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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Reflections - Publisher's Letter, December 2015

This is our December Issue and so appropriately the theme is about prayer, spiritual living, and peace. Another year has passed and the holiday season is here. The time of year when people smile more, greetings seem more sincere, and kindness abounds. We actually spend time socializing with old friends and a blanket of warmth and contentment wraps us up. I always wonder why we are not in that state of mind every day—365 days a year.

So as 2015 draws to a close I want to express my gratitude once more to our readers, our distributors, and the advertisers who support our mission. Without you, your support and energy we would not be. So for your involvement with us, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. For every person who visited an advertiser, became a client, made a new friend, found an answer, attended a seminar or added support in any fashion, I thank you. I know and believe together we made a difference in 2015. On what scale, I do not know. If one person influences just one person and then they continue to pass it on, we have a chance to broaden that scale. That is part of my life works.

This year I want to do so much more. Improving the look and content are at the head of the list. Inspired Table and Holistic Pets will grow and become featured sections. After three years of ownership I can now focus on design, layout, and content. This, of course, will be championed by the brains behind Natural Awakenings of Central New Jersey, our editor Kathy, truly the driver and backbone of my publication. Without this woman, we would never be as successful as we are today. In January, we plan to introduce a new Social Media presence, increase our marketing capabilities, add distribution points and improve to be the best we can be. In 2016, our goals will continue to further our primary mission: to educate, inspire, guide and support our local community. Thank you once more for being part of Natural Awakenings. One more thing if you have any thought on how we might improve, please drop us a note, pick up the phone or simply e-mail us your thoughts. Better yet drop by the NA, Valley Pharmacy networking party on December 3 (details on page 14).

To each and all, have a wonderful holiday season and a very Happy New Year.

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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