The Millstone Times - December 2022

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‘Friends of Cyrus II’ diversifies their services into the Millstone Township area with their state-of-the-art Adult Day Habilitation Program, which will provide quality and comprehensive care to adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. This brand-new program will join 2 others and the 24 community residences ‘Friends of Cyrus II’ presides over in Burlington, Camden, Middlesex, and Monmouth Counties. After months of preparations, Friends of Cyrus II announces the culmination of their Mill stone Township Adult Day Habilitation Program. This advanced program will provide com prehensive and expert care from highly trained and educated staff, to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Friends of Cyrus II (FOCII) was founded about 10 years ago by Kamelia Kameli, CEO. Ka melia saw first- hand the desperate need for services for those with I/DD upon adulthood due to her son Cyrus who is Autistic and non-verbal, also requiring an “appropriate program.” While exploring every option of disability services for Cyrus, Kamelia decided that there were others like him who deserved more. And thus, Friends of Cyrus II was born. The Millstone Township Adult Day Program, is FOCII’s third day habilitation program, which is officially open and operational fromMonday to Friday, 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. The program is over seen by an experienced and knowledgeable Director, Jennifer Overfield. “I am excited to serve each individual as a person to collectively build a thriving, inclusive program,” states Jennifer. Continued on page 5...

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November 2022

Grant vest Financial Group By Pam Teel

As financial professionals and fiduciaries, the Wealth Management Team at Grantvest Financial Group are committed to helping people create solutions in all aspects of their lives, from financial planning to investment management. Lo cated in Matawan, NJ, Grantvest Financial Group was founded by Anthony Caputo, a Millstone Township resident, and co-owner Gregory Guenther, of Wall, NJ. Through their professional knowledge, personal integrity, and personalized services, the goal of Anthony and his team is to become your most trusted advisory group; with services that include, retirement planning, insurance planning strategies, investment, college planning resources, Social Security analysis, pension calculations, budgeting, and cash flow strategies. Anthony was born and raised in Staten Island. Anthony lost his dad to cancer at just 48 years old. Anthony was nine teen and in college at the time. His dad was uninsured, leaving his mother with two sons and a mortgage to pay off, and no IRA / 401K / or retirement plan. His mother, who worked as a special education para at Anthony’s high school, could not fully support her family on her salary.

An thony Caputo, ChFEBC

Anthony’s life changed in the blink of an eye. His father’s dying wish was for him to finish college. In order for Anthony to stay in school, he had to find a part time job so he could help with college expenses. When his friends were out having fun, Anthony was busy working to help pay for his schooling or studying finance. What weighed on Anthony’s mind more than anything was how his mother would turn to him and ask him for financial guidance and advice. At nineteen, what did he know? He felt helpless. He learned the hard way what it means to not have a financial plan set in place. He set out with a goal of trying to learn and understand everything he could about finance, so he could be better prepared in the future when he had his own family. With a lot of hard work, Anthony graduated with a B.A. degree fromHofstra University. He had helped to fulfill his father’s last wishes, and he was ready to start his new career. Because of his past experience, the passion that he had to help others be prepared for life’s lessons always stayed with Anthony. But he had to put that thought on hold for a while. It was about the same time that 9/11 happened, and during that period, it was tough finding a job in finance. During his finance hiatus, Anthony worked on the television show The Bachelor, for season five. He was the associate producer on the New York based season featuring then Bachelor, Charlie O'Connell. Anthony got back into finance in 2005 and began his career in the financial services industry as a Wealth Advisor for the Premiere Banking and Invest ments division of Bank of America Investments/Merrill Lynch. In 2009, he and partner, Greg Guenther, started their own independent Planning Practice to better serve the needs of his clients. With six professional licenses/designations, Anthony is able to offer personalized investment strategies aimed at servicing, managing, and preserving the wealth of you and your family. Later on, because of Anthony’s business acumen, he was approached by two longtime friends about becoming a strategic partner in a manufacturing start-up. Anthony would help this company launch from prototype making in the garage, to the big stage of ABC’s hit show, Shark Tank, in less than 3 years. Anthony and then partners would be featured on Season 5 where they would strike a deal with their favorite Shark, Lori Greiner. their product, The Paint Brush Cover, can still be found in Home Depot’s Nationwide, amongst many other hardware stores throughout the U.S. They were a big success selling millions of Paint Brush Covers in just a few short years. In 2016, Anthony sold out of his part of the manufacturing business to continue building his Financial Planning practice. Anthony has always had a passion to help others and to be a mentor, both inside and outside of work. He and his wife Julia have been blessed with four children. Anthony is a man of values and tradition, and always makes time for his family. He is a coach for the Millstone Little League, co-head coach for the towns’ 10u tackle football team, along with his brother in law and fellow Millstoner, James Cortopassi. Anthony also sits on the Board of both leagues in town. Anthony was always involved in sports growing up, with his dad right by his side coaching him and teaching him not just how to play the sport, but how to be a team player. He also taught him how to work hard for what you want, and how to strive to be a leader. Looking back, Anthony realized that all the coaching from his dad was not just about how to play the game, but rather how to get by in life. Anthony’s goals, as coach of his children’s sports teams, is to instill in tomorrow’s leaders all the valuable lessons he carries with him today. By working closely with you, Anthony’s team, which consists of co-owner Gregory Guenther, Leo Wong, and Joseph Cammayo, get to know and under stand your wants and needs and help you identify the personal finance strategies that may improve your lifestyle, both present, and in the future. The team consists of four fiduciary Financial Planners/ in-house institutional bond traders/ 3 operations staff, and one in-house compliance officer-An thony’s younger brother, Michael. With trust and integrity, and decades of experience in the financial service industry, the team is there to help you to reach your goals. For more information go to: www. Grantvest.com Contact Toll-Free: (877) 651-8949 / Office: 732-970-6661| 106 Main Street, Suite D& E | Matawan, NJ 07747

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Holiday Recipe: Eggplant Meatballs

Ingredients • 2 tablespoons EVOO olive oil, divided • 1 cup eggplant, diced • ¼ cup yellow onion, diced • 1 teaspoon chopped garlic • 1 cup brown rice cereal Directions • Heat one tablespoon olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté the eggplant, onion and garlic until eggplant is very soft (about 8 minutes). • Blend all the other ingredients together in a food processor until smooth. • Form mixture into one-ounce balls. Add remaining oil to the pan and sauté meat balls on all sides until brown. • Serve with your favorite sauce. Makes 8 meatballs. • 1/2 cup canned cannellini beans, rinsed and drained • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest • Salt & pepper to taste

4 The Millstone Times

November 2022

Along with our other day habilitation programs, Millstone will continue to provide opportunities for our par ticipants to make choices, become more independent, and work on their own personal goals. “We want to offer pre-vocational training skills to all of those wanting to pursue employment in their communities. It is important to us to continue our work in providing Activities of Daily Living (ADL) skills in order to assist the individuals we serve in their personal successes,” Overfield continues. Friends of Cyrus II strives to integrate all the people they serve into their respected communities. The Millstone Day Program will be no different. Jennifer Overfield hopes to incorporate various community outings where the program participants can explore, engage, and learn about the surrounding areas. “Participating in our commu nity helps to develop better social skills and will strengthen our individuals’ ability to advocate for themselves. The program also hopes to feature different curriculum such as horticultural skills, physical fitness development, creative expression, and volunteer opportunities.” Jennifer Overfield, Director of Millstone Day Program. The participants who will be enrolled in the Millstone Day Program will include some of the residents already with Friends of Cyrus II but also many adults from the surrounding areas. “FOCII specializes in behavioral man agement and we have an extraordinary Clinical Team overseen by David Sullivan BCBA, Director of Clinical Services and Dr. Timothy Nipe, Chief Clinical Officer,” states Alixandra Van Sciver, FOCII’s Communication Relations Coordinator. Van Sciver states the clinical team works hard to develop individualized behavior plans for each person they serve if necessary for them. “The adults we serve vary in ranges of behavioral support needs. Our clinical team does a fabulous job in assessing each new admission properly to make sure we can serve them to the best of our abilities.” Within Friends of Cyrus II, the participants and residents are provided, not only with the proper care they need, but with the ability to make choices. FOCII aims to ‘foster independence’ and to be a ‘provider of choice.’ The Millstone Day Program will offer a plethora of choices for those who attend while continuing a daily routine and schedule. The program will involve activities structured around the Assessment of Functional Living Skills (AFLS) approach. AFLS is an evidence-based skills assessment tool and curriculum guide, designed to assist those with I/DD, learn and maintain crucial skills they need to achieve independence. A fundamental, but critical part of the program will be developing basic life skills. This can include, but is not limited to practicing personal hygiene, cooking, laundry, organizational skills, and social interaction. Some of the community-based activities that will be included in the program will consist of visiting local parks, malls, zoos, libraries, and museums. Through all these activities and skill development, the Millstone Day Program can assist its participants in their personal goals and successes. One point, the founder and CEO, Kamelia Kameli wanted to make clear was that at FOCII the staff are not qual ified to diagnose any medical or psychiatric illnesses or prescribe any sort of medications as they are not doctors or nurses on staff. “However, if the individuals are on medications that must be administered during services hours, we will be happy to do so. No one is going to be disqualified because they are on medication,” Kamelia emphasized. Friends of Cyrus II also provides transportation to and from home on a case-to-case basis. The Millstone Day Program will be seeking to follow suit with FOCII’s other programs in providing transpor tation. The catchment area is 10 miles, but of course can be discussed on an individualized basis depending on that person’s needs. FOCII also notes that all staff are either vaccinated against COVID-19 or tested each week to ensure the health and safety of everyone. All staff are also required to utilize face masks when interacting and engaging with the individuals we serve. Friends of Cyrus II seeks to provide broader access to disability support services for adults seeking Day Habil itation services and individuals aging out of their Special Education Programs. FOCII currently operates day programs in Medford and Tabernacle, NJ. In addition to day services, FOCII operates 24 community-based residences throughout Burlington, Camden, Middlesex, and Monmouth Counties. The agency also provides In Home Support services for adults throughout the state. “What makes our programs successful, is our well trained and dedicated team. Every resident and every partic ipant become a family member and a friend of Cyrus.” Kamelia Kameli, Founder & CEO. The new Millstone Adult Day Habilitation Program is located at 36 Trenton Lakewood Road in Millstone Town ship, NJ 08510. If you need support for an adult with disabilities who is approved for DDD Services, please reach out to the Friends of Cyrus II admissions team at admissions@friendsofcyrus.com. For further assistance please reach out to jessica@friendsofcyrus.com or katie@friendsofcyrus.com. Friends of Cyrus II is a Human Services Agency that provides community-based residential programs, in- home supports services, and day habilitation services to New Jersey’s intellectually and developmentally disabled adults. Since its incep tion, Friends of Cyrus II has operated with an unwavering mission in mind: to create a haven of lifetime support options for individuals with disabilities. Friends of Cyrus II currently supports over 120 adults throughout Burlington, Camden, Middlesex, and Monmouth Counties with a focus on fostering independence, dignity, privacy, choice, and individuality. Friends of Cyrus - Continued from cover .. .

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The Stamp Act Crisis of 1765 By, Surabhi Ashok

With midterm elections having just passed, we see how integral the voting processes in the United States are. Peo ple vote for representatives that align with the policies and ideologies they most want to see implemented and protect ed in the government. This desire for representation actu ally dates all the way back to colonial times, a time when many Americans wanted a say in administrative actions but didn’t receive it. During the late 1700s, the British monarchy ruled all 13 colonies in America under the Parliament. After the Seven Years’ War and the resulting financial crisis, the Empire’s governing body took on a more direct role in the colonists’ lives imposing loftier taxes and more restricting policies. One such tax was the Stamp Act of 1765. The Stamp Act of 1765 required colonists in America to only use the paper and printed materials like newspapers and documents provided by Great Britain. This of course made many colonists angry as they were being taxed “with out representation.” There was no one from America elect ed into Parliament, and therefore they had no voice in re gards to what was passed and what affected them. In response to the Stamp Act, a series of resolutions were adopted by the House of Burgesses that detailed that the American colonists were entitled to the same rights as Brit ish citizens. The passage also suggested that local govern ments of each state should be given the ability to make their own laws as it would ensure the prosperity of the colonies as well as Britain itself. While these resolutions were in no way severing ties with Britain, Parliament reacted poorly to them, essentially de claring that the American colonies were bound to the Brit ish Empire’s rule and could not question it regardless. This statement only brought the individual colonies closer to gether as frustrations against the monarchy grew. Eventual ly, these frustrations would boil over into an official declara tion of independence, paving the way for future revolution with the help of partnerships with countries like France. Source: https://studycorgi.com/the-stamp-act-resolutions and-the-declaratory-act/

An angry mob protest against the Stamp Act by carrying a banner reading 'The Folly of England, the Ruin of America' through the streets of New York.

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November 2022

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♥ HEALTH & WELLNESS Ingredients in Shampoos and Conditioners You Should Avoid Reading the labels might just save your life one day! By Pam Teel

Does a brand's ad help you make the decision as to what shampoo you pull off the shelf? It’s time to see beyond the ad. It’s a great idea to actually start reading the ingredients on the back of the bottle that you will be putting on your hair. Most commercial shampoos and conditioners are made with a large portion of harmful chemicals, and their levels of toxicity are not just limited to hair health. This article includes expert evidence from haircare experts at SkinKraft, based on a review by Dr. Kaustav Guha, that identifies harmful ingredients in sham poos and conditioners. Now you know that most hair products are loaded with toxic chemicals. They help give you clean, shiny, bouncy hair, but these short-term benefits can cause long-term ill effects ranging from cancer to hormone imbalance. Here is a list of ingredients in your shampoos and conditions that can turn out to be harmful in the long run: Sulfates are surfactants (surface acting agents) that are used to clean the dirt and excess sebum on the scalp. They are used for lathering purposes in your shampoos. These surfactants like SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), SLES (sodium laureth sulfate) and ammonium lauryl sulfate are all damaging. They can cause an allergic reaction on your scalp and may even cause frizzy hair. They also can be hormone disruptors when used for prolonged periods. Sulfates are also harmful for the environment and aquatic species. Parabens-To increase the shelf life of hair care products, manufacturers add preservatives called parabens. They prevent bacteria from growing in your shampoos. Parabens (Butyl, propyl and ethyl parabens) are known to mimic the function of hormone estrogen (female hormone responsible for reproduc tive functions) and can increase the risk of breast cancer. Polyethylene glycol is a derivative of petroleum that is used in hair care prod ucts as a thickening agent. There is not enough research available to claim the toxicity of PEG, but hair care experts believe that PEG can have a damaging effect on your scalp. PEGs can be identified as numbers like 100, 120, 14M, 30, 32, 40, 75 and so on. Phthalates are used in hair care products to increase the spread ability of a product. They are used to make the perfume stick to your scalp and hair. They are endocrine disruptors meaning they can cause early puberty in girls and re duce sperm count in men. They are also highly dangerous for the environment. Formaldehyde- Considering a fancy Brazilian blowout or a treatment? These treatments may contain an ingredient called formaldehyde. Bronopol, imidaz olidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15 and diazolidinyl, urea are all formaldehyde releasers. Formaldehyde releasers are carcinogenic These ingre dients are known to be absorbed by your skin. Companies add formaldehyde as a preservative in these treatments. Triclosan was an important antibacterial agent in soap bars until recently. But it is still being used in shampoos, toothpastes and deodorants. It is a known hormone disruptor. Triclosan is believed to get accumulated in your fat cells and keep the body in a state of toxicity. Dimethicone is a type of silicone added in hair care products. It acts like a pro tective layer to your hair shaft but over time, builds up residue on your scalp. It prevents moisture from entering the hair and can cause scalp irritation by clogging the pores. Retinyl palmitate is the ester of retinol and palmitic acid. This ingredient can cause skin itching, redness, scaling and peeling. It may also cause cancer, repro ductive problems and toxicity to organs.

Alcohol used in hair care can make your hair extremely dry. Steer clear of alcohols like propanol and isopropyl alcohol. Alcohols are used as thickening agents in shampoos. Sometimes, they are used as emollients when derived from palm oil or coconut oil. Alcohols can cause brittleness of hair. Fragrances-Hair care brands are smart enough to not reveal the exact ingredi ents and put them all in one category - fragrances or parfum. These fragrances are made synthetically with a blend of a variety of toxic chemicals. How else can you make rose, lavender, etc., smelling shampoos in the lab? They obviously don't add natural flowers and fruits in your shampoos and conditioners. Synthetic fragrances may cause cancers, reproductive issues or asthma attacks. Some fragrances can affect the scalp and lead to hair loss. Colors-We love to see pretty-looking colors in our shampoo and conditioner bottles. The kind of ingredients that go into making synthetic colors of hair care products will leave you shocked! These colors are derived from coal tar or petroleum. You can identify synthetic colors on the labels by the terms 'FD&C' or D&C'. Toluene is a petrochemical solvent used in most hair dyes. They can hamper your immune system and may even cause birth defects. Toluene can have a detrimental effect on your central nervous system. Toluene is often labelled as benzene, phenylmethane, toluol and methylbenzene. Resorcinol, a common ingredient in hair dyes and bleaching agents, is linked to skin irritation. It can also cause functional disabilities of the immune system. In animals, it causes thyroid function disruption. Selenium sulfide is a proven carcinogen (cancer causing compound). Lab tests on mice showed the development of tumors due to selenium sulfide. Read the ingredients of your anti-dandruff shampoos to stay away from selenium sul fide. Quaternium-15 is a surfactant and preservative in hair care products like shampoos and conditioners. It is an ammonium salt that is carcinogenic. It is also a formaldehyde releaser. Quaternium-15 is also a possible eye irritant. What Ingredients Should Your Shampoo&Conditioner Contain? Choose a sulphate free formula with mild surfactants. You could look for hu mectants like coconut oil to counter any roughness, quaternium salts to condi tion hair and silicon oils for shine and luster. Look for oils like coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil and palm oil in your con ditioners that help nourish your hair. Hydrolyzed keratin is an ingredient that you can opt for in your conditioner that repairs damaged hair. Butters like mango butter and shea butter form a protective layer around the cuticle of your hair. Vitamin E, argan oil and vitamin B5 are also great condi tioning ingredients that not only nourish your hair, but make the hair fall flat. Make sure you buy from brands that disclose their full list of ingredients on the labels or website. Sometimes, even plant derived ingredients may cause al lergies in some people. Watch out for potential irritants whenever you are buy ing shampoos and conditioners. Also, be careful of shampoo’s that say organic on them. They can still be loaded with many of these chemicals. Some may leave out one or two chemicals, such as fragrance free, or paraben free, but still contain the other harmful chemicals. Want to switch to a healthier shampoo for your mind and body, start here: re search Eco friendly shampoos, plant-based shampoo bars, shampoos without chemicals!!!! Don't forget to read the labels on your shampoo and conditioner bottles before you make a purchase.

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November 2022

You have always been there for your mom, and now GoldenYears Care is here for you Senior Spotlight: Kaitlynn Russell By, Nazali Mohideen

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Even with the world in a health crisis, Kaitlynn Russell is still finding some thing to sing about! Coming from a musi cal family, Russell has always been interest ed in the arts and al though she played the flute for a short while, singing was where she ultimately found her passion.

Medicaid/J.A.C.C. Covered Service She’s been involved in the music programs provided by the school since elementary school and by the time she had hit her senior year, she had been a member of the freshman and treble chorus groups as well as concert choir this year. Outside of school, Russell has sung with multiple national and regional choirs, sharing that one of her major accomplishments was when she was accepted into the All State national competition last year where she later had the opportunity to perform at NJPAC and Atlantic City. Throughout high school, she has also been a part of the Central Jersey Music Educators Associations, otherwise known as CJMEA. Russell has performed in the school’s winter and spring seasonal concerts in addition to the coffeehouse events normally held in the Commons. In the most recent virtual editions f the coff ehouse, she sang Chloe Mori ondo’s “Silly Girl” and Kacey Musgraves’ “Rainbow” accompanied by her friend, Allyson Fu, on the piano. Russell also had a solo during this year’s winter concert at the beginning of the choir's rendition of Andrea Ramsey’s “There has to be a Song.” To Russell, chorus has been a “form of stress relief ” and “way of expres sion.” She reflected on her time at Monroe, writing in part, “I think the part that I [will] miss most from performing alongside my classmates would be the connections that we make with each other and the audience...seeing our hard work pay off by making an impact on members within the audience is also something that I [will] truly miss.” While Russell spent plenty of her time dedicated to the arts, she has also made an impact in other parts of the school and the community at large. She has served as the school’s volleyball manager, a tutor, and Girl Scout along with giving her time to local food banks and the Knights of Colum bus organization in Jamesburg. Through this experience, Russell has been able to combine pass ons of hers from school and serve a greater purpose elsewhere, like hosting volleyball tournaments to raise awareness about DMD, a genetic disorder that usually affects boys and their muscles. Following graduation in June, Russell is set on attending Seton Hall Uni versity in South Orange to study psychology and become a psychologist one day. With plenty of high and low not s from her high school career, Russell, like many other seniors, has surely learned that the show must go on! Call UsToday For ATour or Info! (732) 851-6640 www.GoldenYearsCareNJ.com • Medical AppointmentTransportation • Around-the-clock attention • Physical & OccupationalTherapy In House • Free Door-to-DoorTransportation • Delicious Food Options (Spanish, Russian, Italian & more) • Onsite & Offsite Activities: (Ping Pong, Zumba, Shopping Excursions, Museums, Crafts,Trips to the Shore and much more) • Onsite Hairdresser Serving Monmouth, Middlesex & Ocean Residents Conveniently off Rt 33 and NJTurnpike Exit 8 108Woodward Rd. Manalapan, New Jersey If your loved one needs care during the day, trust GoldenYears Care to put them in good hands!

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PET PAGES Best Pet Photo Contest

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FAMILY MATTERS

DO YOU HAVE UMBRELLA COVERAGE? By John Bazzurro

Over the past several weeks, I have had two unfortunate situations that have arose in my practice that have prompted me to write this article concerning something called “umbrella coverage.” Despite its name, this type of insurance coverage has nothing to do with protection from weather events. As will be seen below, “umbrella coverage” is another layer of insurance coverage that is recommended in order to properly protect you and your family against judgments and lawsuits arising out of your negligence or the negligence of a family member within your household. In one case, my client was significantly injured in a motor vehicle accident with a 17-year-old boy who had only recently received his drivers’ license. The automobile insurance policy on the young man’s vehicle had policy limits of $250,000.00 for the benefit of parties injured as a result of the negligent operation of the vehicle. The young man and his family live in a large home in an upper class Township within Monmouth County and, as such, it would seem that he and his family would have a reason to protect their assets over and above the $250,000.00 policy limits of their automobile insurance. Unfortunately, they did not have additional insurance coverage and, as such, given the significant nature of my client’s injuries, their personal assets could now be in jeopardy in the litigation. In another case, a client of mine caused a significant accident in which a number of people were injured. Although I only represented her on the traffic tickets she received, both her and her husband inquired as to whether or not it was likely that they were going to be sued for personal injuries arising out of the accident. Similar to the family above, my client and her husband only had automobile insurance with $300,000.00 in policy limits to cover the injuries sustained by the other individuals involved in the accident. The client’s husband was a medical professional and, once again, had significant assets over and above the $300,000.00 policy limits which he and his wife should have protected. When I asked them if they had “umbrella coverage” to further protect them, they did not know what it was. At a minimum, if you own a home and an automobile, you should have an automobile insurance policy that protects you against injuries you cause in a motor vehicle accident as well as homeowners’ insurance which protects you against injuries caused by you and your resident family members for negligent acts (other than an automobile accident) that cause injuries to others. All homeowners’ insurance policies contain an “automobile exclusion” for which the homeowners’ policy will not cover injuries to others as result of the operation of an automobile. If either of these policy limits are insufficient to “pay for” the injured parties’ injuries, “umbrella coverage” is intended to supplement your policy limits. Typically, “umbrella coverage” is purchased to supplement the above referenced automobile insurance policy limits and homeowners’ coverage policy limits; often at a reasonable rate. Such “umbrella coverage” is utilized and necessary to protect assets when your assets are greater than the policy limits afforded by either your homeowners’ policy or motor vehicle policy. Unlike homeowners’ coverage, “umbrella coverage” does not contain an “automobile exclusion” and, as such, would be available to supplement automobile insurance coverage in the two scenarios described above. Accordingly, while it is a good idea to review your insurance coverages on a regular basis with a qualified insurance agent or broker, you should always be cognizant of the amount of your automobile coverage and homeowners’ coverage in relation to the amount of assets you intend to protect. Importantly, regardless of the amount of assets you presently have, a judgment against you arising out of your negligent acts may last for 20 years or more and, therefore, assets which you accrue in the future may also be in jeopardy. So, regardless of the level of your present assets, it may be a good idea to protect your future with such “umbrella coverage.” Should you have any questions concerning this article, please feel free to contact my office or, alternatively, immediately discuss these issues with a qualified insurance agent or broker.

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Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney Member of New Jersey and New York Bars Jared Sparnroft, Esq. 200 Meco Drive, Millstone Twp., NJ Email: jtbazzurro@bazzurrolaw.com 732-410-5350 • www.bazzurrolaw.com

JOHN T. BAZZURRO, Esq. JARED SPARNROFT, Esq. 200 Meco Drive, Millstone Twp., NJ jtbazzurro@bazzurrolaw.com • BAZZURROLAW.COM

Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney Member of New Jersey and New York Bars

14 The Millstone Times

November 2022

FAMILY MATTERS An Overview of the IRS’s 2022 Dirty Dozen Tax Scams

Compiled annually, the Dirty Dozen lists a variety of common scams that taxpayers can encounter anytime. The IRS warns taxpayers, tax professionals and financial institutions to beware of these scams. This year’s list is divided into five groups. Here’s an overview of the top twelve tax scams of 2022. Potentially abusive arrangements The2022DirtyDozenbeginswith four transactions that arewrongfully promoted and will likely attract additional agency compliance efforts in the future. Those four abusive transactions involve charitable remainder annuity trusts, Maltese individual retirement arrangements, foreign captive insurance, and monetized installment sales. Pandemic-related scams This IRS reminds taxpayers that criminals still use the COVID-19 pandemic to steal people's money and identity with phishing emails, social media posts, phone calls, and text messages. All these efforts can lead to sensitive personal information being stolen, and scammers using this to try filing a fraudulent tax return as well as harming victims in other ways. Some of the scams people should continue to be on the lookout for include Economic Impact Payment and tax refund scams, unemployment fraud leading to inaccurate taxpayer 1099-Gs, fake employment offers on social media, and fake charities that steal taxpayers’ money. Offer in Compromise "mills"

Offer in Compromise or OIC "mills," make outlandish claims, usually in local advertising, about how they can settle a person's tax debt for pennies on the dollar. Often, the reality is that taxpayers pay the OIC mill a fee to get the same deal they could have gotten on their own by working directly with the IRS. These “mills” are a problem all year long, but they tend to be more visible right after the filing season ends and taxpayers are trying to resolve their tax issues perhaps after receiving a balance due notice in the mail. Suspicious communications Every form of suspicious communication is designed to trick, surprise, or scare someone into responding before thinking. Criminals use a variety of communications to lure potential victims. The IRS warns taxpayers to be on the lookout for suspicious activity across four common forms of communication: email, social media, telephone, and text messages. Victims are tricked into providing sensitive personal financial information, money, or other information. This information can be used to file false tax returns and tap into financial accounts, among other schemes. Spear phishing attacks Spear phishing scams target individuals or groups. Criminals try to steal client data and tax preparers' identities to file fraudulent tax returns for refunds. Spear phishing can be tailored to attack any type of business or organization, so everyone needs to be skeptical of emails requesting financial or personal information. A recent spear phishing email used the IRS logo and a variety of subject lines such as "Action Required: Your account has now been put on hold” to steal tax professionals’ software preparation credentials. The scam email contains a link that if clicked will send users to a website that shows the logos of several popular tax software preparation providers. Clicking on one of these logos will prompt a request for tax preparer account credentials. The IRS warns tax pros not to respond or take any of the steps outlined in the email. The IRS has observed similar spear phishing emails claiming to be from "tax preparation application providers." The list is not a legal document or a literal listing of agency enforcement priorities. It is designed to raise awareness among a variety of audiences that may not always be aware of developments involving tax administration.

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FAMILY MATTERS

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November 2022

FAMILY MATTERS

JEWELRY EXCHANGE We Buy…Gold, Silver, Diamonds, Estate Jewlery, Coins, And Watches

Tips for taxpayers who make money from a hobby Many people enjoy hobbies that are also a source of income. From paint ing and pottery to scrapbooking and soap making, these activities can be sources of both fun and finances. Taxpayers who make money from a hobby must report that income on their tax return. However, the rules for how to report the income and expenses depend on whether the activity is a hobby or a business. There are special rules and limits for deductions taxpayers can claim for hobbies. 2. If someone has a business, they operate the business to make a profit. 3. In contrast, people engage in a hobby for sport or recreation, not to make a profit. 4. Taxpayers should consider 9 factors when determining whether their activity is a business or a hobby. They should base their determina tion on all the facts and circumstances of their activity. 5. Allowable hobby deductions. Taxpayers can only deduct ordinary and necessary hobby expenses: • Ordinary expense is common and accepted for the activity. • Necessary expense is appropriate for the activity. • Limits on hobby expenses. • Taxpayers can generally only deduct hobby expenses up to the amount of hobby income. If hobby expenses are more than its in come, taxpayers have a loss from the activity. However, a hobby loss can’t be deducted from other income. How to deduct hobby expenses. Taxpayers must itemize deductions on their tax return to deduct hob by expenses. Taxpayers can look into this now to determine if they will itemize their deductions when they file their 2019 tax return next year. Expenses may fall into three types of deductions, and special rules apply to each type. Use IRS Free File. Hobby rules can be complex. Go to www.go.usa.gov for more details. Here are five things to consider: 1. If the activity is a business or a hobby.

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