JUAN also created havoc with our many parks, trails etc. One of the many areas which was heavily damaged was the Musquodoboit Trail. Here is one way in which you may make a donation towards its restoration.

"NS Trails would be pleased to assist with fund raising for the restoration of trails that were seriously damaged by Hurricane Juan.

Donations can be made by credit card by calling (902) 425-5450 Ext. 325. Cheques can be mailed to the Nova Scotia Trails Federation, 5516 Spring Garden Road, 4th Floor, Halifax, NS B3J 1G6. Please provide your name and address. A tax receipt and recognition certificate will be mailed to all donors. Your contribution will also be acknowledged by the local community trail group if you indicate that your donation is to be applied to restoring a specific trail. "

Digby fishermen donate gear to Eastern Shore storm victims

Junior Theriault the MLA remembers all too well how Junior Theriault the lobsterman got "wiped out" by a storm more than 25 years ago. So when hurricane Juan devastated hundreds of metro-area fishermen last week, the rookie Liberal MLA rang up some of his former lobster-fishing pals.

"We were all thinking the same thing," the Digby-Annapolis rep said Thursday, while visiting the hard-hit Eastern Shore community of Three Fathom Harbour. They recalled the freak 1976 Groundhog Day storm that laid waste to the industry around Digby. And they wanted to do whatever they could to help now.

"We thought about the fishermen up here, having to go out in another month and how are they going to get their gear," he said, after helping Digby lobsterman Richard Gaudet unload donated lobster traps from a truck. The donation - the first of many destined for grateful Eastern Shore fishermen - allows men like Dave Theriault to focus on cleanup and repair chores instead of investing time in building new traps or investing scarce cash in buying them.

"There's no way we would be ready for next lobster season if we had to get them all built," he said.

The herring and lobster fisherman watched last week as Juan washed his shed full of gear off a narrow causeway. Waves floated it down the harbour. Most of his gear was damaged or lost.

He said the gesture by Digby fishermen won't be forgotten. "Fishermen are competitive, but this is when being Nova Scotians comes through, people trying to help out as best they can."

Grit MLA Keith Colwell, whose Preston riding endured ferocious winds and waves that tore apart wharves, agreed."I think it's a great thing for fishermen to be helping other fishermen and it's much appreciated," Mr. Colwell said.

The storm obliterated fishing sheds, damaged boats and sank gear such as lobster traps and netting at the Fisherman's Reserve in Three Fathom Harbour. "They remember what it was like for themselves and they are doing a great thing now," said Mr. Colwell. His Grit colleague from Digby-Annapolis said the donated gear is "good enough for a season, to get them started, until the government (relief) money starts coming in to help them next year."

"I know what it's like in November, there's not much money in the bank, there's none. You spent whatever you had left gearing up for the season. "Now these guys have nothing to go fishing with." Mr. Gaudet said he and other Digby fishermen are preparing for the November start to their season and setting aside whatever gear and traps they can spare.

"We'll be setting up depots and letting the guys up here know where they can pick up gear," said Mr. Gaudet. Anything is welcome and appreciated, according to Dave Theriault. He estimates wharf repairs and replacing gear will run past the $50,000 mark, just for himself.