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Peoples column

The other side of Alzheimer’s studies

Editor, OBSERVER: I found this from the Boston University School of Medicine. The majority of research to understand the pathogenesis of and contributors to Alzheimer’s disease pathology, dementia, and disease progression has focused on studying individuals who have the disease or are at increased risk of having the disease. Yet there may be much to learn from individuals who have a paradoxical decreased risk of Alzheimer’s suggesting underlying protective factors. Centenarians demonstrate exceptional longevity that for a subset of the cohort is associated with an increased ...

Winter gives way to loud season

Editor, OBSERVER: The weather is changing and the “little boys” have their loud music and loud exhaust mufflers ready to go. With New York state passing the law where it is illegal to modify an exhaust on a car or motorcycle, to make it louder than the original exhaust, I hope this is enforced right away! Don’t need to put up with that for months. Hope they can do something about the loud music, too. JOHN KUSCHEL, Dunkirk

Courage needed to assist Ukraine

Editor, OBSERVER: As some of us may reflect on the days of our youth when the late President John F. Kennedy heroically and successfully stood up to the Russians with a blockade during the Cuban missile crisis, and likewise the late President Ronald Reagan told then Soviet Premier Gorbachev to tear down that Berlin wall, let us now encourage our present administration to exhibit the same resourcefulness and courage to implement the following actions in Ukraine: ¯ A no fly zone over Ukraine. ...

People’s column

Wrong words can lead to hurt Editor, OBSERVER: March 1 to March 31, is “Spread the Word to End the Word’ month. When someone says the “R” word to a person with disabilities, it hurts their feelings big time. Let’s stop using the words retard and retarded. This is what it’s all about – known as “spread the word to end the word.” The person or people who make fun out of disabled people and call them names, if they were disabled themselves, they would not like it. If they were made fun out of and they were called names, they would not like it and they would be ...

Use caution planning with Van Buren

Editor, OBSERVER: I was disheartened to read about potential changes in zoning near Van Buren (March 7). I realize that no firm decisions have been made but wanted to share my thoughts with the Pomfret Town Board and its supervisor while they consider options. Many at Van Buren Point (and Bay, and no doubt other communities along the lake front) are longtime residents, and have deep affection for the area at large, not just our own backyards. I have been coming to “the lake” since I was literally a baby – now over 75 years ago (gasp!). Since I have changed locations over ...

No resistance for Russian evil

Editor, OBSERVER: Maybe it’s time to take a look at the U.N. to determine if it serves any purpose. Adjust its charter to make it simply a provider of humanitarian aid across the globe. Next, kick out the evil empires like Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran who do nothing but veto and obstruct the rest of the nations trying to provide relief to those countries desperate for assistance. Today we have Vladimir Putin, a bad-to-the-bone dictator, calling the shots in his attack on Ukraine, while the rest of the world shivers and permits it to continue. Forget about NATO regulations, ...