We, down here in Texas, are getting serious about returning to our Republic as was the agreement when we joined the Union back in 18-something. Only trouble I see is to get those lousy Austin lefties to see the need.

Yeah, I hate to admit it, but I can hardly force myself to enter the Austin city limits. But then Howard Dean is real good at changing some of their minds ... who knows?

Warren E Holmgreen, Jr.
Fredericksburg, Texas

I have been living in Hooksett on Hale Avenue for almost three years and had to write this letter regarding Halloween.

My grandchildren and my daughter live in Manchester. My grandchildren are twins, 4 years, and granddaughter is 8. My 8-year-old granddaughter has several friends in the neighborhood and spent this summer here in Hooksett with me.

On Halloween night, my grandchildren joined me to trick or- treat for an hour or so and then help me hand out candy the remaining two hours.

In our first hour, I was horrified to find out that kids were being asked along Elmer Avenue where they live. When a couple of children responded "Manchester" the door was slammed in their faces.

I know that there must be a history of pranksters in this neighborhood, but when you have a child 2 to 6 years old coming to your door, perhaps for the first time trick-or-treating, why would anyone be warranted to slam a door in their face? I just don't understand why? It's not the child's fault that their parents brought them here, nor is it the child's fault that they live in Manchester.

My daughter brought them here for a safe and happy Halloween and to spend time with me on this fun night. I encourage anyone who lives here in Hooksett to open your doors to all children, not just residents.

If there is trouble from someone other than a Hooksett resident, then the parents should be responsible, not doors slammed in their dressed-up little faces.

Michelle Boisse
Hooksett

SAU administrators strongly support Superintendent Armand LaSelva.

Since his arrival to SAU 15, Armand LaSelva has been a strong educational leader. Our administrative group is working as a team on professional development, curriculum, instruction and assessment. His strong leadership has helped us to focus on what is most important, teaching and learning.

It is under Mr. LaSelva's direction that administrators have come together to address math and language arts instruction throughout the SAU. With his understanding of Adequate Yearly Progress, Mr. LaSelva has guided our team on a challenging, but rewarding path towards improved instruction and advanced student learning SAU wide.

With Mr. LaSelva's guidance, SAU systems management has improved. A corrective action plan for business office procedures and policies has been implemented. The day-to-day operations of payroll, grant management, human resources and accounts payable have been standardized and clarified. Administrators, teachers and students are benefiting from a more efficient operation, allowing our school communities to focus on educational goals.

Armand LaSelva has a wealth of experience in education. His vision, wisdom and passion inspire our efforts.

The administrators in our SAU strongly support Superintendent Armand LaSelva. We hope that the SAU 15 school board shares in this support.

William Estey, Principal, Fred C. Underhill School, Hooksett
Anita Johnson, Principal, Auburn Village School, Auburn
Gail Kushner, Assistant Superintendent, SAU 15
Karen Lessard, Business Administrator, SAU 15
Ron Pedro, Principal, David R. Cawley Middle School, Hooksett
Marge Polak, Special Education Director, Hooksett
Carol Soucy, Principal, Hooksett Memorial School, Hooksett
Robert St. Cyr, Principal, Henry Moore School, Candia

Apparently, then, had he been born at a different time when everybody believed in the existence of witches, then that would have constituted evidence that witches actually existed.

Apparently as well, had he been an ancient Egyptian, then the fact that everybody believed in the sun-god constituted evidence for the existence of the great Ra.

Mr. Breagy tells us as well that "the probability of nature generating new genetic information is so low that evolution could not possibly account for the origin of the vast amounts of complex coded information in living things."

So, upon Mr. Breagy's word, we can safely forget about threeand- one-half billion years of evolution and the great present fear that the DNA of bird flu will mutate in a few short weeks into something even more fearsome to mankind than it is now.

Of the world's top scientists, many with Nobel prizes, upwards of 95 percent view evolution as settled fact, while upwards of 98 percent of biological scientists believe the same thing. Which, given Mr. Breagy's statement, is absolutely scandalous.

Stupidity, it seems, reigns supreme among the world's best and brightest!

Charles Beward
Candia

For clarification, the portion of your interview with me failed to place my comment concerning Washington, D.C., in proper historical perspective. There are many examples of the failure of a large central authority stretching back to ancient times (add the Roman Republic to Great Britain and the U.S.S.R.). The common thread is the ultimate failure of centralized authority.

The lesson for the U.S. is that we are not immune (evidence the long-term crisis in Medicare, Social Security, schools, etc.). The 911 security failure and the Katrina disaster further highlight the dysfunctional political and bureaucratic myopia of Washington, D.C.

We would be better served as a nation by Justice Brandeis. model of separate "laboratories of democracy" where the best social and economic solutions would be allowed to rise to the top through local or state efforts. Our hope as Free Staters is to be allowed to add our views and voices to that debate.

Overall, still the best article on the Free State community published in New Hampshire to date. Thanks again.

Calvin Pratt
Goffstown

The scope of this disaster is enormous. Red Cross has shelters in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, Missouri and Georgia, with many more on standby.

Your gift makes it possible for the Red Cross to help the survivors of Hurricane Katrina recover from this massive storm.

Hurricane Katrina has ripped apart thousands of lives and left tens of thousands homeless. At its peak, it was one of the fiercest hurricanes in recorded history and measured about 460 miles wide – the distance from New Orleans to Atlanta. Katrina has affected nearly half of the entire United States. Even after its passing, the danger remains. Flooded roads, downed power lines and debris are all major hazards. Unsafe or unsanitary conditions for desperate evacuees also pose a rising threat.

The recovery efforts will challenge even the most patient, and the Red Cross is working to bring communities back together as quickly as possible. The American Red Cross launched the largest mobilization of resources for a single natural disaster, involving thousands of trained disaster relief workers, tons of supplies and shoulders to lean on.

Well before Hurricane Katrina made landfall, the American Red Cross was hard at work, opening and stocking shelters, sending emergency response vehicles to storm-vulnerable areas and preparing relief supplies for immediate distribution. The Red Cross will continue to respond to the emerging needs of people affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Our highest priority will always be to those facing challenges from natural or man-made disasters. You helped make their lives a little easier.

Thank you for your support of the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross.

Diane L. Becker
Executive Director
American Red Cross