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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Optimism and Hope in 2021

Jan 03, 2021 03:49PM ● By Joe Dunne

Never have I wanted to put a year in my rear-view mirror as I do with 2020.  As with many of you, I am sure the year of 2021 seems to be offering us what we all need at this point—optimism and hope.  

Eight years ago, I purchased my first Natural Awakenings magazine in Central New Jersey.  Since then, we have been blessed with the opportunity of expanding our business with two additional magazines, one in North Central New Jersey and one in Bucks-Montgomery, Pennsylvania. For me it was, and still is, an ongoing life changing event. Over these years I have tried to write a publisher’s column drawn from my life’s experiences (I’ll be 77 this month!).  I have written about love, parenting, acceptance, gratitude, empathy, the ability to be non-judgmental. Passing it on as it has been passed to me is a self-serving action. I am so grateful that this magazine has given me the opportunity to express my feelings and experiences.  What a joy it is to receive feedback and know that we have given even one reader a tiny bit of inspiration, something to ponder or an awareness that affects them in a positive way.  

As we look to 2021, I hope we can all agree to change, whatever that means for you. I hope we can spread the word of peace, love, empathy, understanding and patience. Our hope is that we can be that model of good, to be kind, extend the hand, help others and grow in positive ways.  

I am always aware that in the mirror I will find most of my problems and all of my solutions.  I can be who I want to be, I can act as I want to act.  It is up to me, up to me to lay out the model and be the person I want to be in 2021.  For me, it is all about my thinking, paying attention, practice being me, accepting and improving. How do I do that?

By aligning my thoughts, to see the good, do the right thing, consider others, stay on a path I am proud of, as a friend, father, husband, person. 

As we welcome in this new year, I wish all of you joy, happiness, and peace, along with good health and a reminder—Smile, pass it on, make it contagious. 



With peace, love and laughter,

Joe Dunne, Publisher


In-Print publisher's letter January 2021
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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