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Over the past year I have had the opportunity to work with the provincial Department of Transportation regarding property I own in Kingsclear and Hanwell.

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I do not know how DOT can complete all the work they do, as quickly and professionally as they do, with the limited number of resources they have.

This past winter was the worst we have had in years, typical for what we are accustomed to in New Brunswick, but we have been teased over the previous four or five years with a warmer winter and reduced amounts of snow.

After the fifth ice storm deposited six inches of ice on my driveway, I gave up on shovelling, but DOT was still working at the roads into the late nights.

I happened to talk with one of the plow drivers, and the hours required to keep our roads safe for our families is incredible. Thank you for making our roads safe.

Additionally, I have some work requiring DOT approval, and within a week, a supervisor was able to meet with me outside of business hours to help consult about the required changes and provide me with the information required for application and approvals.

The DOT office on College Hill Road and Norm have always been very responsive and supportive of our Local Service District as well, both Hanwell and Kingsclear.

My work requires me to travel in N.B. and I have seen the crews actively updated and maintaining our roads.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank DOT for the great work they have been able to complete and their ongoing commitment to ensure our roads are safe for our families.

Chris Weadick

Hanwell, N.B.

Feb. 6, 2006 stands between widow, Agent Orange payout

In 2007 after hearing on television and reading in newspapers about help for people who were exposed to Agent Orange, and after listening to Greg Thompson's promises, I sent in an application for the Ex Gratia payment.

My husband had been in CFB Gagetown during the spraying of 1966 and 1967 and many years before and after.

When I received my letter telling me that I was denied the Ex Gratia payment, I was shocked.

My husband died in 2004, and because the new government came into power in 2006, all claims for soldiers who died before then were denied.

I couldn't believe the new government could decide that a simple date - Feb. 6, 2006 - could separate my husband and soldiers like him from the same treatment as others.

My husband suffered from many things, cancer being the most deadly. A list of illnesses was made to determine who would be eligible. My husband had inoperable lung cancer, cancer of the brain, spinal cord, and prostate, ulcers, and other health issues.

He served his country for 25 years and was willing to die for it. We, as military widows left out and ignored by our government, are not willing to let this go by the wayside.

If there are any other widows with similar stories out there or anyone who can help us fight this cause in any way, please go to our website: www.widowsonwarpath.com

Mrs. Vera Dakin

Oromocto, N.B.

Jailing non-violent women is outdated

We have sent this letter to Public Safety Minister John Foran regarding a recent article.

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Saint John is greatly distressed to read the article Jail Birds Could Soon Have a New Cage.

This story announced that the multi-year strategy will likely include plans for a new adult facility and possible expansion of one or more jails, in order to address long term capacity.

Declining crime rates and recent research show building more jails is not the answer to the problem. Now is the time for new initiatives, not the "lock them up and throw away the key" philosophy.

New Brunswick needs more and better community resources. Agencies such as ours know that women want to get well, to be able to care for and support their families, and become productive members of society.

Given sustainable funding, we could be part of the leading edge in the reintegration of women prisoners and the prevention of young women from being incarcerated.

It seems unlikely that our jails are over-crowded due to the federal government's "war on crime." The reason is more probably due to the collapse of the social safety net, resulting in a lack of community resources, for example, no long-term treatment for addicts; insufficient care and concern of those with mental illness, and homelessness.

"Prisons are homes by default, Government must stop jailing women, charities say," is the title of a report from the United Kingdom, which notes the government has come under unprecedented pressure to stop jailing non-violent women criminals. The full article can be viewed at 2008 www.politics.co.uk.

In the same report, the director of the Howard League for Penal Reform states that women in custody remain locked into an inhumane system with heavy-handed levels of punishment, poorly trained staff, inadequate health care and sparse opportunities for rehabilitation and family contact.

Could this description be applied to our own prison system? We trust you will give this serious consideration. We are available to discuss this and other issues.

Marianna L. Stack,

President

Elizabeth Fry Society

Saint John, N.B.

Record food drive at a needy time

On behalf of the residents at Ste. Anne's Court, I would like to thank the citizens of Fredericton.

During the week of July 13-19, we held a food drive for the Fredericton Food Bank. This is a Holiday Retirement Corp. initiative carried out once a year by the 300 buildings in Canada and the U.S., usually in the month of November or December.

This year Holiday elected to change our food drive to July, a month where the need is great and the help is not forthcoming. We set up our bus at the Brookside Sobeys on Sunday, July 13 and received a modest amount of non-perishable items and cash donations.

Throughout the rest of the week donations came in from the residents. We then set up our bus at the Prospect Street Sobeys on Saturday, July 19.

We received a fantastic amount of cash donations with which we purchased foodstuff.

Our initiative is actually a contest between buildings to see who can raise the most pounds of food. Our total for that day was a whopping 1,823.4 pounds of groceries.

Our overall total for the week was 2,333.7 pounds of food for the food bank. This was four times our total of 550 pounds raised in December of last year.

The citizens of Fredericton came through when it was needed. Our deepest and sincerest thank you to all of the people who donated cash and food items and made this our best effort overall.

Thank you to the management and staff of both Sobeys stores for their continued support of this very worthwhile cause. Hats off to everyone for their help.

Gail Houle

Enrichment Coordinator

Ste. Anne's Court

Fredericton