Dear Sir,

Thanks and hats off  to Efren Gonzalez for the wonderful art fair he and his wife produced this past weekend in Ajijic.  For two days, Calle Marcus Castellanos street was closed from the church to Constitucion for 60 artists to display their work.   The crowds were big, and there was lots of entertainment and good food to be enjoyed.   There were no problems of any kind because Efren had thought of everything beforehand.  Thanks to all the residents for agreeing to having their street closed for two days. Those who did not attend the art fair missed a really good time.  Efren already has plans for a second event next year.  Again, special thanks to Efren for all he does for the children’s art program he sponsors and his work for needy families.

Dear Sir,

My wife and I live in western Colorado, in what most would describe as a quiet little town.  Our community has the highest property crime rate in the state. It has had several murders in the last few years including one police officer, and averages almost one reported child abuse case each day.

Dear Sir,

You state that “Monarch butterflies that make the yearly voyage of more than 2,000 kilometers from Canada to the Mexican state of Michoacan.” It is more, much more.  It is 4,500 kilometers from the U.S.-Canadian border to Morelia, Michoacan.

Perry Montoya

Dear Sir,

Some readers of the article reporting the Mexican bishops’ call for teaching religion in the public schools (September 22-28 issue) might infer that religious belief is necessary to encourage moral and ethical behavior.  Such an inference is unfounded.  Millions of people conduct themselves morally and ethically without any religious belief.  In the words of the American Humanist Association, they are “good without a god.”  Some 60 of them are members of the Lakeside Freethinkers.

Dear Sir,

In your feature article last week, “Cross-border arms trafficking,” you state that “Mexicans (and I assume that applies to foreigners as well) are only permitted to buy weapons of a lower caliber than a .357 Magnum, such as a .380 or .38 Special.”  If I am not mistaken, a .380 or a .38 Special is of higher caliber than a .357 Magnum.  Am I to assume that a .38 is legal, whereas a .357 is not?

Dear Sir,

I’m waiting.  In fact, I’ve been waiting patiently for a couple of weeks now.  Cannot understand the delay as normally, at such news, the press and U.S. State Department are issuing all sorts of notices and warnings. But this time, nothing. Nada.