Most Workers Will See Bigger Paychecks This Spring

MOUNTAINSIDE―The Internal Revenue Service released new withholding tables that will result in more take-home pay this spring for millions of American workers.

“The new tables, now posted on IRS.gov, incorporate the new Making Work Pay credit, one of the key tax provisions included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that became law last week,” said New Jersey’s IRS Spokesperson Gregg Semanick.

“For most taxpayers, the additional credit will automatically start showing up in their paychecks this spring,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “Since employers and payroll companies will handle this change, people typically won’t need to take any additional action. The IRS will continue working to implement this and other provisions of the new law as quickly as possible.”

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State Library Launches Web Site For Residents To “Get Help!”

TRENTON—As the New Jersey economy weakens, unemployment figures increase and family incomes shrink, the New Jersey State Library has launched a new web site designed to make it easier for residents to connect to state programs, services and agencies that can help them during these tough economic times. “Many New Jerseyans are facing severe financial and employment challenges and the place they are turning to for assistance and resources is their local library,” said Norma Blake, New Jersey state librarian.

“Librarians from all over New Jersey are reporting more people than ever before coming in to use computers; check out books and DVDs; and attend computer, financial and job search classes. This new web site will link residents to a number of tools that will help save money and avoid frustration by taking them directly to the agencies that can be of assistance,” Blake added.

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Port Marks Milestone: 3 Millionth ExpressRail Elizabeth Container Shipped

ELIZABETH — The Port of New York and New Jersey’s ExpressRail Elizabeth facility marked a major milestone last week by transporting its three millionth cargo container by rail, which has removed an estimated five million truck trips from the road in the 18 years since the on-dock rail system was launched.

ExpressRail Elizabeth began service in 1991 as a way to move cargo containers from the ship to the marketplace by rail rather than by truck. Currently, about 12 percent of cargo containers are transported by rail. The Port Authority has invested $600 million to expand and upgrade the port’s rail system, which will provide the capacity to move 1.5 million containers a year when completed in 2012.

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Historian Shows Another Side Of Lincoln

MOUNTAINSIDE—They both loved poetry. They loved their Shakespeare. And they both loved politics.

But when it came to money, they couldn’t be more different. So much so, that there were times Mary Todd Lincoln would hide her extravagances from her husband, knowing her spending sprees would raise the President’s ire.

Glenn LeBoeuf, a former New Providence history teacher and a frequent lecturer on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, shared stories about the Lincolns at Union County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside, where he was the guest speaker recently.

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Heart Health – February is American Heart Month

By Ronald G. Rios

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event. In 2009 an estimated 785,000 Americans will have a new coronary attack and about 470,000 will have a recurrent attack.

It is important for both men and women to learn more abut the risks and prevention strategies of heart disease. To raise awareness about heart disease, February is American Heart Month. During this month, I ask individuals to educate themselves about a healthy lifestyle and learn how to make choices that can increase your overall heart health.

Giving up smoking, lowering high blood pressure, reducing high blood cholesterol, aiming for a healthy weight, becoming physically active and managing diabetes can help reduce your risk of heart disease.

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Woodbridge Expands Reverse 9-1-1 Emergency Notification Program To Include Cell Phones

By Mayor John McCormac

The most important task we have in municipal government is to make sure that every Woodbridge Township resident has timely and accurate information before, during, and after emergency situations. As we have seen over the past couple of months, the threat of a disastrous storm, a winter snow alert, or other emergency-related information is something we must plan for as far in advance as possible.

As part of our emergency management safety plan, the Woodbridge Township Office of Emergency Management and the Office of Information Technology are expanding the township-wide “Reverse 9-1-1” emergency communications telephone alert system – a program where we contact residents with important emergency-related information.

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Tax Tip Of The Day: Need Tax Forms?

 By Gregg Semanick-New Jersey‘s IRS Spokesperson

The IRS has free tax forms and publications available on a wide variety of topics.  You can access forms and publications on the IRS website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at IRS.gov.  You can also call the IRS at 1-800-TAX-FORM to place an order.  You should receive your order within 10 days.

For more information on IRS tax tips, go to the IRS.gov web site at www.irs.gov.

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