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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

Palo-Santo-Candles

Publisher’s Letter

Nov 07, 2024 08:06AM ● By Jerome Bilaos

The seasons of change are upon us. Here in the northeast, leaves are exploding in vibrant color combinations, the air has turned crisp, the clouds and sky seem refreshed with new vigor. Yes, fall has arrived. We dust off the bikes, ride with the kids on a back road or along the rivers and paths. It is truly fantastic each and every year when Autumn shows up.  

 For the rest of the country change is also happening, though not necessarily in the same fashion.  

Recently a freakish hurricane reached from the Gulf of Mexico to the Appalachian Mountains, causing devastation on an apocalyptic scale. An estimated 40 trillion gallons of water fell on already saturated ground causing catastrophic floods, destroying towns, lives and livelihoods. There was no way to anticipate or protect your home or property from such a surprise. The change thrust upon those in the path of the hurricane was ugly. Change can be like that—unpredictable. What happened in Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida and other states, even with early warnings found there was no escaping the fury of Mother Nature. In the areas where hurricanes are common, many lives were saved because of early evacuations. This highlights that we have some control with some change through our actions, but in reality, very little in the big picture. Change is simply a part of life—the good and the bad are part of the conditions of living.   

Living life on life’s terms is the challenge. When you get punched in the face, as the South did, the questions are what now, what next, what to do.   

“Devastation opens the heart.”

I always wonder how people can reach down, find the strength, and fortitude to help others, get on a plane and volunteer, put their lives on hold for people they don’t even know. They just know it’s the right thing to do. They look for nothing, yet they deliver everything. Forget money, if you will—the human spirit of good just seems to rise to the occasion.  Sometimes it seems like a balancing act of life. The ugly reveals the good.

How can we not believe that this spirit is contagious? These acts of kindness are priceless to families staring at their memories, house, belongings and dreams in a pile before them. It’s obvious to me is that there is a connection, an energy flow. Giving up can seem rational, yet the human touch inspires us to go on, rebuild, rise to the challenges, take it one day at a time, etc. Although the task at hand might feel and look like climbing a mountain with toothpicks as stilts, we move forward, inspired by each other.    

Despite all the help, donations, air lifts, and necessities that flow in to help put some of the pieces back together, it is still the beliefs, spirit, people, community, and faith that drives our lives to new heights.  

I urge you to reach out and touch someone’s heart, be kind. On behalf of our staff, we want to wish the best to all that have been affected. Our prayers are with you. To the doers, the volunteers, the organizations that contribute to our fellow humans and countrymen and women—Thank You!

In peace and love,

Joe and Asta Dunne, Publishers

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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