Church celebrates Mardi Gras

Submitted

In Fat Tuesday-Mardi Gras style, members of Faith United Methodist Church celebrated the spirit of the season with a pot luck Creole luncheon. Some dressed up in theme, others were just there to enjoy the festivities, and all joined in friendship and fellowship to share in conversation and good times.

For more information, call the Senior Center at 203239-5432.

Tax credits, exemptions

The North Haven Assessor's Office is taking applications for Additional Veterans Exemptions through Oct. 1. If you are not sure if you need to renew this year, contact the Assessor’s Office at 203239-5321 or assessor@northhaven-ct.gov. The North Haven Assessor's Office is taking applications through May 15 for tax credits for elderly homeowners and the disabled. Applications must be submitted every two years to continue benefits. If you are not sure if you need to renew this year, contact the Assessor’s Office at 203-239-5321 or assessor@ northhaven-ct.gov.

We extend an open invitation for all to come share in the Lenten season with our spirited and friendly congregation, Sundays at 10:30 a.m. We are also simulcast on Facebook via faithumcct.org.

The church is located at 81 Clintonville Road, North Haven.

See Church, A9

Housing plan

A draft of North Haven’s 2022-27 Affordable Housing Plan is available on the municipal website. The state require that all 169 Connecticut municipalities prepare and adopt an affordable housing plan at least once every five years. The statute requires that the plan specify how a municipality intends to increase its number of affordable housing options.

Lions Club

The North Haven Lions Club has served the town since 1952. Through Second Saturday activities, the Lions engage in service projects for the community. For information about North Haven Lions' service activities, or to be part of something meaningful in town, contact North Haven Lions Club President Jim Bennett at pdgjim98@ gmail.com.

MONEY MATTERS: The SECURE 2.0 Act

By Jeff Jolly

The newly-enacted SECURE 2.0 Act contains significant changes that may affect how you plan for retirement. The bill, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in late 2022, could help you bolster your retirement savings and income strategy. Here are some of the key provisions included in the law, which are being phased in:

New rules

Required minimum distributions (RMDs) start after age 73: Until recently, RMDs from traditional IRAs and workplace retirement savings plans, such as 401(k) or 403(b) accounts, had to begin after reaching age 72. Now individuals can wait until reaching age 73, extending the benefit of taxdeferred growth of earnings. Distributions must commence by April 1 of the year after turning 73.

New rules in effect in 2024

Matching contributions for those paying student loans: Employers will have the ability to offer contributions to workplace retirement savings plans that match the amount of student loan debt repaid by an individual employee in a given year.

Rollovers of 529 education savings plan balances to Roth IRAs: Beneficiaries of 529 plans that have been in place for 15 years or more can transfer assets from the 529 plan to a Roth IRA. The transfer is subject to the beneficiary’s annual contribution limit and up to a lifetime maximum of $35,000.

Hard Hat Café

Acanfora said he takes pride in serving highquality food for an affordable price. He also operates Sam the Clam Grub & Pub in Southington, a seafood restaurant which has been in business since 1991.

Acanfora’s Hard Hat Cafés feature American bar food classics, local beers and specialty drinks. And the restaurants are known for their “Doob” chicken wings, which are seasoned, fried and grilled; a smokey twist on the classic buffalo wing.

Hard Hat Café’s Durham location, which has housed other restaurants over the years, was recently renovated. The local landmark has seating for 160 in the bar and two dining rooms, along with a sizeable outdoor patio area. Also, Acanfora said he is in the process of expanding the parking lot.

The 4,620 square-foot New Haven Road facility, set on 1.9 acres, was sold to Hard Hat Tavern LLC for $700,000 on Nov. 18, 2022.

“Durham will be slightly different because it’sa much bigger location than our other restaurants,” said Acanfora, who hopes to introduce live music that would be suitable for people to listen to while eating. He said Durham currently lacks an entertainment option such as that.

Acanfora said the new Hard Hat Café is already fullystaffed. Now, he waits to see how the community responds to the place.

This provision may alleviate a parent’s potential concern that they are over-funding a 529 plan. For example, if a child qualifies for scholarships, or school expenses are less than anticipated, leftover 529 amounts could be transferred to the beneficiary’s Roth IRA.

Requires catch-up contributions to be made as Roth contributions using after-tax dollars: Catch-up contributions for participants aged 50 or older must be made on a Roth basis under 401(k), 403(b) and governmental 457(b) plans. However, the requirement applies only if the employee’s prior-year wages from the employer sponsoring the plan exceed $145,000 in the previous taxable year. The option to make pre-tax catch-up contributions will continue in 2023. When deciding whether to make pre-tax or Roth contributions for 2023, consider that your future catch-up contributions will have to be Roth contributions if you earn more than $145,000.

No RMDs for Roth workplace plans: Under current law, those with Roth 401(k)s or Roth 403(b) plans are subject to the same required distribution rules as standard workplace plans. However, the new law will elimi-