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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Polka Dot Café Opens at Columbia Trail

Nature enthusiasts who walk or bike the Columbia Trail in High Bridge are in for a treat with the opening of the Polka Dot Café. The café is owned and operated by Christina Lynn Whited, well-known in the area for her longstanding One Spirit Festival, as well as the esoteric classes and spiritual consultations that have defined her for years. She explains, “Our mission is to provide good, basic, comforting food in a warm, fun atmosphere. The overlay of spiritual energy is a bonus for those who are sensitive to the energy.” Besides that, it’s just a great place to get a cup of coffee or tea and relax.

The Polka Dot Café specializes in breakfast sandwiches as well as grilled cheese, chicken salad and almond or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Artisan soda, ice creams and homemade dog biscuits are made in the café’s kitchen. They locally source as many products as they can and also support local entrepreneurs, selling High Bridge honey, goat milk soap and lotion and organic bug sprays and sun screens.

The café is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., but hours may change depending upon the needs of the clientele. Outdoor seating is available as well as bicycle parking. Grab your sneakers and head on over to the Polka Dot Café.

Location: 76 Main Street, High Bridge. For more information, call 908-638-9066 or visit PolkaDotCafeNJ.com.

News Briefs
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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