Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Nov. 17, 1994, edition 1 / Page 30
Part of The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED Marketing Award Winner Ben Atkins (right), president of Carolina Marketing Group , is con gratulated by Ed Gore Sr. of Ocean Ridge Plantation. Atkins was honored by Theme Magazines and Expos for his Coastal Carolina Living presentation at the Sunshine Real Estate Expo in New York. Atkins represents Ocean Ridge as marketing consultant. If You Speak, \A/n \A/j II I i r+p r~j tTC r r ill lioici I BY DEBBIE RUPP Vice-President For Organizational Development South Brunswick Islands Chamber Of Commerce You had an opportunity last week to clect the men and women you believe can best lead this state and community over the next few years and successfully bring about positive change. Actually, you had more than one opportunity to flex your voting muscles because you also chose seven new members to serve on the South Brunswick Islands Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for the 1995-97 term. What will these newly elected officials and in cumbents do that will help make our lives better? How will they lead this community to implement positive change? Maybe the more important ques tion is: how will they knc.. what is needed? One of the recent criticisms 1 heard from a politi- RUPP cal analyst of Bill Clinton in trying to explain his serious declinc in pop ularity is that the president has no idea of what the "real people" want from their leaders because he jusl doesn't get out there and talk to them and, more importantly, he just doesn't listen. Most people in leadership positions, whether political or business, seem to share the same problem in communication with their constituency and employees. They appear to have their own agenda about what should be done for this country, state, county, township or business and forget to listen to you and me. Or, are we talking out loud so they can hear (not just to our spouse or neighbor)? Are we telling our leaders what we want them to do to help make our lives better and implement positive change? When was the last time we wrote to a president, senator, representative or local chamber board member with a suggestion for change? When was the last county commissioners, board of education, town or chamber meet ing we attended and spoke out on the issues that are important to us? For most of us it has been quite a w hile or maybe even never. Now we have an opportunity to change that. On Thursday, Nov. 1 7, from 6-8 p.m. in The Brunswick Hospital dining room, you can speak directly to N.C. state Reps. David Redwine, Dewey Hill and Thomas Wright and Sen. R.C. Soles at the Annual Legislative Forum sponsored by the South Brunswick Islands, Southport/Oak Island and North Brunswick chambers of commerce. You can also be heard at the next SBI Chamber Business Breakfast. On Tuesday, Nov. 29 from 7:30-9 a.m. at Tamer's Restaurant at Lion's Paw Golf Links you can share your views with the Business Education Department of Brunswick Community College regarding the curriculum needed to educate our current and future employers and employees in Brunswick County. Or, if you prefer a more casual, one-on-one approach, attend the next Business After Hours on Dec. 8 and/or speak to a chamber board member and tell us what we can do to implement positive change and help make the South Brunswick Islands a better place to work and live. Over the next months, a great deal of planning will take place as our newly elected and incumbent representatives examine what issues should be addressed and changes made in 1 995 and beyond. In December, the SBI Chamber Board of Directors will begin to plan the 1995 Program of Work, which is the chamber's tactical plan for achieving its long range goals. Wc need to hear from you now, before that planning begins. Tell us what you think we should do to help make all of our lives better and implement positive civic, social and economic change. I can't make any guarantees for Bill Clinton but, if you speak out, I promise, we will listen. You can call or write to the South Brunswick Islands Chamber of Commerce at 910-754-6644/800-426-6644 or P.O. Box 1380 Shallotte United Way Campaign At 76 Percent Of Goal Companies and individuals have pledged more than SI 4 million lo the 1994 C ape Fear Area United Way Campaign, chairman Randy Tomsic reported Nov. X. The figure is 76 percent of the campaign goal of $1.9 to be allocat ed to more than 60 nonprofit pro grams serving people in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counlics. On the same date last year, the campaign was at 50 percent, or $927 .(MX), of its goal, Tomsic said. The final dollar amount raised through this year's drive will be an nounced at a luncheon on Nov. 17 in Wilmington. "I"he drive is set to end on Nov. 14 CALL US FOR INSURANCE QUOTES: 1-800-424-0115 ? Home ? Auto ? Commercial ? Mobile Home ? Life First Investors FINANCIAL CORPORATION Or Visit Our Banking Offices: LELAND SHALIOTTE WHITEVILLE (910)371-1000 (910)754-5400 (910)642-8183 ? 19?3 THE BRUNSWICK Bf ACON Medical Expenses May Add Up To Tax Deduction It may be in your best financial interest to take care of medical prob lems and major health care expenses before the end of the year. According to the N.C. Association of Certified Public Accountants, medical expenses are deductible to the extent that.they exceed 7.5 per cent of your adjusted gross income, if you're close to this threshold, ac celerating medical payments into 1994 may enable you to write off a portion of your medical bills. Many expenses are tax -deduct ible. Congress has classified them into four categories: costs associated with the prevention, diagnosis or al leviation of physical or mental de fects or illness; amounts paid for treatment affecting any structure or function of the body; transportation primarily for and essential to med ical care; and accident and health in surance premiums. Here's a basic explanation of these categories: Qualified Expenses ? Medical and hospital ser vices: Deductible medical expenses include fees paid to family physi cians, dentists, eye doctors, chiro praetors, podiatrists, osteopaths, psychologists, nurses, therapists and other recognized practitioners. You can also deduct most hospital fees. Remember, too, you can only deduct that portion of your expense not covered by medical insurance. ? Nursing homes: Generally, you may deduct the cost of nursing home care ar, long as the facility is providing ydu or your dependent with medical care. However, the tax law is strict in this area. If a physi cian did not recommend the nursing care, or if you are not receiving any treatment for a medical problem, your expenses may not qualify for a deduction. ? Equipment and programs for mental and physical problems: You may also deduct the costs of a seeing eye dog, false teeth, hearing aids, artificial limbs and other items neccssary to overcome a physical impairment. Fees paid for special training programs or schools, such as those for a learning disabled or handicapped child, are also general ly tax deductible if the main reason for using the school is to alleviate the disability. ? Transportation for medical care: The costs for traveling to doc tors' offices, hospitals and special schools are also deductible. If you drive, you may deduct your actual costs or the standard rate of 9 cents a mile, plus parking and tolls. You can also deduct cab, bus and even plane fare to medical facilities. ? Medicine and drugs: You can no. deduct the cos! of ov?r-the counter medicines, such as aspirin or antacids. Only the costs of prescrip tion drugs and insulin are deduc tible. ? Home improvements: Home improvements made for medical reasons are among the most costly of all medical expenses, yet they are frequently overlooked. Oualificd ex penses may include building a swimming pool, adding a special walkway to your home or remodel ing a bathroom, provided these im provements arc necessitated by a medical condition and prescribed by a doctor If the improvement increases the value of your home, you mast sub tract that increase from the cost of the improvement to arrive at the de ductible amount. If the value of the property has not been increased, the entire cost of the capital expenditure will be a deductible medical expense. Whose Expenses? You may deduct the medical ex penses paid on behalf of your spouse and any dependent or any individual who would qualify as your depen dent. This is possible even if you cannot claim an exemption for that person because he or she had a gross income of $2,450 or more or Filed a joint return. If you arc divorced, you may deduct qualified medical ex penses you paid for your child, even if you are not the custodial parent. Time The Deduction If, after tallying up all your med ical expenses and those of your de pendents, you're still far from the 7.5 percent threshold, consider post poning some elective medical proce dures until next year. This will put you in a better position to qualify for the medical expense deduction ? and trim your tax bill ? in 1995. Money Management is a weekly column on personal finance pre pared and distributed by the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. BUSINESS BRIEFS # Timberlake Named Manager Of Facilities Management Margo Timberlakc has been named manager of Facilities Man agement for Carolina Power and Light's Brunswick Nuclear Plant in Southport. Timberlakc has been em ployed at the Brunswick Plant sincc 1982. She has served as administrative assistant to (he plant's vice president and as an office services supervisor. Timbcrlake worked previously with see PHOTO Instructor Retires Leberta Rurney of Holden Reach retired recently as cos metology instructor at Bruns wick (Community College dur ing her Nth year of service. Rurney was honored with a re ception in the student center, with special music provided by cosmetology students. 8.40 If you are a prudent, conservative investor looking for high yields, consider your alternatives. Bonds can provide: ? Quality: Rating in one of the top three categories-Moody's (Ana, Aa, A); Standard & Poor's (AAA, AA, A). ? Security: Issued by the largest U.S. corporations, banks, and utilities. ? Liquidity: Bonds may be sold prior to maturity in the secondary market (prices subject to market fluc tuations). Frank D. Voli IniwXmrnl Offierr Wheat First Butcher Singer Serving Investors Since 1 934" 102 South Second Street Wilmington, NC '28401 "Rata* expressed as yield to maturity. Wheat First butcher Singer is ? trademark of Wheat, Firs! S~ur*i?e. Inr Member NY SETS* PC For more infor mation about high-quality bonds, or other investments call me at (910) 763 1641 or 1-800 288- 5055. CP&L's facilities and contracts. She holds a bachelor's degree in English and secondary education from Brcnau University in Gaines ville, Ga. She is married to Richard Timberlakc. who is a retired U.S. Army officer. Three Certified Three Brunswick Electric Mem bership Corporation directors have earned the National Rural Electric Cooperative's certification. They arc JoAnn Simmons. D.V. Jones and Jack Miller. To become certified, thev com pleted a variety of courses on rural electrification topics and ivsues. Apprentices Honored Eight Brunswick Community College students will be recognized today (Thursday) for successful completion of a maintenance me chanic apprenticeship program The ceremony will be held at I p.m. at BCC's Inland campus, with state Rep Harry E Pa\nc as guest speaker. Students to be recognized by BCC. the N.C. Department of I .abor and DuPont's Cape hear Plant arc Robert Ixe Aiken. Julius E. Brown. Elwood Edwards Jr.. Willie Ire Gibbs. Arthur T. Hicks. Nelson E Powell. Auston H. Pusey Jr and Eddie Riggms. Realtors' Course Set The South Brunswick Islands Board of Realtors will sponsor a four-hour elective course entitled "Real Estate Valuation and Square Footage" f? licensed real estatr agents. The course will he taught by Karen Thompson on Nov 30 from 1-5 pm in the Ocean Isle Motel conference room. Cost is $45 for hoard members and $44 for others Seating is limit ed l"hc same course will he offered again Dec. 7. Course applicatioas may he ob tained by calling Margaret Means, executive officer for the Board of Realtors, at 754-52X7. 3 UNITED COMPANIES N LENDING CORPORATION WHEN BANKS SAY NO, WE SAY YES!! MORTGAGE LOANS 'REFINANCING '"HOME IMPROVE MENT ? RENTAL PROPERTIES ? CONSOLIDATIONS ? SELF-EMPLOYED ? LAND CONTRACT CONVERSIONS (800)200-UCLC ? (910)395-0737 WE ARE YOUR DIRECT LENDER Coll Us For Information Security Savings Bank announces Higher Interest Savings Come by any of our offices and let one of our staff introduce you to the highest yielding CDs around. 6-MONTH CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT 4.90% ANNUAL PERCENTAGE YIELD 5.507. 1-YEAR CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT ANNUAL PERCENTAGE YIELD 2-YEAR CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT 6.80*/. ANNUAL PERCENTAGE YIELD A minimum deposit of $10,000 is required for the above Certificates of Deposit. . These APYs are accurate as of November 1, 1994. The offering of these rates may be withdrawn without notice. Security SAVINGS BANK SSB INSURE IQUAl MGUSIM LENDER ?Shallotte 'Calabash ?Southport *Leland 'Long Beach 754 4371 579-3595 457-5246 371-6546 278-6022
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 17, 1994, edition 1
30
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75