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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Gas Saver

Keep Bucks in Your Pocket at the Pump

When mass transit isn’t an option, drivers have many ways to save money by coaxing more miles per gallon (mpg) from their vehicle. It’s easy to adopt some simple driving and maintenance habits.

Slow down. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), driving at 55 mph instead of 65 mph can improve gas mileage by as much as 15 percent.

Reduce excess weight. An extra 100 pounds of nonessential cargo in a vehicle could reduce mpg by up to 2 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Properly inflate tires. The increased surface area of the rubber in soft tires meeting the road creates ongoing drag and a greater demand on the engine.

Keep the engine tuned. Regularly check and refresh fluid levels, especially in colder regions where winter places additional stress on engine parts. While high-quality synthetic motor oil blends may protect the engine better than conventional oil, they don’t eliminate the need for regular oil changes, according to JiffyLube.com. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence notes that one misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 30 percent.

Avoid rapid accelerations and braking. The EPA estimates that about half of the energy needed to power a car is consumed during acceleration, and fuel economy can be improved by as much as 10 percent by avoiding unnecessary braking.

Keep the engine air filter clean. According to AAA.com, a clogged filter strains performance. In some cars, the filter can be easily checked by the owner; or drivers may ask a technician to do so during regular tune-ups.

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Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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