Environment and copied to The Royal Gazette .

Dear Mr. Lister, Thank you most sincerely for the happy conclusion you have brought to the issue of Dr. David Wingate and Nonsuch Island. Your support of Dr. Wingate's work and your perspicacity in this matter of great environmental importance have brought much joy and reassurance to the many people who care about Bermuda's natural heritage.

I find it particularly inspiring that in you we have a Minister who takes a unique person and unique situation, and deals with them as befits this uniqueness, without trying to put them in a mould of uniformity.

HELLE PATTERSON Hamilton Parish Help Sandys Rest Home May 7, 2001 Dear Sir, I would like to respond to your lead article in today's Royal Gazette concerning Sandys Parish Rest Home. A chance encounter last October with Ms Flora Trott, Administrator of Sandys Parish Rest Home enabled me to visit the Home for the first time. My visit was to see what I could do to help Ms Trott, who had just recently taken over as administrator. She was immediately involved in trying to make improvements to the Home for the well being of the residents and I offered my support in this endeavour.

As a result of this, I met another volunteer, Susan Starling, and we discussed how we could help with this huge task. We arranged a meeting with members of the Parish Council to discuss how we could help improve both the physical plant and the well being of the residents. During our meetings with the Council members it was made patently clear to us that as far a major physical improvements were concerned we should wait for the Ministry's policy paper on the future and needs of Sandys Rest Home. We were told that the decision would be forthcoming shortly as far as they knew.

We are now in May and as far as I am aware no decision has been published as to the future of this Rest Home. Meanwhile the residents are still no better off. On a personal note I have donated bed pillows, bedspreads, shower curtains, bath mats, kitchen curtains etc. but we have not been able to put these out until we get the painting done and the windows in place. We are now about to embark on repainting the rooms and at least trying to make things more pleasant even though we cannot yet do the plumbing, electrical, tiling work that is required. The new windows are yet to be installed and the vertical blinds donated by the Somers Lioness Club cannot be put up until this is completed.

The level of frustration felt by Ms Trott, the staff and the Council members is huge as we try to make conditions better for the residents. I appreciate the coverage given by your paper to the situation at Sandys Rest Home but I would also like to point out that Ms Flora Trott, though a part-time administrator, dedicates many hours over and above the call of duty. she is a compassionate, hard working, loving woman who works in under-funded, under-equipped, dismal working conditions who, when I ask "How are you today Flora?'' always replies "I am blessed.'' We need volunteers to do all kinds of work including installing windows, electrical wiring, tiling, plumbing. We cannot undertake the major reconstruction that would be necessary to address the problem of lack of space and privacy until the policy is defined regarding the future of the home but we can surely at least make things more pleasant for residents and staff.

This week we started painting and we are trying to get all the bedrooms refurbished through kind contributions of much needed furniture from Rooms to Go and other concerned citizens which will help greatly to modernise the premises. There are many other items still required to bring Sandys Rest Home up to a decent living standard.

We have a wish list if anyone would like to contribute including a much needed Medicine Trolley, Doctors Weighing Scales, Dressing Trolley, Dressing Trays, stainless steel bowls etc. to name but a few.

We need community involvement to make a difference to lives of these elderly citizens. For those interested in helping out both with the physical plant and the well being of the residents you may call Helen Gallagher at Tel. 293-8098 in the evenings or Susan Starling 295-0905(B) 238-2084 (H).

Let's give our seniors the dignity and respect they deserve.

HELEN P. GALLAGHER & SUSAN STARLING Friends of Sandys Parish Rest home