. “They did ...

Family get-togethers are not always easy. Many of us dread having to participate in some of the social events that take place during this time. We may begin to experience stress knowing that our gathering will involve some relatives or immediate family which we really do not like.  We may feel the tension building as we think about in-laws and/or relatives who have such strong opinions and advice and tell us what we should be doing and how we should be doing it, that all we want is to avoid the entire situation. Of course, we ...

On this week’s AtlantiCast, find out why it’s easier than ever to receive care at Atlantic Health System, the Morristown Medical Center’s Heart Success program reaches a milestone in the fight against heart failure, quality healthcare that protects the environment and kicking off the holiday season with the Festival of Lights.  

Atlantic Health System’s Morristown Medical Center has become the first hospital to implement the BEACON Advanced Energy Laser System, a unique tissue-sparing, CO2 laser-driven system which enables physicians to conduct complex surgeries in space-restricted areas of the body with greater accuracy and precision than ever before. While flexible fiber-based CO2 surgery has long been a method of safe and precise laser treatment for complex head and neck surgeries at Morristown Medical Center, the new BEACON Laser System from ...

Who is Eligible? If your employer has 50 or more employees within a 75 mile radius of your worksite, and you have been working full time (i.e., at least 1,250 hours) for the entire 12 months prior to the start of an FMLA leave, then you are eligible to go out on an FMLA leave. What can an FMLA leave be used for? You can use the FMLA to go out on a leave for your own serious health condition, to care for a close family member (i.e. employee's spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition or for the birth, adoption of ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — There was a low hum of excited voices in the Washington School library on Dec. 5 as a group of third and fifth graders took part in Hour of Code activities during Computer Science Education Week. “I made it,” said one youngster as he did a little dance in his seat upon completing a programming level. Computer code is the basic set of instructions or rules that a computer understands.  Coding is taught as part of the computer science courses at Westfield High School. The Hour of Code project was ...

With everyone home for the holidays, the extra bodies, shower use, and cooking power in your home can really bring up the heat. While that’s nice for your heating bill, it may cause unwanted ventilation issues in your home. Kitchen Remember a few tips for keeping smoke out of your eyes and steam from coming out your ears while your kitchen works overtime: Use the hood fan to reduce all the steam rolling off your boiling stovetop items.  Open windows to create a freshening airflow. If you need more draft ...

Westfield attorney Greg K. Vitali, of the law firm Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, P.C., has been selected as a Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America (“CLSA”). Vitali is a partner in the firm’s construction litigation group with an emphasis in the areas of commercial and construction law. A 1994 graduate of Franklin & Marshall College, Vitali received his Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1997. Vitali regularly appears in the New Jersey Superior Court, the ...

‘The Winter’s Tale’ makes sweeping shifts from drama to froth at Shakespeare Theatre By Liz Keill MADISON, NJ – From the chilly winter in Sicilia to the warmth and summer joys of Bohemia, the scene and tenor shift halfway through “The Winter’s Tale,” This convoluted plot involving Leontes, King of Sicilia and King Polixenes of Bohemia, circles around jealousy. Jon Barker as Leontes commands the stage in his anger when he thinks his wife, Hermione, is flirting with Polixenes, portrayed by John ...

Dog found running across Mountain Avenue in Westfield with her leash attached. Described as a very friendly little black dog. Taken to Westfield Police Department. If you recognize her, call Westfield Police at 908-789-4000.  

As young parents, many of us spend a lot of time, money and energy having and raising children. After all, family planning is what brought me and my wife to our beautiful town of Westfield. But, what about planning for things once our kids grow up? I am glad you asked because there are a number of things we can do as parents to help save for their future, whether it’s a college education, first home or just a little something extra to help them on life’s journey. However, as much as we want to help our kids, we don’t ...

Want to terrify yourself? Read statistics about aging and long term care. Today, about 6.3 million Americans need long term care.  That number is expected to increase to 15 million by 2050. Scarier still is that few individuals have the resources to pay for the necessary care. That’s why 83 percent of all care is provided by family members or friends. Unsurprisingly, 75 percent of caregivers are women. Setting the Parameters. It’s important to understand what long term care is—and isn’t. A person needs ...

                              42 Home sold November 26 thru December 9 2018 in Mountainside Fanwood                                 Scotch Plains Westfield and ...

The IRS has announced cost-of-living adjustments for tax year 2019. The contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan is increased from $18,500 to $19,000. The limit on annual contributions to an IRA is increased from $5,500 to $6,000. The additional catch-up contribution limit for individuals aged 50 and over is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains $1,000. Taxpayers can deduct contributions to a traditional IRA if ...

This week's featured franchisee owns not one, not two, but three TAPinto franchises! Find out what she loves about owning and operating her own business, how she got started, and how she manages, TAPinto Berkeley Heights, TAPinto New Providence, and TAPinto Mountainside full-time. Q: When did you join TAPinto.net? Bobbie Peer: I started as a sales person in May 2013, working to expand The Alternative Press into new communities across New Jersey. I bought the license to Berkeley Heights in August ...

METUCHEN, NJ - A crisis can occur at any moment, and precarious situations exist all around us. One emergency that can happen to anyone without warning is going into cardiac arrest, an unforeseen loss of consciousness and heart function. A group of eleven students at Saint Joseph High School trained under the instruction of Christopher Martin on for two days in November to become certified in giving  CPR to both adults and adolescents by practicing on CPR mannequins. “This opportunity allows students to gain ...

Once upon a time, a pious Jew was traveling through the countryside in Eastern Europe. He came to a shtetl where the local schochet (ritual slaughterer) had just taken ill. The town butcher had no one to do the slaughtering and was desperate when he bumped into the visitor. The traveler looked pious and G‑d fearing (perhaps he wore a black hat and a beard) so the butcher asked him if he was, by any chance, a qualified schochet. The visitor replied that he was indeed. Overjoyed, the butcher started arranging for ...

As October whirls by and millions of children around the country get their Halloween costumes ready to go, there are many parents out there who will just have to imagine what Halloween would be like with their child that is no longer living. October is Infant Loss Awareness Month. Below, we discuss some details about these types of losses. The loss of a child stings that much more during the holidays, as parents consider all the “what if’s.” Would my child be into Dinosaurs? Would my son play baseball like his dad? ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Christmas is almost here and the Y Men’s Tree Lot still has trees available to beautify your home or office this season while helping the community. All proceeds benefit local organizations. Proceeds benefit the financial assistance program at the Westfield Area YMCA as well as the Achievers Program for minority youth. Other organizations that benefit from the sale include Resolve Community Counseling Center, The Children’s Learning Center in Scotch Plains, Westfield and Scotch Plains' ...