CITIZENSHIP TEST: Anne Bates gives us some positive feedback on
our recent columns featuring questions on the revamped citizenship
test proposed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: “I
was pleased to read in ‘Round the Square the questions about the
U.S. Constitution of our great United States, which I understand
will be used to teach those who are in our country who will be
asked these questions in order to become U.S. citizens.

“I love my country, my native land and feel bad there are those
here who do not care about becoming naturalized citizens.”

She notes in her letter that her husband, William Bates, was
born and raised in Canada and came to the states in the late 1920s.
He, along with his parents and sister, worked in the U.S. and took
classes to become U.S. citizens, she adds.

“Hanging on my wall now is the U.S. flag presented to him for
becoming a citizen,” she writes, “and he was very proud of that
flag. He is now a citizen of heaven (for) which he also studied and
prepared for.

“It will be great to read and see more needful civic questions
throughout 2007,” she adds.

LEEKS: We also heard from Toni Kan-Boatwright who sends this
message to a thoughtful local who clearly understood there’s only
one cure for this particular gustatory craving:

“To Nancy in Derrick City, who sent the leeks to my Aunt Joan …
thank you! Nancy has never met my aunt, and my aunt posted a plea
for leeks in RTS some time ago. Nancy came to the rescue, not once,
but twice, and sent them in the mail to my aunt who lives in New
Jersey. Even better, when my aunt makes all her leek dishes, she
always makes extra for her niece (me).

“Both my aunt and I grew up in the Bradford area, and
picking/eating leeks are one of the things we miss from home. Thank
you Nancy, and thank you RTS!”

GAS PRICES: Mike Madden called to say when he was recently in
Toledo, Ohio, gas right off the turnpike was $1.99 a gallon for
unleaded.

“The highest price from there to Illinois was $2.05,” he said.
“Just thought you might be interested that it was that cheap.”

ZIPPO SIGHTING: An eagle-eyed viewer of “The Unit” reports a
Zippo sighting on last week’s episode.