Hudson - Litchfield News

6 - April 2, 2010

Piece of the Pie

Maintaining Your

W. F. Boutin EA – Total Tax Solutions LLC

2010 Tax Law Changes

As I mentioned in the second article of this series, there have been several significant Tax Law changes passed by Congress since 2001 with provisions that created or modified existing tax credits, deductions and tax rate schedules to try and stimulate a sluggish economy. Several of these provisions have already been extended a few times and are once again scheduled for expiration in 2010. Some provisions recently put into law were only intended to be in effect for 2009. The year 2010 will be the last year for most of the provisions provided by sweeping tax legislation passed in 2001, 2003, 2008 and 2009 unless certain aspects are extended or made permanent by Congress. By law, the dollar amounts for a variety of tax provisions must be revised each year to keep pace with inflation. But because recent inflation factors have been minimal, many of these benefits will remain unchanged or change only slightly for 2010. The standard deduction and personal exemption amounts will remain unchanged this coming year except for a slight increase in the head of household standard deduction. The various tax bracket thresholds will see very minor adjustments. Usually these thresholds have been increasing by hundreds of dollars per bracket, this year the changes will increase by maybe $100 meaning a smaller increase in refunds for all taxpayers. Expiring tax benefits for 2010 include the deductions for educator expenses and the tuition and fees deduction. Both of these deductions were adjustments to income which lower the AGI on the return. A higher AGI can affect several other areas of the return reducing other deductions and credits.

Expenses which allowed an increase in the standard deduction for the past couple of years being real estate taxes, net disaster losses and sales or excise taxes paid for the purchase of new motor vehicles expire. Certain expenses increasing itemized deductions being state or local sales tax in general or for new motor vehicles expire for 2010. The exclusion from taxable income of up to $2400 in unemployment benefits expires.

The First Time Homebuyer Credit, already extended and modified twice, will expire on homes purchased after April 30th 2010. The AMT exemption amounts are scheduled to decrease. If allowed to happen, many more taxpayers will be affected by the additional tax burden imposed by the AMT. (Note: This announcement has been made for the past several years at the beginning of each year, and Congress has passed a law to “patch it” before taking affect.) These are just a few of the more popular changes which will affect almost each and every taxpayer. Other changes that affect not only individual returns but also business, estate and gift tax returns are too numerous to list here.

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Wal-Mart Donates to Hudson Police Department in Support of R.A.D.

by Doug Robinson

The Hudson Wal-Mart Foundation has donated $2,000 in support of Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) to the Hudson Police Department Community Policing Donation Account. The Rape Aggression Defense system is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women. This comprehensive, women-only course begins with awareness, prevention, and risk reduction/risk avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on

defense training. R.A.D. is not a Martial Arts program. The courses are taught by nationally certified R.A.D. Instructors and provide each student with a workbook/ reference manual. “Wal-Mart has been a strong supporter of the HPD for years,” commented Chief Lavoie. “Officer Adam Lischinsky is a certified R.A.D. instructor. We are trying to incorporate more and more training for women and for children. Officer Lischinsky recently put on a R.A.D. program for 15-20 women enrolled and

Wal-Mart has agreed to help us with this program.”

Selectman Roger Coutu stated that a participant of the R.A.D. program felt that she was “impressed with the knowledge that in any given situation [she] could seriously hurt someone” who would be attempting to do her harm. “R.A.D. is a benefit our community,” Selectman Coutu stated, also stating that it is ”better being prepared.” For more information, please call 886-6011.

Lieutenant DiNapoli Completes Comprehensive Training Program

submitted by Hudson Police Department

The Justice System Training and

Research Institute at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI, in partnership with the New England Association of Chiefs of Police, recently recognized Lieutenant Kevin DiNapoli of the Hudson Police Department. This recognition is for his successful completion of the “Command Training Series: Mid- Management Course. It is a two-week comprehensive training program for police mid-level supervisory personnel. Course work includes contemporary concepts of management and leadership relevant to the responsibilities of a middle manager in a modern criminal justice agency. Additional topics include operational leadership and

management principles, emotional intelligence, data analysis, planning and project management, organizational and interpersonal communications, employee and conflict management, labor issues and legal research, organizational culture and change management, understanding the budget process, and contemporary and critical issues. The Hudson Police Department would like to congratulate Lieutenant DiNapoli in his accomplishment. He has been a member of the Hudson Police Department since January 1998. He is currently assigned to the Patrol Division as a Shift Commander. He is also a negotiator on the Southern New Hampshire Special Operations Unit.

Lieutenant Kevin DiNapoli

Prayer Shawl Volunteers

submitted by Claire Gagnon

Several members of Hudson Grange #11 have been very busy for the month of March’s project—knitting or crocheting prayer shawls. The shawls are to be distributed to persons who are in need of comfort, whether they are in poor health, are grieving over the loss of family members or friends, or experiencing other difficult times. Nine completed shawls will be delivered to a director at St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua to be presented to patients who are currently undergoing chemo or dialysis treatment.

Pictured at right, Hudson Grange Prayer Shawl volunteers Sarah Leclerc, Pat Lawlor, Rachel Scanzani, and Claire Gagnon

Alvirne FFA Chapter Attends NH Farm Bureau Legislative Breakfast

submitted by Lesley Saunders, Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor

On March 25, four students of the Alvirne FFA Chapter traveled to Concord to attend the New Hampshire Farm Bureau Legislative Breakfast.

Ham and Bean Supper

by Lynne Ober

It’s an annual spring event eagerly watched for—the Ham and Bean Supper sponsored by Litchfield’s Firefighter Association. It’s a chance to let someone else cook while you enjoy chatting with friends and neighbors. The kids love chatting with the firefighters as they visit the shiny, red fire trucks parked outside the door.

Held at Griffin Memorial

School, the Ham and Bean Supper is the only fundraising event for the Firefighter Association. Funds raised support the annual scholarship given to a graduating Campbell

High School senior, provide support for any firefighters who get injured, and often provide money for equipment for the Fire Department. The association is a non-profit group dedicated to promoting fire safety, as well as supporting many town activities. Once again, the cafeteria was filled with chatter, giggles, and laughter. Business was brisk as soon as the doors opened at 4 p.m., and stayed brisk through the end of the event. It’s an opportunity for some good, old- fashioned fun. “We frequently see many of the same faces,” smiled Warren Adams, “and that’s a great thing.”

Katie Clancy, Kate Ciarletta, Jennifer Gagnon, and Jordan Gruelle were given the opportunity to have breakfast with members of the NH House Environment and Agriculture Committee. In addition, these four young ladies conversed with a few members of the Young Farmer Committee, which is affiliated with the Farm Bureau. The Young Farmer Committee is for people between the ages of 16 to 35 with an interest in agriculture. The program provides leadership training opportunities geared to developing our state’s future agricultural leaders for a better tomorrow in agriculture. The NH Farm Bureau Federation has more than 5,000 families— members of 10 organized county Farm Bureaus. These members are among the nation’s five million Farm Bureau members who form the American Farm Bureau Federation. By being a member of this “grassroots” organization, you have direct access through your county Farm Bureau to establish state and national policy and direction. By working together, members

Jen Gagnon, Kate Ciarletta, Katie Clancy, and Jordan Gruelle at the NH Farm Bureau Center in Concord

turn Farm Bureau policies into legislative action, accomplishing together what would be impossible to do alone.

Household Hazardous Waste Season Kicks Off April 24

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After another long New Hampshire winter, all signs indicate that spring is really upon us. Daylight savings has returned, the snow has melted, and the Household Hazardous Waste Collection season is about to begin. The first Household Hazardous Waste Collection of 2010 will be held on Saturday, April 24, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Nashua Public Works Garage, 6 Riverside Street,

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Nashua. Visit www.nashuarpc.org/hhw for the rest of the 2010 collection schedule. Residents of Hudson, Litchfield, Pelham, and Windham are welcome to attend. There will be a user fee per vehicle, which covers up to 10 gallons or 20 pounds of waste. Residents who bring more than this amount will be charged accordingly to help offset the additional costs. A variety of common household hazardous waste (HHW) products are accepted at the collection events. HHW comes from everyday products used in the home and yard. By definition, these products are corrosive, flammable, toxic, or reactive. Non-latex paints, solvents, oven cleaners, pool chemicals, pesticides, drain openers, and auto chemicals are just a few examples. For a complete list of accepted items, visit www.nashuarpc.org/hhw or call 424-2240.

Electronics are also collected at all HHW

events. There is a small fee for electronics recycling. Prices vary by item; for a complete price list, visit www.nashuarpc.org/hhw. If you only bring electronics to an HHW collection, you do not have to pay the user fee. However, if you bring electronics as well as other household hazardous wastes, you do need to pay the user fee in addition to the electronics charge. As a reminder, latex paint is not accepted at collection events; rather, it should be dried out and disposed at your local landfill or transfer station.

All participants are required to complete a brief

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