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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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You Make It Possible

Last month we celebrated the anniversary of my third year as publisher of this amazing magazine. I will not go into the enormous amounts of gratitude I have to all of you who read Natural Awakenings. Nor will I recite the names of all who work so hard to get it printed and on the shelves. Today I want to share the gratitude I have for all of our loyal advertisers who make it all possible.

For a long time, I have wanted to put in writing the feeling that comes over me when one of our advertisers acknowledges the business we have helped generate for them. When an advertiser voices that advertising with us was one of the best decisions they made with their advertising budgeted dollars, it totally makes my day.

We want to make a difference, and to bring value to our readers. In doing so we hope to bring value to our advertisers. So I urge everyone who picks up our publication try to support our advertisers. We have some unbelievable people with a sense of dedication you will not find just anywhere.

I would like to go through each and every one of them for you but that would take up a few pages. I will not ask you to take my word for it. What I would ask is for you to drop in on them, help support their efforts to bring value to our community of health, wellness, holistic live styles, and nutrition.

Thanks again for being part of our family. In gratitude, Joe

publisher's letter
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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