Letters to the editor • Feb. – March 2018

Needle Hunters are part of a city-wide needle recovery program

I would like to thank Mr Newman for highlighting the important work of Needle Hunters whose work helps protect our community from improperly discarded needles (IMAGE Dec. 2017-Jan. 2018). It is important to note that the needles collected by the Needle Hunters represent a very small fraction of the total number of needles collected by a city-wide comprehensive needle recovery program. This program includes needle retrievals from harm reduction programs located at various agencies throughout the city, needle drop boxes located across the city, Household Hazardous Waste Depots, local pharmacies, and as mentioned, the needle hunters.

As part of this program, 1,863,131 needles were retrieved in 2017. Of those, 14,448 improperly discarded needles were collected by the Needle Hunters highlighting that over 99% of used needles are properly discarded through the various mechanisms mentioned above. For a complete overview of the needle retrieval programs, please visit Ottawa Public Health’s website www.ottawapublichealth.ca/en/public-health-topics/discarded-needles-in-our-communities.aspx

• Andrew Hendriks
• Director, Health Protection,   Ottawa Public Health

Roast Café opens on Somerset East near Blackburn

Thank you for making me aware of the “Roast Café” on 323 Somerset Street East in the last issue of IMAGE. A friend and I went there for lunch today and were happy we did. The space is lovely—uncrowded, bright and very welcoming. The chairs are comfortable. Our panini sandwiches were excellent, carefully made with fresh and tasty ingredients: chicken and brie for my friend, prosciutto and cheese with an intriguing touch of pesto for me, both on exceptionally good ciabatta bread. I’m looking forward to having the Avocado and Cheese Panini the next time I go. The service was prompt and attentive without being intrusive. A great addition to the local restaurant scene—I’ll be back for sure.

A tip to the owner: Add an eye-catcher to the entrance—right now the signage is so discreet that it is hard to decide which of the two doors to the building is the door to the café.

• Dodi Newman
• Laurier Ave. E.

Reader echoes IMAGE review

Gandhi’s Village is the new Indian restaurant tucked away on Mann Avenue I found out about it on Facebook and ate there just before the review in the last issue of IMAGE appeared. I was so impressed with the food that I want to reinforce the sentiments in the review.

There are a wide range of delicious sounding starters, dosais and curries on the menu. Choosing my meal was the result of an exploration of my food preferences with the chef; he suggested a dosai. It was absolutely satisfying, with a complex mix of flavours. A soft lentil crepe was wrapped around a tasty mix of spiced veggies, and came with sambar (lentil soup or dipping sauce) and coconut chutney. It was the best dosai I have eaten, in fact.

I was served quickly with a freshly cooked meal, but I noticed a large take out order took some time. If you are in a hurry, I suggest you ask what dishes can be made quickly.

The place fits perfectly into Sandy Hill. It is friendly, relaxed, simply decorated and focuses its efforts on delivering high quality meals.

• Diane Beckett
• Chapel St.