For the last seven years, I have participated in the annual Charity Bike Ride to fight muscular dystrophy. The event is a three-day, 250-mile bicycle ride that will take place June 23 through June 25.

I am writing today to ask for your support in raising funds for this worthy cause. The money raised will be used to help families in New Hampshire who are affected by muscular dystrophy.

If you are able to contribute, please send your tax-deductible donation, payable to MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association), to me by June 5.

For more information about this charitable event or to donate online, please visit TransNHBike Ride.org. The site is user friendly. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for your anticipated support.

Ron Chevrette
Hooksett

Shelly spearheaded a fabulous fundraiser last weekend that was not to be missed, and I just want to take the time to thank her for all her hard work. It was a terrific event and well received.

It’s unfortunate for those who didn’t attend or support our children, they missed out. Perhaps they can lend support next year if Shelly decides to overextend herself for Round 2.

Thanks again for such a great after Shelly. Those of us who attended are looking forward to next year’s event!

And thanks also to those who couldn’t make it but sent in their donation to support our children.

Lisa A. DeVos
Hooksett

I listened carefully to the discussion, because I was concerned about the allegations that were being made about a man that I respect and admire for his intellect and his integrity. When the individual abruptly terminated the discussion and left the room without bringing either enlightenment or closure to the issue, I resolved to find out the facts for myself.

Your article did provide me with more information, but it, and other public information that I found, also raised more questions.

The article used the words “overwhelmingly voted to adopt SB2 for Candia’s Town Meeting.” The results show that the margin of victory was only 7 votes, a winner, but hardly overwhelming.

The article further states that there was a petition (incorrectly worded) for SB2 at the 2005 annual meetings. The only article that I could find in my Town Report for that year that even remotely could be considered an SB2 petition was one that wanted the town (and not the school district) to vote that “all issues concerning the town of Candia (will be voted) the following Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.”

Incorrectly worded, in this case, would appear to be a charitable understatement. The individual is quoted as “hating public meetings,” yet we’re to meet every Saturday from 9 to 4?

Your article alludes to him as a petitioner. He did not vote at the March elections. A review of the voter checklist fails to show his name. Why would someone who doesn’t care enough about democracy to even register to vote care about when or how we do our town or school district business?

Your article did make it clear that the petition had to be in the hands of a school board member by 5 p.m. of the appointed date. Why are there kids being dragged into this issue? Rules are rules. If you’re stealing home, you have to touch home plate before the catcher tags you with the ball, You can’t run out of the base lines and you have to touch first, second and third base before you run home. The umpire calls you out, you’re out. I suppose that doesn’t prevent you from arguing with the umpire, but that just gets you thrown out of the game.

In my opinion, Mr. Caito is the unfortunate victim of poor planning and even poorer execution on the part of the resident. I also commend Ed for his forthright statements, public and private, about the matter and his complete candor and honesty about what took place. My respect and admiration for him continue unabated.

Richard H. Snow
Candia

Editor’s note: The SB2 vote was 437-281, with 60 percent majority needed to pass.

That said, I would like to point out two facts to our citizens.

Copies of all correspondence between myself and Sgt. Martakos regarding a police association were provided to the police commission. The correspondence was discussed at a commission meeting, and the commission agreed that the officers needed to follow our written rules regarding how an association is formed.

This issue took place in 2005. It is very curious that seven months later, when no attempt was made to ask me or the commission for clarification of the rules, that this issue now comes out.

Regardless, my position and that of the police commission is and has always been that the officers can form an association as long as they follow the rules of the department.

Chief Stephen M. Agrafiotis
Hooksett Police Department

She probably doesn’t live anywhere near where she is walking at the moment – she is walking to train for the Avon Two-Day Walk for Breast Cancer to be held May 20 and 21 in Boston.

That weekend, she will be walking 39 miles for this great cause. To be eligible to participate in the walk, you must first raise a minimum of $1,800 in donations, which, through a lot of hard work, she has done and she is planning to raise much more.

Her day begins at about 4 a.m. when she heads out to the gym for an hour or so, gets home in time to send her husband off to work, gets the children up, fed and dressed, does her household chores, then set out to walk (weather permitting) from Hooksett toward Epsom or sometimes from Epsom toward Hooksett. They stop for a picnic lunch and play time, then continue on with their walk. She is currently walking about 50 miles a week and her goal is endless.

So if you see this woman, please honk your horn to show your support for her tremendous efforts to help with the fight against breast cancer. Her name is Megan Goodwin, she is our daughter-in-law and we are very proud of her.

Tony and Ann McLaughlin
Hooksett

Staff Sgt. Pequeno is currently in a coma after being wounded in Iraq. The fundraiser was a joint effort sponsored by VFW post 1631 and the New Hampshire Nam Knights, a Military and Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club.

Everyone had a good time. The Win Place and Show Band played a wide variety of music that kept everyone dancing, and the food prepared by volunteers was excellent. There was no cover charge and donations were accepted throughout the evening.

I would like to thank the members of VFW Post 1631 and the Nam Knights for their support of my friend Jose and his family. Together they raised $2,500 in this one event.

A special thanks to the Officer Jeremy Charron Law Enforcement Post 122 of the American Legion for their $500 donation and a post membership for Jose.

I spoke to Jose’s wife Kelly who asked me to pass her thanks along to all of those who participated in this event.

Mike Dempsey
Epsom

Concern has been raised again lately about neighborhood safety, speeding, mph signs, etc., as well it should be. And now it appear our town experts are in a quandary as to what to do.

Was there any hesitation over the North River Road speed bumps? Are your children any less important than out-of-state college students?

Hmmm! Now isn’t that a point to ponder?

Ed Groves Sr.
Hooksett