For many New Jerseyans, this is the time of the year they’ve waited for. The work schedule finally slows, family and friends gather to enjoy some holiday cheer and the promise of falling snow opens up a world of outdoor possibilities.

But at Sunrise Detox, a “luxury” detoxification center based in Stirling, this is the time of the year we brace for. We find the holidays, as fun and glorious as they can be, somehow trigger deep and dark emotions in many – which is why we are once again seeing a spike in admissions. 

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, people tend to have more interaction with family and friends. They think back to better times, and mourn the loss of loved ones, from death, separation or divorce. They become disgusted with their addiction to drugs and alcohol and vow to finally make a change. But the symptoms run much deeper than they often think, as our patients are also coping with loneliness, anxiety and depression – a strong cocktail that makes the detox process even more challenging.

Earlier this year, I joined several New Jersey labor and business groups in supporting S. 2664, the Market Competition and Consumer Choice Act. Advocates like me were playing defense against an aggressive campaign led by AARP to defeat the bill. And now, six months later and with this important legislation still pending, we continue our efforts to educate consumers about the benefits of the bill - working hard to get "right" what AARP continues to get "wrong."

AARP has done just about everything it can to mislead seniors into believing S. 2664 would have perilous consequences, when in fact, that message couldn't be further from the truth. The legislation if enacted would allow telephone and cable companies to compete for customers on a level playing field rather than under rules that hinder competition. It would give New Jersey residents, no matter their age, more choices when selecting products and services at affordable prices.

Where there's competition, consumers have the ultimate say about what happens in the market because they can choose to take their business elsewhere if they are unhappy. Any smart company knows that to retain existing customers and attract new ones, they must meet their customers' demands through superior service and competitive pricing.

Telephone companies in New Jersey are heavily regulated and government oversight of these companies has not kept pace with the communications revolution. In order to ensure telephone and cable companies continue making the infrastructure investments the state needs, red tape needs to be cut and regulations must be brought into the modern era.

Dear Editor,

Towns and states across the country are all making tough budget decisions these days. The City of Newark and the Township of Irvington are no exception.

I’m thankful to Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith, Newark Councilman Carlos Gonzalez and a number of other representatives from both communities for participating in the Summer Institute for Community Leadership, held this week in Trenton. They joined their peers in local government and representatives from non-profits across the state to find workable solutions to turn problem properties around and make them a part of thriving communities.

Abandoned and vacant properties have had an adverse effect on Newark and Irvington physically and economically. We're working to turn vacant spaces in both municipalities into homes for hard-working, low-income families. Both communities have been extremely supportive of our goals but we appreciate this opportunity to network with those across the state with common interests and creative ideas to support community development.

Education leaders nationwide are eyeing what happens in Newark, which is becoming a haven for innovation. And it’s not just the $100 million from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg that has others paying attention. However, some question all this “outside” interest in Newark.

The reason for this attention is simple and complex.  Whether outside or inside- we all agree that something has to be done before we allow another generation of students to not reach their full potential.  The complexity is that we don’t all agree on how to get there. Charter schools, co-location, new small schools- these are not the silver bullets, but they are part of the solution.

This willingness to embrace a different way of “public education” comes with considerable opposition from those unwilling to ease their grasp on past practices, even though many of those have failed. The goal of the anti-crowd is to fight for the status quo — no matter the consequences.  The latest commotion relates to a school district plan that allows public charter schools to rent unused space in public school buildings beginning this fall. Even though such an initiative makes sense economically, logistically and morally, some are gearing up to fight to keep seven, eight or nine-year-old Newark kids from sitting at a desk in a Newark school.