DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: My roommate is a self-confessed “dive bar diva.” She is at home at some of the sleaziest places I’ve ever seen, and she is always bugging me to go out with her.

She’s a great roommate and has been getting to be a good friend, but I have to draw the line at going out with her to bars I don’t feel safe in. Does that mean I’m not a very good friend after all? --- NOT A DIVE BAR DIVA

DEAR NOT A DIVE BAR DIVA: Have you made it clear to your roommate that her choice of bars isn’t yours?

Be open with her about your comfort level at her favorite haunts. Maybe it’d be a good idea to find other things to do when you want to go out that you both might enjoy — and that won’t involve bars at all.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: We have a grumpy new neighbor in our block of townhouses who loves to pretend he’s the man in charge. He recently contacted the police about a group of kids riding their bikes in the cul-de-sac near his house, which he claimed was in violation of the county’s stay-at-home order.

Turns out the kids were doing nothing wrong. They were staying on their bikes (all wore helmets), and kept in the street, at proper distances. It’s the same group of kids who usually use the same spot on weekends and when the weather is good enough to ride bikes and skateboards, and with the schools closed for the year, they are around a lot more than usual. We found out about the cops coming to investigate because our daughter was one of the kids.

If he picked on the kids, a few of the other neighbors and I are worried he’s going to report on anything and everything that happens in our neighborhood involving even the smallest groups of people, even now that the restrictions are beginning to lift and we’re allowed more freedom, so long as everyone abides by all the current pandemic regulations.

So far, everyone on the block has done pretty well at keeping in “distant touch”, and I know we should have nothing to fear, but this man is making everyone feel like they’re criminals.

I have no fear of him, and want to say something directly to him about minding his own business, but my husband says it will just make things worse. Do you agree? --- CRANK’S NEIGHBOR

DEAR CRANK’S NEIGHBOR: I tend to agree with your husband. So long as the kids and adults in the neighborhood do indeed comply with your state and local regulations and restrictions, all your self-appointed neighborhood watchman is likely to achieve is to make himself as big a nuisance to the local authorities as he already is with you.

Besides, your confronting him individually could lead to his turning his attention more closely on you and your family.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: My grandma still lives in the house she raised my mom and uncle in. Now, she is alone there and when the bad weather hits, she is not able to shovel her walk and front porch so she can get out if she needs to.

There was a family that used to live right next-door to her and their teenage kids would always make sure Grandma got shoveled out. They would even get her car cleaned off — all free of charge.

There is a new family in their house now, with kids about the same age as the ones who moved out, and the first time it snowed after they got there, they knocked on my grandmother’s door and asked how much she would pay them to shovel her walk.

She was sort of hurt by this. Maybe she was spoiled, but what is happening to people these days that they don’t think about helping their neighbors?

Having good people next-door to my grandma was peace of mind for my family, but we don’t have much confidence in the new people. I don’t know what else she can do, but I want to say something to those neighbors the next time I make the drive to see Grandma. I guess that wouldn’t help though, would it? --- WHAT’S WRONG WITH PEOPLE?

DEAR WHAT’S WRONG WITH PEOPLE?: Although you’re clearly concerned, your approaching the neighbors may not make any difference.

Some communities have help available to seniors when it comes to clearing snow and other as-needed home maintenance issues, provided either fee-free or for a voluntary donation. If none of your family lives near your grandmother, you could check around to see if any churches, youth organizations, or senior service centers provide the kind of help your grandmother needs during the winter months.

If, however, the best she can do is hire the kids next-door, you might want to make sure everyone agrees on a reasonable and set rate, so there’s less chance of your grandmother being taken advantage of.