DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently moved to a residential neighborhood. I like my neighborhood, but I have one complaint: There are prostitutes in my neighborhood, and, as far as I can tell, they work only one day a week. I see them every Sunday morning when I go to church, and I am amazed to see the police drive by them without saying a word. If these people do not faze the police, who can I call to make a complaint? It is not a proper sight in a residential neighborhood. -- Sight for Sore Eyes, West Orange, New Jersey

DEAR SIGHT FOR SORE EYES: Start by asking some of your neighbors who have lived there for a longer period of time about the history of the area. Find out their thoughts about the prostitutes. Express your concern, and ask questions of them about how others view their presence. Suggest that the neighbors team up to approach the police about getting prostitutes out of your neighborhood.

It is possible for you to take this on by yourself, but it is far more likely for you to meet with success if you have a collection of residents who are committed to cleaning up the streets. Together, you can write to your local precinct to ask for action. You can reach out to your local politicians and to your member of Congress for support.

DEAR HARRIETTE: For the first time in 30 years, I am sober, and I do not know what do with myself. When difficult situations showed in my life, I used to drink my pain away. I was even a better driver when I was drunk. Now that I am sober, I am scared to drive on the highway. What are some alternative ways to deal with my problems when they arise? -- Staying on the Wagon, Memphis, Tennessee

DEAR STAYING ON THE WAGON: Congratulations on your sobriety. It is no small feat for you to have turned this corner. To ensure that you stay on the wagon, you need to surround yourself with support. Start by joining your local Alcoholics Anonymous group. Go to meetings at least once a week where you are in the company of people just like you who are working to protect their sobriety and rebuild their lives. At these confidential meetings, you can talk about whatever is going on in your life and be heard by people who understand your journey.

One of the things AA warns people about is "people, places and things." Do your best to stay away from any of those that might be triggers to get you to drink again. This means ending relationships that are unhealthy. Don't go to events or locations that might make you vulnerable. Remove alcohol from your home so that there is none available in a potential moment of weakness.

If you have health insurance, find a therapist to work with you, someone who is certified in dealing with alcohol addiction. A professional can help guide you when you need support. Good luck! You can do it!

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend is dating someone I dated casually a few years ago. It's perfectly OK with me, but she says that she wants us all to be friends, and even possibly double-date. If we do double-date, what is the best course of action to make sure it isn't awkward? Do I joke around about any past issues, or just pretend they never happened? -- Retread, Cincinnati

DEAR RETREAD: What's most important is for you to let your friend know that you previously dated this guy so that it doesn't come as a surprise to her. You say that it was casual dating, but then you mention "past issues." You have to decide your level of comfort as it relates to becoming friendly with him again. Just because your friend wants you to double-date does mean that you must do so.

If you want to give it a try, go out as a group and pledge to stay in the moment. There should be no reason for you to bring up old memories. Joking around about issues from your dating history is an unnecessary action that will only lead to discomfort for everyone. The issue is not that you would be pretending something never happened. It would be living in the past. Instead, live fully in the here and now.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend started dating a guy I know. She's been posting a lot of pictures on social media of the two of them, but she's never actually told me and the rest of the people in our friend group that they are dating. She told some of her other friends who don't know the guy. I want to talk to her about the relationship, but I'm kind of offended that she didn't tell us in the first place. Am I right to feel hurt? -- Snubbed, Jackson, Mississippi

DEAR SNUBBED: I say get over your hurt feelings. It is not worth it to make her feel guilty for not informing you of her new boyfriend. Take the high road instead. Reach out to her and see if you two can get together. When you do, you can tell her you saw on social media that she has a new friend. Ask her how it's going. Tell her that you know him.

Suggest that the three of you get together sometime, or better yet, recommend that the two of them join your shared friend group at an upcoming gathering. Encourage her by saying that they would like to meet him, too.

Listen to get a sense of where she is in this new relationship. If she seems apprehensive about introducing him to you and the others, ask her why. Again, rather than telling her that she hurt your feelings, tell her that you miss her and that you are happy to welcome her new friend into your life.

DEAR HARRIETTE: Sometimes the older people in my family use language or state ideas that, while OK when they were younger, are now considered offensive. Should I point it out to them that they're being offensive or just let it go because they are older? -- Mouth Hanging Open, Philadelphia

DEAR MOUTH HANGING OPEN: You need to address this incredibly prickly challenge on a case-by-case basis. Consider each of the offenders, and evaluate whether you believe the person has the capacity to hear and consider what you are saying. This is important because it is likely that some of your family members are not open to considering how our culture and values have evolved over time or even how terms have changed for what people call themselves.

The people you can most likely affect are those who have the ability to listen and talk with you about contemporary issues. You can introduce the conversation by saying that you believe that they want to be sensitive to other people's views, lifestyles and feelings. From that perspective, you want to bring it to their attention that they have been making statements that could easily be considered offensive. Proceed to give them examples of what you mean. Go one example at a time so that you can talk about it and come to a full understanding of what you find offensive.

DEAR HARRIETTE: One of my friends recently got engaged to her boyfriend of a couple of years. Some of her other friends and I think that they are too young and may be rushing into things. Is there a right age to consider marriage, and should we tell our friend that we think she's too young? -- Skeptical, Shreveport, Louisiana

DEAR SKEPTICAL: You do not have the foresight to know whether it is a good idea for your friends to marry at their current age. While you and your friends may be concerned, it is pure conjecture on your parts as to whether this relationship will actually work. Yes, it may sound like a sappy romance movie, but plenty of people have married young and stayed together for life.

That said, if you have legitimate concerns, try to get to the bottom of them. Ask your friends about their plans. Find out how they envision their life together. Will they continue their education? When do they want to have children? Do they have thoughts about religion? Do the families get along? When are they planning to have the ceremony?

Sometimes people get engaged but wait a while to marry. Engagement shows their commitment to each other. Do not panic for your friend. Instead, encourage your friend group to get to know them as a couple. Be supportive of their bond, and watch to see how their story unfolds.