Acomb makes it to second day of state competition

In Sports, Sports - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald

March 3, 2025

By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

Jayden Acomb after wrestling his way to day two of the state competition at the MVP Arena in Albany. Courtesy of Gina Pelletier

RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK — RCS sophomore Jayden Acomb headed to the state wrestling tournament and made it to the second day of competition.

While a state medal was not in the cards for Acomb this year, his victories all season long and on the mat at states have ignited the support of the school district and the community.

This was Acomb’s second visit to states — he also made it that far last year, when he was just a freshman.

This season, Acomb competed in the 131-pound weight class. He earned a spot at states after taking second place in the Section 2 Division II championships in Guilderland on Feb. 15.

That qualified him to compete in the state competition at the MVP Arena in Albany, along with nearly 500 other wrestlers from two divisions and 13 weight classes from around New York state.

Wrestler Jayden Acomb, center, with the coaching staff at the state competition. Pictured, left to right, are Bill Craft, Justin Schipano, Jayden Acomb, Bob Pelletier and Dave Skudera. Courtesy of Gina Pelletier

Acomb won his first match of the state contest in a major decision over Justin Dallessio from Hackley School, but then he lost to wrestler Gene Edwards from Central Valley Academy by technical fall.

The sophomore wrestler’s season was a huge success. His record during the regular season was 29-6, and after sectionals and states he finished with a 31-7 record.

Acomb competing on the mat at the state wrestling competition. Courtesy of Gina Pelletier

Social Security Matters: Older husband and working wife seek guidance

In Lifestyle, Lifestyle - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald

April 25, 2024

By Russell Gloor

For Capital Region Independent Media

Dear Rusty:

I am 74 years old, retired and receiving Social Security. My wife will be 65 in January of 2025.

Our hope was to start paying off some credit card expenses by her receiving SS when she turns 65, however it appears there would be a substantial reduction to her benefits. Her work income is $37,500 a year, and she wasn’t planning on retiring from work at age 65.

Because I am 11 years older, we felt it makes sense to use her Social Security as a means to lower our debt. We have $27,000 in credit card debt, and I don’t really want to use my 401(k) funds due to taxes. We pretty much live on my Social Security and pension.

Signed: Seeking Suggestions

Dear Seeking:

Your wife’s full retirement age (FRA) for Social Security purposes is age 67. Because she will not yet have reached her FRA in January 2025 (when she is 65), if she claims SS to start at that time, not only will her monthly amount be reduced, but she will be subject to Social Security’s annual earnings test. The earnings test sets a limit for how much can be earned by beneficiaries who claim SS before FRA.

The earnings limit for 2024 is $22,320. The limit for next year is not yet published (it’s based on changes to the national wage index) but will be a bit higher – likely about $23,500. Thus, I can’t provide the exact impact, but if your wife’s 2025 earnings exceed next year’s limit, Social Security will take back $1 in benefits for every $2 over the limit (half of the amount over the limit).

If your wife earns $37,500 per year, that will likely be about $14,000 over the limit and Social Security will take back half of that ($7,000). They “take back” by withholding future benefits, or you can repay them in a lump sum.

So, you will have a choice – repay Social Security from your other assets, or they will withhold your wife’s SS benefits for the number of months needed to offset her penalty for exceeding the earnings limit. The number of months they will withhold depends on how much is owed and what your wife’s monthly SS benefit is.

For example, if your wife’s age-65 SS benefit is about average ($1,900) and her penalty for exceeding the limit is $7,000, Social Security would withhold your wife’s benefit for four months to recover the penalty, but she would receive her full benefit for the remaining eight months of the year.

Unless your wife tells them in advance that she will exceed the limit, Social Security will find out the following year (after you file your income taxes).

But, in any case, your wife cannot avoid the annual earnings test for working before reaching her full retirement age. The earnings test goes away when your wife reaches her FRA of 67. Until that time, if she continues working, she will have a choice to have her benefits withheld for a portion of the year or simply repay Social Security in a lump sum (in which case her benefits would continue uninterrupted).

FYI, there is a silver lining in this, because if your wife has benefits withheld because she exceeds the earnings limit before her FRA, after she reaches her full retirement age Social Security will give her time credit for the months when benefits were withheld, which will result in her monthly Social Security payment amount increasing somewhat at her full retirement age. Thus, over time, your wife may recover the benefits that were withheld for exceeding the annual earnings limit.

But to get 100% of the benefit she’s earned from a lifetime of working, and be exempt from Social Security’s earnings limit, she would need to wait until she reaches her FRA to claim.

This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

RCS sports registration begins July 21

In Sports, Sports - Ravena

July 16, 2023

Registration for fall sports at RCS begins this week. File photo

RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK — The summer just started, but for those student-athletes planning to compete on the field this fall, registration starts as early as Friday, July 21.

Registration for varsity and junior varsity teams begins July 21 and runs through Friday, Aug. 25. Registration for Modified teams begins the following Friday on July 28.

Junior varsity and varsity fall sports are open to students in grades 9 through 12, and modified fall sports are open to students in grades 7 and 8.

Fall sports available at RCS include boys and girls varsity cross country, varsity and JV cheer, girls varsity soccer, JV girls soccer, boys varsity soccer, JV boys soccer, girls tennis, golf, varsity volleyball, JV girls volleyball, varsity football, JV football, and girls swimming and diving.

Fall sports physicals will be held during the summer on Thursday, Aug. 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. These physicals are for students who have not seen their own doctor to get their sports physicals prior to the fall season. To make an appointment, contact you student’s school nurse. The physical appointments will be held at the RCS Middle school.

STARTING DATES:

JV and varsity football only can begin on or after Saturday, Aug. 19.
All JV and varsity fall sports can begin on or after Monday, Aug. 21.
Modified football only can begin on or after Thursday, Aug. 24.
Modified fall sports can begin on or after Monday, Aug. 28.

REGISTRATION

For new families and as a reminder from the fall of 2021, the RCS school district started using a new sports registration process during the 2021-22 school year. RCS families now sign up via online athletics registration through FamilyID (www.familyid.com). Please note this is the only way for families to register students for sports, if you cannot access the program, please contact your school nurse to make arrangements to do so at school.

FamilyID is a secure registration platform that provides you with an easy, user-friendly way to register for programs, and the district to be more efficient and environmentally responsible, according to the district.

When you register through FamilyID, the system keeps track of your information in your FamilyID profile. You enter your information only once for each family member for multiple uses and multiple programs. Once you have created and logged into your FamilyID account, you will be able to view a full list of available sports for the fall once the registration periods begin.

Please check the district’s athletics page on the website at rcscsd.org for more details. Note that not all details, such as coaches, first practice dates, etc., are available yet. The documents will be updated as the season gets closer.