– Editorials published by Neighborhood News Inc. are written by an editorial board.

To the Editor:

My name is Eric Mayo, and I am a senior at Bow High School, working toward sending industrial-size misting fans to U.S. Forces in Iraq.

I need to raise approximately $1,500 to purchase and transport the units from a researched provider titled Cool Draft. Cool Draft has agreed to sell these fans to me at a hugely discounted price, and I am conversing with a woman who devotes the majority of her time toward transporting donations from America to soldiers over seas.

I would greatly appreciate any donation your families can afford, your time and effort in supporting our soldiers will make a difference.

Please contact me at iceguy888@comcast.net, 568-3293 or 224-5998.

Eric Mayo
Bow

To the Editor:

On Nov. 4, I understand the Bow Rotary Club is having another auction to help support scholarships for local students. Last year, I was fortunate to receive one of the scholarships.

My parents and I have agreed that I need to pay part of my tuition and it has been very helpful to me in doing that. Some of my friends also received the scholarships and I know through talking to them that they were also very appreciative of the financial help.

I currently attend Clemson University in South Carolina and plan to major in business.

I hope everyone comes out on Nov. 4 at the community center in Bow to support the auction and the work of this great local club and help raise money towards future scholarships that will help students in my situation.

Jon Telgener
Clemson University
South Carolina

To the Editor:

I was reading The Bow Times (Oct. 5 issue) and upon reading the opinion article titled “Compassion and sportsmanship are a part of life,” I felt the need to reply instantly.

In the game of soccer there are many injuries, and I agree that there are certain things athletes can do to recognize their injured competitors, such as remove themselves from the immediate area, show a general respect for the other athletes and in most cases, applaud when the player exits the playing field.

For a person to say, however, that the Bow Memorial School girl’s soccer team displayed horrible sportsmanship by stepping away from the injured player and having a team huddle during injury time is quite simply absurd.

In lower-level soccer, it is customary for children to drop a knee in respect of downed athletes; this is necessary because younger children need to do this in order to keep quiet and stay out of the way while the athlete receives the necessary medical attention.

When athletes move on to upper-level sports, however, this is no longer a necessity. Older athletes remove themselves from the area and gather as a team.

They use this time to talk to each other, calm one another down and for a health-related reason as well (muscles will cramp up if athletes sit or kneel down and then try to get up and run once again due to blood pooling).

Unfortunately, it seems that not everybody has heard of or understands these concepts. In most middle school, high school and college games, the very same practice displayed by the Bow soccer team is used and is considered standard.

It is unfair to attack the team, coaches and parents for participating in this common behavior seen in soccer games past the elementary level.

Wendy Lesniak
Bow

To the Editor:

My name is Brenda Bernard and I am writing this letter for my friends John Sevigny and Hiedi Lawrence Sevigny, currently of Allenstown. Both John and Hiedi grew up in New Hampshire, John from Bedford and Hiedi from Auburn.

Mother’s Day 2006, a day that should have been the beginning of a bright future, became the beginning of a dismal one.

This day should have been the celebration of Hiedi’s pregnancy as a mother-to-be. Instead, John and Hiedi were evacuated from their home as they fell victim to the severe flooding.

While enduring the stress and financial difficulties of almost losing their home, Hiedi’s body just could not handle the pregnancy and stress and was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. Hiedi at this time was put on bed rest and was not able to return to work.

On June 21, Hiedi was admitted to the hospital and an emergency C-section brought the birth of their son, Russell Paul. Although Russell was born healthy, Hiedi suffered a severe stroke and the doctors were not hopeful for her recovery. Hiedi fought for her life and was able to survive.

However, the stroke has left Hiedi as a quadriplegic. She spent three months in Spaulding Rehabilitation in Boston, and has recently returned home. Family and friends assisted in not only her care but the care of her newborn son. Her husband, John, had to take a leave of absence from his employment due to these circumstances.

During these past months, Hiedi and John and their family have not only faced the stress and repairs of the flooding but are faced with a future of uncertainty. Hiedi is currently homebound because she is in a wheelchair and they do not have transportation to accommodate her. Family is still assisting in the care of their son, Russell, because the everyday chores and simple tasks that we take for granted cannot be accomplished by Hiedi. John has recently returned to work with minimal hours and is not sure if he will be able to return to work full time. This family must also adapt to a barely minimum one-income household.

We are hoping to obtain assistance from our community. We are asking for all types of donations, monetary, coupons, gift cards from local merchants, formula and diapers, also it could be a service or items for the home, for example; items/services to assist in preparing their house to be wheelchair accessible.

Hiedi’s family will be hosting a fundraiser Harvest Dance on Nov. 18, from 7 to 11 p.m., at Auburn Village School. If you cannot offer something for John and Hiedi directly, maybe you could donate something that can be raffled so that the proceeds can be given to this family.

All donations, no matter how small are greatly appreciated. John and Heidi are more than deserving of our help.

Please take the time to assist us in this cause. You may contact me with any questions at 365-5394 or 49 Palomino Lane, Bedford, NH 03110. Thank you in advance for your time and assistance.

Brenda Bernard
Bedford

To the Editor:

The newly inaugurated (paved) Page Road Raceway (formerly Page Road) is continuing the previous Page Road speeding tradition.

My wife was out running early this morning and witnessed a pick-up truck traveling so fast that the driver was barely able to keep the vehicle on the road. From 5:30 a.m. on, the speeds are often at 50 mph or more. I know this because I use a low-powered, instant-on radar gun, so even those with radar detectors can’t escape being recorded.

Why does the Bow Police Department not use the same extremely effective radar equipment?

Why has the Bow Police Department wasted thousands of taxpayer dollars on covert radar guns, which are useless? Attorney/Selectman Crisp’s absurd statement at the selectmen meeting that as long as the covert radar gun recorded a 40 percent error rate on data collected consistently that the covert radar gun was doing what it was suppose to is one of the most idiotic conclusions and justifications for the obvious mistake of the selectmen in allowing the Bow Police Department to purchase and use the covert radar gun.

Something has to be done about the speeding problem now! When the White Rock Road Speedway is finished, Bow better be put on the NASCAR schedule.

Bryan Milazzo
Bow

To the Editor:

We need your support in our efforts to establish a wellness-maintenance hub at the present Centennial Senior Center location.

Since the news of the closing of the Center at its Regional Drive location and the decision by the board of directors to sell the building, a group of center members has been pursuing investors, buyers and support to purchase the building and reopen with programs to benefit those most in need of what this unique facility can offer.

Our medical, financial and community support is building each day. Nevertheless, your support is critical to our mission. The plan is to reopen at this location with new owners, new management and expanded programming. Many programs now offered will continue and there will be new programs presented.

The facility offers warm water pool therapy. It is our goal to expand hours, make more classes available, and increase open swim time, all to benefit additional people in need of the therapy pool.

With the exception of medical facilities, this warm water therapy pool is not duplicated any other place in New Hampshire. We have doctor support to send patients there for maintenance therapy for arthritis, fibromyalgia, joint replacement therapy, and other warm water exercise programs. Our staff would be certified instructors, with the knowledge of what each exercise class requires.

We will continue cardiac maintenance programs, along with regular exercise classes for fitness and improved health. We would like to offer adult day care, work with local organizations to bring in clinics, present classes and provide other elements of interest to the growing senior community. The center presently offers classes, trips, cafeteria dining, speakers, movies, computers and fundraisers. We will continue these activities and expand them as well.

The well-equipped kitchen and cafeteria could serve hot meals to seniors and manage to do it with a reasonable donation for each meal. We could be an emergency overflow location for the homeless in winter, answering the need to care for all people in our community. Still, our main mission is to answer to the needs of the growing senior community, to maintain programs that will improve the quality of life for our elders.

Our plan also includes offering transportation to and from senior housing in the city and the downtown area as well.

We want as many seniors to take part in activities as possible and many do not have the means to get to the center now. We also plan to have a sliding scale and scholarship funds to offset membership fees for those in financial need.

Volunteerism will play a large role in the everyday activities at the facility. This will save significantly on administrative costs as well as involving members as true stakeholders in the programming they feel they need and want. More male input is necessary to encourage their participation.

While the women have many interests that are served, the men seem to find less to do. We want this facility to be inviting to all seniors and hope more couples will also find activities they can share.

Several human service organizations have expressed an interest in renting office space on site, thus offering extended benefits to members and fulfilling our mission statement to be a hub for our senior population.

It is true that the center has offered many things that have fulfilled the desires of local seniors. However, after the sale of the building, many programs will be unable to follow Centennial to a new location.

Our therapy pool is established and the community needs to keep it going. This pool is paramount in improving and maintaining the physical, mental and emotional health of those who use it.

It allows many seniors to continue to live independently, free of wheelchairs and walkers, free of assistance at home. With regular pool therapy, the need for pain medications decreases, along with the problematic side effects and the prohibitive cost of these medications.

Our seniors have built a “community” spirit at the center, making friends who care for one another, who reach out and support one another.

They gather there, take classes, have lunch and meet friends for activities. It is a hub for them to go to daily, knowing that they will get out of the house, keep active and live better, more fulfilling lives.

The seniors are happier, healthier and have purpose. Many consider each other “family,” not just friends. This is more than just the “building” at stake; it is a home to go to.

We seek your assistance and support in helping us make this facility what it was truly meant to be, a beacon that asserts how much we value our older citizens. The city and the state need this facility. They need the programs that it can offer and they need the affirmation it will proclaim.

Our senior population is growing each year. Quality of life is greatly improved when seniors remain active. It is proven that not only can they avoid nursing home care but they also continue to contribute their hearts, hands, and wisdom to our society, living more productive, healthier lives.

Please help us to make that happen for them and for us all.

Deb Kovach
Linda Waring
“Save Our Center” community