As the number of cases of measles “rapidly” increases worldwide, both the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU) and Peterborough Public Health (PPH) are calling on parents to have their children immunized.

Measles is a highly contagious, serious airborne infectious disease that is prevented by vaccination, HKPRDHU said.

In Ontario, five cases of measles have been reported over the past few weeks. As a result, PPH is “strongly urging” residents, especially parents of young children, to review their immunization records and get up to date with measles vaccines.

Both area medical officers of health (MoH) said the timing to heed the advice is now, with March Break approaching and some residents travelling out of Canada.

There are cases in the country being linked to travel, noted Dr. Thomas Piggott, MoH and CEO for PPH.

“For those travelling this time of year, we are urging residents to avoid bringing home measles as their souvenir,” Piggott said in a media release. “Measles is a highly infectious virus that can be deadly for those who are not protected. Receiving a vaccine is the best protection against an infection.

Two doses of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine or the measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV) vaccine are available free of charge for everyone in Ontario from a health care provider.

While immunization may take two to three weeks to provide full protection, ensuring protection before travel for March Break — or being protected in general — “is still important for everyone,” PPH noted.

PPH is encouraging residents to review their immunization records online or over the phone, consult their yellow book record, or contact their health care provider to determine if they are protected against measles.

Residents born after 1970 who have not had a measles vaccine or who are unsure about receiving a measles vaccine are encouraged to receive at least one dose from their health care provider before travelling. Residents born before 1970 are assumed to have had measles in childhood and considered protected. However, in some cases, residents should still discuss their individual risk with their health care providers, PPH said.

VIDEO: Five things to know about measles – World Health Organization

Although measles was declared eliminated in Canada in 1998, with endemic transmission no longer taking place, outbreaks can still happen when susceptible individuals — those who aren’t vaccinated — travel to and return from other countries where measles is circulating, HKPRDHU noted.

Most of these cases involve unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children. However, a non-travel, vaccinated measles case has been reported in Ontario, the health unit noted.

According to Health Canada, only 79 per cent of the population has been vaccinated for measles.

“Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, some children have had delays of their routine childhood immunizations, which includes the MMR vaccination, and leaves them at risk of contracting measles,” said Dr. Natalie Bocking, MoH and CEO for HKPRDHU.

“With the rise in measles cases, we’d like to remind and encourage people to ensure all your immunizations are up to date, including the MMR vaccine, particularly before travelling internationally this March Break.”

The health units noted that staying up to date with the measles vaccine is still recommended for both residents who have returned from travel and those who don’t plan to travel.

Residents who have returned from travelling are being asked to monitor for signs and symptoms of measles. Symptoms usually appear four to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

The symptoms include a runny nose, a cough, red and watery eyes, a high fever, and small white spots inside the cheeks and mouth. The rash associated with measles, which can appear all over the body, typically occurs between days seven and 18 of the disease’s onset.

Anyone who experiences any of these symptoms after travel is asked to contact their health care provider by phone and avoid attending any public settings. Residents who believe they have been in contact with the measles virus while travelling should do the following:

• Return to Canada wearing a well-fitting mask (preferably N95/KN95 style)
• Limit unnecessary contact with others
• Monitor closely for symptoms

To learn more about the measles virus and risk associated with it, visit peterboroughpublichealth.ca/yourhealth/measles/ or hkpr.on.ca/health-topics/infections/measles/.

To review Ontario’s routine immunization schedule, visit ontario.ca/page/ontarios-routine-immunization-schedule.

“Dance and sing. Both give an almost immediate uplift to the soul and body.”

So states a line on the list of Erin Sullivan’s “Life Lessons to Live By.”

Friends and family of the late Ennismore resident, who passed away of cystic fibrosis in October 2022, will be living by those words on Friday, March 22nd when they gather for a kitchen party in her honour to support individuals coming out of homelessness.

Held at the Peterborough Lion’s Community Centre from 7 to 11 p.m., the kitchen party will be hosted by Megan Murphy, feature a silent auction of donated local goods, and include performances by Melissa Payne, Kate Brioux, Paul Crough, and Kate Suhr.

Tickets cost $25 with all proceeds going towards One City Peterborough’s campaign to purchase a home to be called the Erin Sullivan House or Erin’s House.

“She would love this,” says Joanne Rowland, an organizer of the fundraiser. “This was just perfect for her.”

When Sullivan passed away at 43 years of age, it was 26 years later than the life expectancy she was given at birth. Though she was in and out of the hospital and the recipient of a double lung transplant, for at least the last 10 years of her life, Sullivan volunteered much of her time to One Roof — the now-defunct daily community meal program held at St. John’s the Evangelist Anglican Church in Peterborough.

“What I noticed about her is that she knew people by name,” recalls Rowland. “She’d have this really warm relationship with people there and there was no difference between her and them. She made people feel really included and welcome.”

“Whenever her health permitted, she was there,” adds Jane Wilson, another long-time friend of Sullivan’s and a fundraiser organizer. “She was very present.”

Since early 2020, One City Peterborough, a non-profit supporting the inclusion of people who have experienced homelessness and criminalization, has been the property manager of the four-bedroom home that will be known as Erin’s House.

With the assistance of a $225,000 anonymous donation, the home was purchased in November 2023 through engagement in a vendor take-back mortgage with the previous owner. With $55,670 raised by Sullivan’s friends and family since, the campaign’s goal is to raise the remaining balance of $160,330.

“I remember sitting at the Silver Bean (with Sullivan) and she said, ‘If I had lots of money, I’d just buy houses for people’,” says Wilson. “That’s where her heart was, so (Erin’s House) seemed like the perfect way to honour her.”

When Sullivan wasn’t volunteering at One Roof or working at Sullivan’s General Store, which her family has owned for more than 100 years, she was advocating for organ donor registration and hosting regular fundraisers for Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

“She had a severe illness for her whole life and that experience gave her deep compassion for anyone who was suffering, whether it be a friend or someone on the street,” Wilson says. “She understood the fragility and the uncertainty of life.”

The kitchen party’s host, Megan Murphy, also harboured a special relationship with Sullivan, having stated at her funeral that they were friends for more than 30 years. Sullivan was the subject of Murphy’s 2011 short documentary Shelf Life, where Sullivan spoke of having reached the goal of living to 32 years old and figuring out what comes next.

“Shelf Life is just beautiful,” says Rowland. “it’s about her saying ‘I’m still here, now what?’ But what she did in the last twelve years of her life was really important — that’s when she did her volunteer work.”

VIDEO: “Shelf Life” by Megan Murphy

The fundraiser’s silent auction will offer about 20 donated goods from local bookstores, retailers, theatres, and eateries, as well as jewellery and other handmade goods from local artists, including Wilson herself, who has made mugs for the occasion.

A nod to the connections she made in the community, some of the donors as well as the sponsors are offering support because of their relationship with Sullivan, including Millbrook Valley Animal Hospital where Sullivan took her dog. Other sponsors include Sarah Evan’s Century 21 Realtor, The Mortgage Group – Kellie Bonnici, Les French Locksmiths, and Sherbrooke Heights Animal Hospital. Organizers are still looking for more sponsors.

Whether community members are looking to support individuals coming out of homelessness or paying tribute to Sullivan, tickets to the kitchen party fundraiser are selling fast. With the musical line-up and goods available through silent auction, the organizers are promising a “joyful” event that Sullivan herself would enjoy.

“(My partner) called her a ‘little sprite’ because she just floated and danced,” says Rowland, noting that Sullivan would be out dancing just weeks after coming out of the hospital. “When she felt good, she took advantage of it.”

“She would be at the kitchen party dancing,” adds Wilson.

Contact Wilson at jlouisewilson226@gmail.com or Rowland at joannerowland@gmail.com to purchase one of the few remaining tickets or to become a sponsor for the fundraiser.

If you can’t get a ticket, you can still make a donation to Erin’s House by visiting canadahelps.org/en/charities/onecityptbo/campaign/erin-sullivan-house/.

An interaction between a security guard contracted by the City of Peterborough and Food Not Bombs Peterborough has drawn condemnation from supporters of the grassroots group.

On Monday (March 4) in Confederation Square across from City Hall, where Food Not Bombs weekly distributes free meals to those in need, a security guard directed the group that it now must have a city-issued permit to continue do so.

Will Pearson, a Food Not Bombs volunteer, was leading the meal serving at the time.

“He (the security guard) approached me and said that he had been directed to come and inform us that we don’t have a permit and, without a permit, we weren’t allowed to be in the park,” says Pearson, adding he’s not sure if the group does have a permit.

“We’ve been doing this for 17, 18 years and, to my knowledge, that has never been an issue,” Pearson adds, referring to a permit. “I can’t speak for the group, but I was a little bit confused. My priority was to serve the meal. I knew we had dozens of people coming within 20 minutes, so I was like ‘Well, I’m going to keep going because I really want to serve this meal.’ That’s what I did.”

According to a Facebook post by long-time volunteer Myles Conner, the group has been serving meals at Confederation Park or outside City Hall every Monday since November 2005 — almost 19 years.

Pearson says he asked the security guard what by-law, or portion of a by-law, the group was “contravening” but the security guard “said he didn’t know.”

“He said the city had informed him that we don’t have a permit and that it was his job to shut us down. He then went back to his car, talked to whoever his contact is, came back and said he would give us an hour to tear down and leave, and that if he came back in an hour and we were still there, he would have to call the police.”

That didn’t happen as the group was done serving its meal within an hour. But on Wednesday (March 6), Pearson received an emailed statement from Mayor Jeff Leal that provided clarity on the permit need and noted the city raised the matter with Food Not Bombs on February 12.

“The permit process helps keep our community safe by ensuring that aspects such as fire safety, electrical setups, the location of structures, and other considerations are agreed upon for the use of public space,” wrote Mayor Leal.

“After three weeks, a permit application had not been started. Since the group did not have a permit, it was asked to remove its tent and tables from Confederation Square on March 4, and given information on how to get a permit for its activity.”

Pearson says he has “no reason to dispute” Mayor Leal’s confirmation that Food Not Bombs was served notice that a permit is now needed to serve meals in the park.

“It’s possible that some (Food Not Bombs) volunteer received that but I don’t know if that’s true,” says Pearson.

Promising to look into the matter is city councillor Joy Lachica.

“I’m not sure what happened but I’d like to hear what precipitated this because it’s very surprising,” she says. “The next step is to find out what transpired and to mitigate anything like this from happening again. What I know so far is upsetting to hear.”

“We all care very much about the good work that groups and individuals do to help support those that are more vulnerable by addressing our food security issues, so we certainly want to get to the bottom of this.”

Far more direct are two supporters of Food Not Bombs, both of whom wrote emails to the city, the Mayor, and city councillors decrying the security guard’s approach and subsequent ultimatum that it pack up and leave.

“The actions taken by the security guard raise serious questions about the priorities and values of Peterborough City Hall,” wrote Naomi Duvall. “By allowing such treatment of individuals engaged in humanitarian efforts, it sends a message that the city does not prioritize the well-being of its most vulnerable residents.”

“Furthermore, the enforcement of arbitrary rules, such as the prohibition of tents in parks, only serves to exacerbate the hardships faced by marginalized communities. Instead of addressing the root causes of homelessness and poverty, it perpetuates cycles of inequality and exclusion.”

In her letter, Kate Story echoed that view.

“While it may seem like one isolated event, the fact that community volunteers — engaged in humanitarian efforts driven by an organization that has been feeding our community’s citizens living in poverty and food insecurity for many years — were intimidated while doing their important work is extremely troubling.”

“When we look squarely at the fact that Peterborough has consistently failed to address the root causes of poverty and homelessness, it becomes even more troubling.”

Story also made a plea to “not allow outsourced security to set the tone of the way our city deals with frontline volunteers feeding the hungry and advocating for social justice,” adding “It’s not a small incident. It must be addressed immediately and it must not happen again.”

As for Food Not Bombs’ plan for this coming Monday night (March 11), Pearson expects “it will be business as usual.”

Every week, Food Not Bombs collects surplus food from farmers, gardeners, grocers, bulk food stores, bakers, and the community at large and then, at All Saints Anglican Church, prepares a meal that is transported each Monday night to Confederation Square. The free meals feed, on average, about 50 people.

The wholly volunteer-driven group’s stated mission is to “defend and reclaim community, sovereignty and food justice from the jaws of poverty and war.”

Update Thursday, March 7

kawarthaNOW contacted Myles Conner, an official representative of Food Not Bombs Peterborough, who is currently out of the country.

In an email, Conner states he is unaware of any communication from the City of Peterborough that was provided to the group on Monday, February 12.

“Maybe the city ordered someone to inform us but I have checked in with each other person helping that night and none of us have any recollection of (this) occurring,” Conner says, adding that it is possible the notice was handed to a “random person” who was not part of the group.

A person from Hastings has been charged with mischief after a family dispute about a headstone.

Last Thursday (February 29), Peterborough County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a call reporting damage had been done to a headstone been purchased for future use.

The headstone, which contained the names of a couple as well as the names of family members, had been placed at a cemetery.

A person whose name was on the headstone but who did not want to be associated with others on the headstone, went to the the cemetery and chiselled their name off it. This caused irreparable damage to the headstone which the owners reported to police.

Police arrested a 31-year-old person from Hastings and charged them with mischief over $5,000.

The accused person, who police are not naming to protect the identity of the victims, will appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Peterborough at a future date.

After more than a decade of planning, Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes hosted the grand opening of its new $15-million Community Health Centre in Lindsay last Friday (March 1).

A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the front doors marked the official opening of the new purpose-built facility at 21 Angeline Street North, which is now home to Community Care’s clinical services including the primary care clinic, dental clinic, and Geriatric Assessment and Intervention Network (GAIN) team.

The space also supports a variety of Community Care’s wellness programs, including community-based exercise classes, cooking classes, and the Good Food Box program.

“The opening of our new Community Health Centre is a milestone day in our journey to enhance the delivery of care in our community,” said Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes CEO Ryan Alexander. “This project would not have been possible without the expertise, patience, leadership of our previous CEOs and their ability to bring a group toward a common vision.”

Those previous CEOs were Valmay Barkey, Cathy Danbrook, and Barb Mildon.

While Community Care had opened a Community Health Centre in rented space in 2009, the project to create a new purpose-built facility began in earnest when the Ontario Ministry of Health approved development plans for a new Community Health Centre in 2013. Three years later, Community Care purchased the land on Angeline Street across from Ross Memorial Hospital.

The property was the former location of the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP detachment, which was demolished in 2017 to make way for the new Community Health Centre. In 2021, the Ministry of Health providing approval and funding for the construction of the facility, which began in January 2022. Community donors also contributed $400,000 through a capital campaign.

The team of health care providers at the Community Health Centre offers primary care for children and families, affordable dental care for everyone, and specialized geriatric care for seniors to support their independence and quality of life.

For more information about Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes, visit ccckl.ca.

From a small acreage for market gardening near Hastings to a 20-acre grazing pasture in Northumberland County, Farms at Work is hoping to keep farmland in production with the launch of a new online tool.

The Peterborough-based non-profit organization has launched findfarmland.ca, a free resource designed to improve access to agricultural land by helping farmers and landowners find each other.

“The most exciting thing is that by creating this simple bulletin board we could actually keep farmland in production that would otherwise sit idle,” Pat Learmonth, a member of the Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable, told kawarthaNOW.

Find Farmland is designed to make it easier for people to find available land and to encourage owners to keep it in production. The user-friendly, searchable website lists farmland available across the province. Anyone can search for land based on geography, facilities, and other characteristics.

The tool’s introduction is timely and has a critical role, Farms at Work said in a media release.

“As baby-boom farmers retire, more and more non-farmers are purchasing farms,” the organization noted. “Sometimes all or part of their good farmland is taken out of production, and that is not good for Ontario.”

In 15 years, from 2006 to 2021, there was a 12 per cent decline in land actively farmed in the province.

“We need all the farmland we have in order to feed Ontario and build local food security. Recent political upheaval, the pandemic and severe climate events have demonstrated clearly how supply chain disruptions can directly affect groceries shelves in Ontario.”

Farms at Work said new farmers can contribute to food security, but with prices skyrocketing, few can afford to purchase a farm and instead are looking for suitable farmland to rent.

Farms at Work wants farmland owners to visit the website, find out how easy it is to post a property, and share this opportunity with other landowners who may be looking to rent out all or part of their farmland.

“To feed our growing population, we must start with a sufficient supply of local, quality land that is accessible to farmers,” said Kelly Carmichael, Farms at Work board chair, in the media release.

“Protecting agricultural land and our capacity to feed ourselves is paramount. Farms at Work’s new tool puts us on the right path.”

Farms at Work’s mission is to keep healthy farmland in farming by providing space for hands-on learning, knowledge sharing and community building, as well as providing support for access to land. Learn more about Farms at Work at farmsatwork.ca.

Peterborough police are investigating after a suspicious fire at a vacant former rooming house on Water Street on Tuesday night (March 5).

At around 8:14 p.m. on Tuesday, Peterborough Fire Services received multiple calls about a fire at the boarded-up building at 557-559 Water Street on the southwest corner of Water and London streets.

Multiple fire crews attacked the fire from all four sides, as well as from above using a remotely piloted aircraft system. By 2 a.m., the fire was out although a fire crew remained on the scene knocking down hot spots in the crevices of the attic area.

Peterborough Fire Services estimates the damage to the building, which is listed as a heritage property, at $200,000.

Water Street between London and McDonnel streets was closed for around three-and-a-half hours. Police say the Ontario Fire Marshal is expected at the scene on Wednesday to assist in the investigation.

Previously used as a rooming house, the three-storey 12-unit building was boarded up after being gutted by a fire in 2019. Prior to that, it had been the scene of multiple police investigations over several years, including for a shooting and a stabbing.