Bethlehem industries to recognize Manufacturing Day at RCS football game

In Events, Events - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald

October 11, 2023

BETHLEHEM – National Manufacturing Day is observed on Oct. 6, and in honor of that day, three of the largest industries in Bethlehem will be at the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School on Oct. 13 with displays and information.

RCS Central School in partnership with the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce will host Owens Corning, Plug Power and SABIC at the Oct. 13 varsity football game, which begins with Senior Night ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. Kick-off is at 7 p.m.

“We look forward to meeting with families, students and the public at the game,” said Chamber President Terri Egan. “Manufacturing Day is an opportunity for companies to raise awareness of employment and career opportunities at all levels in manufacturing. There are many manufacturers in the Capital Region and the town of Bethlehem.”

Manufacturing jobs are not the same jobs that previous generations worked at. These are high-paying wage opportunities in better, cleaner working environments. Starting average salaries at these manufacturers is $55,000 annually, and in some cases only a high school diploma is required to start.

Manufacturing jobs include benefits, vacation, retirement, various shift hours, and on-the-job training.

The businesses, school and Chamber welcome everyone to stop by the football game, check out the tables and learn more about Owens Corning, Plug Power and SABIC.

For more information, visit BethlehemChamber.com.

Social Security Matters: Have I saved Social Security money by claiming at 62?

In Lifestyle, Lifestyle - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald

December 31, 2024

By Russell Gloor

For Capital Region Independent Media

Dear Rusty:

I had to start collecting Social Security at 62, and I am 75 now. I believe that in the last 13 years I have saved Social Security money, so I do not know why I cannot draw my full benefits now.

If I had started drawing at 65 at $1,200 per month, then I would have drawn $16,400 per year. Instead, I got $680 per month from 62 to 75, or $8,160 per year, or about $106,000 over 13 years. Compare that to the age 65 amount of $14,400 per year for 10 years, which is $144,000.

So, by claiming at 62, at age 75 I have saved the government over $38,000. It would make seniors’ lives so much easier if they could draw full Social Security at 75 years old, after getting only part of their SS.

Signed: Second-guessing

Dear Second-guessing:

The difference between benefits claimed at various ages causes many to reflect, as you have done, about what might have been had you waited longer to claim. But there is an error in your calculations.

If your age 62 monthly benefit is $680, your age 65 monthly benefit would have been about $845, not $1,200. Thus, at 75, you would have collected about $101,400 by claiming at 65, versus the $106,000 you have received by claiming at age 62. In other words, you still would not have broken even had you claimed at age 65.

Social Security says it doesn’t matter when you claim – they say that if you claim early your payments will be less, but you’ll get more of them. Where SSA’s argument falls apart is when life expectancy is longer.

Our experience is that if you wait until your full retirement age (FRA) to claim (which is age 66 in your case), versus claiming at age 62, you will collect the same amount of total money at about age 78. In other words, the “breakeven age” for waiting until FRA to claim is about 78. So, you will reach your personal “breakeven age” in about 2 ½ years (at age 78). And this is precisely why we encourage everyone to understand their life expectancy when deciding when to claim Social Security – those who expect to live longer will, indeed, get more SS money if they delay claiming.

Your benefit is determined by your age when you claim, and if you claim before your FRA your monthly amount is permanently reduced. If you claimed at age 62 and your monthly amount was $680, then in the four years until you reached age 66 (your FRA) you would have received about $32,640.

If you had, instead, waited until your FRA to claim, your benefit at age 66 would have been about $906/month. Collecting $906/month (at 66) versus $680/month (at 62) would make your breakeven age about 78. If you claimed at age 65 instead of 62, your breakeven age would have been about a year earlier (77).

So, have you saved Social Security money? Up to this point, you have not. Since you claimed at age 62, you have collected about $680/month for 13 years until you were 75 (or about $106,000). If you had waited until age 65 to claim you would have, instead, collected about $101,400 – in other words you have received more, so far, by claiming at age 62. But that will change when you reach 77 (your breakeven age, had you claimed at 65).

Starting at age 77, you will have received less in cumulative lifetime benefits because you claimed at age 62. Which, again, is why – at the AMAC Foundation’s Social Security Advisory Service – we encourage everyone to consider life expectancy when deciding when to take Social Security.

Of course there are other factors too, not the least of which is financial need, but life expectancy is key. And since the benefit you get when you claim is permanent (except for annual Cost of Living Adjustments), deciding when to claim Social Security is a decision which affects a lifetime.

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.

News from the Past in Memory of Harry A. Sturges

In Columns, Columns - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald

October 17, 2024

News Herald – October 10, 1924 – F.E. Bleezarde, Publisher

Coeymans:

Mr. and Mrs. Edward F.N. Uthe, Frank Leedings of this place and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Baker of Ravena motored to Washington D.C., last week and witnessed the games of baseball in the World Series that were played in that city on Saturday and Sunday. After enjoying a sightseeing tour in the vicinity of Washington, they came up to New York and took in the game of the series that was played in that city Monday.
All those who have vegetables to contribute toward a barrel, which is to be sent to Five Points Mission in New York, are requested to send them to the home of Mrs. Fletcher Sutton on First Street on or before Oct. 13.
Plans are being made by the Epworth League for a covered dish social to be held in the chapel of the M.E. church on Halloween.
John C. Hazelton is laying a concrete sidewalk in front of his residence on Second Street.
A masquerade and box party will be given by the Ladies’ Aid Reformed Church of Coeymans, Thursday evening, Oct. 30, at 7:30 o’clock to which the public as well as members of the congregation are invited.

Ravena:

Strevell & DeFriest Hardware Co. has installed a heater in the Dean’s Mill schoolhouse recently.
The annual roast beef supper and sale for the benefit of St. Patrick’s Church will be held next Wednesday evening.
Two births were recorded in the village during the last week. A girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Phillips last Friday and has been named Barbara Anne, and a boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Hallenbeck Sunday night.
It has been announced that the Dramatic Club with Miss Ella Loucks as leader will give the play called “The Country Doctor” the evening of Nov. 1, in Community Hall. Proceeds of the entertainment will benefit the Ladies’ Aid of the M.E. church.
A host of friends of Joe Amedio have been extending congratulations to him this week, and on Monday evening, he was “royally” treated by these friends. He accompanied a party to Albany and the car in which he returned was gayly decorated with tin cans and the usual “just married” sign.

Coeymans Herald – October 9, 1889 – S.H. & E.J. Sherman, Proprietors

J.N. Briggs shipped a cargo of blue stone last week.
Miller & Whitbeck are reroofing their icehouse and making other repairs.
Mr. A. VanDyck has just completed a handsome set of team harnesses for funeral director, Alonzo Southard.
M.E. Wolfe will sell by auction at is residence opposite the Cedar Hill House on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 10 a.m., his stock of farm and garden implements, horses, wagons, etc.
Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 10 a.m., Westerly Simmons, auctioneer, will sell the premises of Mrs. Andrew I. TenEyck, three miles north of Coeymans, 35 acres of standing pine and hardwood timber, in half acre lots. Sale positive.