The first of the twelve steps is admitting you have an addiction and I am man enough to admit that I have a terrible addiction to soda. I started young when I was in my early teens with gateway sodas like Sprite and Sunkist Orange and eventually it turned into a full-blown Coke habit. By the time I was in college, I was experimenting will all sorts of exotic drinks like Tahitian Treat, Surge, and even Pepsi Blue. Today, with shame, I admit that if you had gone into my dorm at YU and checked my mini fridge you would have found no less than three different flavors of Mountain Dew at any given time. more

Dear Aviva, I have both a friend and a relative with the same issue. If they have a problem with something that I’ve said or done, they will not call me out on it immediately and appropriately, instead they let it fester and brew and not mention anything about it. They may avoid me until one day, weeks later, something may trigger it and they blow. Both these people have had hard lives, and I feel like they take things harder when someone wrongs them. When they finally come out and say why they are upset, they end up standing there blubbering and crying and I feel absolutely no rachmanos for them. They should have said something before! How can I avoid this or handle it better in the future? -Irritated Irritant more

I cried at the 9/11 Memorial when I visited. I brought my two grown boys with me for emotional support. The last time I was in the World Trade Center was a couple of weeks before 9/11 when I took my sons to the observation deck to show them where I had worked for 3 years. more

Just mention the name JJ Goldstein to anyone of any age at Young Israel of Woodmere, and immediately the utterance of his name will evoke a smile. Whether you’re talking about his participation in sports leagues, or chesed activities, such as Tomchei Shabbos, for which he was honored by the shul, JJ is involved with boundless energy and enthusiasm. Most notable is JJ’s participation in Young Israel of Woodmere’s weekly Shabbos maariv minyan where JJ helps conduct the Havdalah service. more

Miriam’s Musings delights readerTo the Editor:Congratulations to Karen Green. Moreover, double kodus for adding Miriam Bradman Abrahams to your staff. Her opinion column is just what I need now … more

There are political campaigns and there is Iowa. For the past six plus months the state of Iowa has been inundated with political operatives, political ads, and candidate robo-calls all leading up to tonight’s caucus vote. more

The Peninsula Public Library is proud to introduce its new SMS Text-Messaging information line. This service makes keeping on top of a patron’s library account very easy and convenient. more

Within the “yeshiva world” of the most visible Orthodox communities, unity is bolstered through appearance, and an education system that often looks down on secular subjects and entertainment. For a student expressing interest in life beyond Borough Park, the consequences are social. “It’s isolating to be told that there are questions that they cannot ask,” said Footsteps Executive Director Lani Santo. “These individuals live alone.” more

A Woodmere resident will be delivering a petition he initiated to the Garden City office of U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy on January 5 in a bid to force McCarthy to take a stand on withholding United States support of anti-Israel activity at the United Nations. more

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai he saw a people decadent and corrupt who had forgone the Judaism which G-d had given them. Prior to his descent, G-d saw this happening and told Moses, “Saru Ma’Hair, Min HaDerech Asher Tzvitem – they have turned away quickly from the way that I commanded them,” as he directed Moses to go down and set the people straight. more