The Editor:
More than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including 110,000 here in Washington. In 2017, caring for individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias will cost $259 billion – including $175 billion in direct costs to Medicare and Medicaid.
As the only leading cause of death that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed, these numbers are only going to increase. Yet, despite these troubling numbers Alzheimer’s research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) remains underfunded.
Having lost my wife Barbara to Alzheimer’s, and having written a book about the experience, I understand firsthand the impact this disease has on families across America. That’s why I am joining the Alzheimer’s Association and the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement in calling on Congress to increase Alzheimer’s research funding by $414 million in the next fiscal year. This is the amount recommended by NIH scientists in their
professional judgment budget.
It is only by increasing research funding that we will discover new ways to treat and eventually prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
I urge concerned readers to contact Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Maria Cantwell, and Rep. Suzan DelBene, and ask them to continue the fight against Alzheimer’s disease by increasing funding for Alzheimer’s research by at least an additional $414 million in fiscal year 2018.
Harry Skinner
Blaine
The Editor:
In response to Bill Becht’s and Gordon Ames’ letters, I am appalled at their lack of knowledge. First of all, the Blaine police department is forever looking out for local businesses, checking unlocked doors or doors left open and responding to calls for businesses needing help.
When enforcement of driving laws are allowed to get lax (i.e. rolling stops), larger infractions occur. By ensuring drivers stop at stop signs, it ensures pedestrians of crossing more safely. The speed is 25 mph for a reason. Why is it so hard to stop? If police are sitting right there to catch an unsuspecting driver, kudos if he gets caught. If he wasn’t alert enough to notice the officer, what makes you think he will see a wheel chair or runaway toddler at the last minute?
No disrespect to Canadian drivers (as many very valued customers are Canadian), I have seen how they drive up there like they are all going to the races or their house is on fire. For a time, I thought all the bad drivers were Canadian. I am embarrassed to say it is quite even here in Blaine with the local idiots. I am waiting for the day someone’s child or an escaped pet gets hit. My street is heavily trafficked with school kids along with small children who live on it. The locals seem to think it takes them to the Indy 500. I am just so sick of the disrespect of the drivers here.
If you want to hear your pipes roar, go out in the country, where if you crash you can end up where you belong, in a ditch. And it isn’t just cars, but motorcycles too. At times there is the odd idiot who peels out and thinks it is funny to wear out their tires.
I do agree the city council needs totally fresh blood. They are old, stagnant and useless and are the problem for the empty stores besides the people who own the stores charging enormous rents so no one can stay open.
We can’t do much about the border waits if we want some form of protection from terrorists. If you don’t think they catch stuff, go back through the years and see what they have apprehended. We can make the wait more tolerable by offering something worth waiting for. I personally refuse to purchase much and no more than $2 worth of gas in Blaine when a trip to Bellingham saves me 30 cents a gallon and $2.31 on a gallon of Tillamook. Edaleen is the best thing that has happened to Blaine.
Kay Warner
Blaine
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