The article by Kathleen Ganster in the Feb. 1 edition of North ["What a Doll!"] was of interest to me.

My sister is an Alzheimer's patient at St. John's Specialty Care Center in Mars. A couple of months after she was admitted in May 2004, we noticed that several of the elderly ladies there were holding baby dolls. My sister was always commenting about how cute those babies were, so I went to Toys R Us and picked up a doll for her.

This has been such a great comfort to her and is the one thing that keeps her content and happy in her own little world. She talks to her baby constantly, reads books to her, watches TV with her and very proudly tells everyone about her Anna Belle. When I visit her, the whole conversation centers on her baby.

When she has a bad day or is upset about something, the staff knows exactly how to calm her down -- get the baby doll. In this world of so many serious illnesses, isn't it a wonderful thing what a tiny piece of someone's past can do to ease the pain and unhappiness?

Thank you for telling your readers abut the wonderful therapy that JoAnn Hoover has done for so many. The story was a great comfort to me.

SALLY O'LEARY

Freedom

I imagine you will receive more letters than you can print about "Ross Officials Seek More Control over Magazine" in the Feb. 22 edition of North.

I think that "control" might have been the wrong word to use. The Ross community magazine should not be a venue for any group that may appear to be political, but it should be an independent publication for the residents to learn what is going on in the community.

The commissioners, like any other group, should have the ability to express themselves in the magazine like other residents. Is it possible that the magazine could incorporate under its departments a section for the commissioners to address the community?

BASIL PASCHALEDIS

Ross