We thank the many volunteers, sponsors and the numerous other people involved in putting this day together for our community. We thank you for giving us the opportunity to participate in this day with our version of “Home on the Range” float.

We had a fantastic time. We want to encourage your efforts for next year.

Dennis Carmichael
Elder Sunrise Baptist Church

A great big thanks to the dedicated group of volunteers who organized this special day.

Parade Float Awards: Business Division, first place: Associate Grocers of NE; Nonprofit Division, first place: Trail Dawgs; Children Division, first place: Allenstown Pack 97; General Community Award, first place: Cliff McGinnis; first place Honorable Mention: Meet Me In Suncook/Allenstown Historical Society.

Tractor Awards: first place, Doug Bailey of Hooksett with a 1953 Farmall Super H; second place, Rick Merrill of Loudon with a MTA Farmall; third place, Doug Bailey of Hooksett with a 1946 Farmall M.

Firetruck Awards: Oldest, Pembroke Fire Department with a Mercedes Unimog; Furthest, Epsom Fire Department; and Newest, Allenstown Fire Department.

Antique Cars: first place: Carl Daufen of Epsom with a 1955 Olds Super 88; second place: Mark Bonenfant of Pembroke with a 1970 Volkswagen Beetle; third place: Ed Lavallee with a 1971 Plymouth Barracuda.

Classic Cars: first place: George and Donna Dewitz of Pembroke with a 1964 Chevy Impala SS; second place: Cami Baker of Allenstown with a 1965 Mustang convertible; third place: Dawn Drew of Allenstown with a 1940 Chevy.

Raffle Winners: 20-inch Magnavox TV and DVD Player donated by Epoch Corp. was won by Lynn Kimball; a cord of wood, donated by Fort Mountain Timber, was won by Christina Biron; and the 100 gallons of oil donated by Lavallee Oil was won by D. S. Friedman. The door prize, which was a stereo/ CD player was won by Shirley Sullivan. The 50/50 raffle was won by Jeremy Jordan.

Thank you to Associated Grocers of New England for the tremendous fireworks display.

Jocelyn Carlucci
Pembroke

There are very few things in life that are so straightforward. What about the stray mosquito that sneaks in with you when you enter your home, only to bite you while you sleep at night? (Or are we supposed to be sleeping in long clothing and covered with DEET?) Short of living life in a plastic bubble, I don't feel any of us can guarantee that we or our family members will never be bitten by a mosquito, be it infected with any virus or not.

As a mother, if either of my children were to become sick with EEE, and I were to read in the paper that it was 100 percent preventable, I cannot even imagine the degree of guilt I would be experiencing. Let all try to be smart, and to work together to try to eliminate as many chances for this disease, or any other to be spread, but let all realize that there are just some things in life that cannot be prevented.

Thank you.

Cindi Curran
Hooksett

If I understand the article correctly, the difference in prices is suppose to cover the costs of "retirement and administrative expenses." How does the town of Hooksett justify charging $31 per hour to cover these costs when all the other departments only charge between $5 and $13 an hour? Does Hooksett have higher costs to cover or are they trying to profit on the backs of contractors?

We have to remember that the costs charged to contractors (such as Verizon, PSNH, etc.) eventually comes out of my (the taxpayer) pocket. Where is the money going?

David Dunn
Hooksett