Celebrating Summer
Summer McIntosh is built differently. She is a phenom in the water and becoming a superstar and legend in Canada. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, she should be flag bearer at the closing ceremony.
Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Just as medals and lofty goals are a family tradition for Summer McIntosh’s family, so is modesty. Case in point: I worked with McIntosh’s maternal grandmother, Gertie Horstead, for many years and it was only during the 1984 Summer Olympics that she told us her daughter Jill was a participant! I quickly arranged for a telegram to be sent to Jill in Los Angeles wishing her good luck from all of her mother’s coworkers. We later arranged for a TV to be set up in the lunchroom so we could watch Jill’s butterfly event with bated breath! Now we share in Horstead’s happiness at her daughter’s 1984 accomplishments and the accomplishments of her granddaughter in 2024.
Hazel Regan, Toronto
Hope for avoiding dementia
Nearly half of dementia cases can be prevented or delayed, a major new study suggests. Here’s how, Aug. 1
The results of the new study, suggesting nearly half of dementia cases can be prevented or delayed, is highly exciting. This fine opportunity to prevent or delay the onset of the dreaded dementia could well be the most uplifting news for our aging Canadian population.
The study identified uncorrected eyesight and “bad” cholesterol as two new, major risk factors for dementia. Poor education in early life, social isolation and depression are also considered “the most significant factors.” It is heartening to learn that seeing other people, and interacting with them, is the easiest way to keep one’s brain active! Geriatric medicine professor Dr. Roger Wong recommends socialization or daily exercise, which helps our brain’s ability to march on despite facing cognitive decline. By recognizing the 13 early signs of dementia, we can now plan to defeat or delay dreaded dementia!
Rudy Fernandes, Mississauga
One big thing missing from this study in risk factors is having a genetic link to others who have had dementia. Two people I personally know who have dementia had mothers who had it, one with very early onset. Anecdotally, it can run in the family, and the research bears this out.
Sandra Hanmer, Hamilton
Ford does not compare
Does anybody remember what the past Conservative governments were like in Ontario, versus what Doug Ford’s party is like today? Previous Conservative governments were very frugal with spending taxpayer money, but today, Ford’s party is very good at wasting our money. This is not the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario that your parents/grandparents voted for!
Just recently he announced plans to pay off the Beer Store chain up to $225 million to allow other stores to sell beer, wine and alcohol. If he had waited another year or so he would have avoided the costly boondoggle. Adding to that, if this goes through, the private sector will likely charge more money for beer and alcohol than LCBO. Good luck to us with that! The other problem is that it will be much easier for underage people to access alcoholic beverages.
We will remember what you have done, Premier Ford!
Jan Larsen, Bracebridge, Ont.
A vote for a car free High Park
Torontonians maintain a very car-centric attitude, which apparently hasn’t changed much since I left the city 50 years ago. Many don’t seem to understand that by driving everywhere for everything, including High Park, they worsen the problem. They would alleviate it by walking, cycling or taking transit. Cars are heavy and take up a lot of space, so they cause congestion. Walkers, cyclists or transit riders don’t. There really is no excuse why many more can’t walk, cycle or take transit more often than they do. Better transit and more, not fewer, cycle tracks would help. By the way, cars did not exist when High Park was founded. Somehow people managed.
Ed Janicki, Victoria, BC
We must accept taxes
A Star letter writer wrote of the “strange yet calm” feeling that he got when walking on the streets in Oslo, Norway where the city has removed 700 parking spaces and replaced them with bike lanes, benches and planters. “Good public transit” picks up the slack. Earlier letters extolled the health care system in Denmark where all residents are guaranteed a local family doctor, and noted the excellent daycare system in Sweden.
In all the praise given to Scandinavia for superior social systems, not a mention is made that taxation makes these systems strong. All these countries have higher income tax levels than Canada. That doesn’t count state taxes, sales taxes and other miscellaneous taxes. Canadians cannot hope to have the amenities the Scandinavians have until we get over our visceral hatred of taxes. I’d certainly be willing to pay more tax to get the services we deserve.
Joan Blackwood, Toronto
Trump has always been unglued
Trump’s astonishing, embarrassing appearance revealed a candidate who appears to be coming unglued, Aug. 1
It is difficult to know whether Donald Trump is more unglued now than he has been at any point in the recent past. If he was truthful in saying that he did not realize that Kamala Harris was Black the first time he became aware of her then he may have lacked glue for a considerable period. Most of us can accept that individuals can have dual ethnicities and can legitimately claim links to more than one race or nationality. If Trump has become unglued recently, it is not in his perception of other humans but in his willingness to say things which are intrinsically offensive to the audience he is speaking to.
Bruce Couchman, Ottawa
Cherishing freedom
U.S. and Russia tout prisoner swap as a victory. But perceptions of the deal show stark differences, Aug. 3
Freedom is something to be cherished, just ask Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan who had been held in Russian captivity. Both men probably thought that they would never see their families again, but are back on U.S. soil. Americans are seen as bargaining tools to countries hostile to the U.S. and do not belong there under any circumstances. Let us be grateful for the return of these honourable men. On this exceptional day of thanks, the sun appears to be absolutely radiant.
JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater, Fla.
