From beef to maple syrup, community members can bid on products from local farmers and support the farming communities in Peterborough and the Kawarthas at the same time by taking part in an upcoming auction.

Farms at Work and Peterborough 4-H have announced the first-ever online agricultural benefit auction sale, hosted by Jason McIntosh Auctions. Community members can register now as a bidder and bidding begins on Monday (March 11).

The purpose of the auction is to encourage appreciation of the local agricultural community.

Participants can bid on products directly from farmers. A portion of the proceeds will be invested locally to support young people and new farmers through Peterborough 4-H and Farms at Work.

“I have been thinking about how to run an auction to celebrate our agricultural community for some time,” said McIntosh, a beef farmer for more than 20 years, in a media release.

“I want to help create more understanding and connection between farms and the community they work for. I am hoping this auction can become an annual event and that the whole community will become involved.”

Online bidding runs through to March 19 at 6 p.m. To date, there are more than 100 items on which to bid, including a trail ride, gift certificates for local farms and stores, a tractor, and more. To check out the items for sale, visit the online auction site at jasonmcintoshauctions.hibid.com.

“Even if you haven’t participated in an online auction before, you will find it easy and fun.”

Meanwhile, farmers still have time to consign products in the sale.

Pat Learmonth, a member of the Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable, told kawarthaNOW “it seems there is a lot going on these days” in the local farming community. Farms at Work recently launched a new online tool to help farmers locate available farmland in the province.

For the auction, Learmonth said more details about the items available to bid upon will be shared soon.

“We hope to circulate a list of the farms and businesses that have submitted items to be auctioned early next week,” Learmonth said.

Farms at Work is a local non-profit working throughout the region for the past 14 years to help new farmers develop skills, find mentorship and access farmland.

Peterborough 4-H, which is part of the Ontario and Canadian 4-H programs, aims to help youth become leaders in their communities and positive contributors to society. 4-H is open to all youth across the province.

Peterborough city council will be meeting as general committee on Monday (March 11).

Following a closed session at 4:30 p.m., council will meet in council chambers at 6 p.m. for an open session.

Below is a summary of what’s on the agenda for Monday’s meeting.

Cross border servicing

City staff will present council with a proposed amendment to the city’s official plan that would allow the city to extend municipal utility and water and sanitary sewer services beyond the city boundary on a case-by-case basis.

The amendment would allow municipal water and sanitary sewer services to be extended to developments in the townships of Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield and Otonabee-South Monaghan.

Canadian Canoe Museum

Canadian Canoe Museum executive director Carolyn Hyslop will provide an update to council on the new museum at 2077 Ashburnham Drive.

The museum’s official opening is planned for the weekend of May 11.

Update on modular housing community

City staff will present a report to council on the modular housing community that replaced the tent encampment on Wolfe Street last November.

Constructed at a cost of almost $2.5 million, the fully fenced site includes 50 modular homes, a separate bathroom unit, 24/7 security, and an indoor community space at 210 Wolfe Street with a kitchenette and laundry facilities. Dinner is provided daily for all people living on the site, who also receive personalized care plans that support individual goal-setting related to stabilization, maintaining housing, employment, and health.

“In the initial 10 weeks, there have been minimal issues on site, with only four emergency service calls, demonstrating improved site stability compared to encampment scenarios,” the report states in describing “promising early successes” at the community. “People who moved into the community quickly adapted to their new homes, showcasing positive mental and physical improvements within days.”

In terms of neighbourhood impact, the report notes that there has been “an observable positive change in the Wolfe Street neighbourhood” and that the community liaison committee has indicated the neighbourhood “is feeling tidier, quieter and safer.”

City staff estimate the operating costs of the modular community are around $2 million annually. As council approved the project to operate for two years (until November 2025), city staff will provide council with a report in the first half of 2025 with recommendations on next steps.

Deferral or forgiveness of Innovation Cluster loan

City staff will present a report responding to a request from the Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas that the city defer or forgive an outstanding loan of $162,945.03.

The report, which includes a statement from the Innovation Cluster describing the economic benefits to the community that would result if the city were to forgive the loan, provides council with options for either deferring loan payments of forgiving the loan entirely.

If council decides to forgive the loan, city staff suggest the unbudgeted expense in 2024 of $162,945.03 be drawn from the existing future assessment loss reserve, which has a balance of $268,955.

Design and contract administration consultant for new Peterborough police facility

City staff will present a report recommending that Shoalts and Zaback Architects Ltd. of Kingston be appointed as the prime consultant for the Peterborough Police Station renovation design and contract administration. This includes the proposed new police administrative facility to be located at 1421 Lansdowne Street West as well as the existing police station located at 500 Water Street.

The fee to be paid to Shoalts and Zaback Architects Ltd. would be eight per cent of the estimated $3.2 million construction cost, or $416,000.

“Shoalts and Zaback Architects Ltd. is familiar with the existing police station at 500 Water Street and has provided other police station designs in the past, the work being proposed builds upon the work previously done,” the report states.

City staff are recommending that Shoalts and Zaback Architects Ltd., which was the same consultant the city hired in 2018 to evaluate the existing police facility and new space requirements, be hired without a non-competitive procurement process.

Contract renewal for Ontario Works client file digitization

City staff will present a report recommending that the contract with Nimble Information Strategies Inc. for the digitization of files for Ontario Works clients be renewed for an additional three years at a total cost of $232,818.

Cost-shared between municipalities and the Ontario government, Ontario Works provides money for food, shelter, and other costs to people in financial need who meet the eligibility criteria. A part of an electronic data management project to reduce paper files, with the goal of eliminating the need to store and pay for file storage off site, the province is supporting the digitization of files for Ontario Works clients.

“The digitization project with Nimble has been underway since the summer of 2020 and the company has performed as expected,” the report states. “Staff’s recommendation is to renew the agreement with Nimble for an additional three years as listed as an option in the 2020 agreement.”

“The extension of the project is necessary as the original estimate provided by the Province of the number of records to be digitized under the prescribed legislation was significantly underestimated and the initial contract was delayed as it was initiated during the pandemic.”

Delegated authority to deem events as “municipally significant”

City staff will present a report recommending that the city’s commissioner of community services be provided with delegated authority to deem events located at the Peterborough Memorial Centre and surrounding grounds as “municipally significant,” which would allow private organizations to sell specialized alcoholic products at that location.

Organizations that wish to sell alcoholic products at events are first required to obtain a public special occasion permit from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). These permits are limited to charitable and not-for-profit events that benefit the public at large or to events that are deemed as “municipally significant.”

A municipally significant event is defined as one that has local, regional, national or international historical or cultural significance, builds awareness of diverse cultures, or benefits the community at large.

The report states that, while the Peterborough Memorial Centre hosts around 50 special events each year, most do not sell alcohol products. However, an event scheduled to take place there in April (the “Peterborough I Heart Beer & Taco Festival”) will be selling alcohol products and must be deemed as municipally significant to proceed.

Applications to AGCO for a public special occasion permit must be accompanied by either a municipal resolution or a letter from a delegated municipal official designating the event as municipally significant. In the past, municipally significant designations would have been made by council resolution.

The report also recommends that, if other municipal facilities receive requests to host events that require a municipally significant designation, organizers be redirected to the Peterborough Memorial Centre or grounds to host the event.

You can view the full agenda with attached reports on the City of Peterborough website. Items endorsed by general committee on March 11 will be considered by council for final approval the following Monday. Council meetings are streamed live on the city’s website.

The City of Kawartha Lakes and the City of Peterborough collectively prevented 12,211 kilograms of batteries from ending up in a landfill last year.

Both municipalities are receiving recognition for their environmental efforts from Call2Recycle Canada.

Call2Recycle, a not-for-profit organization for battery collection and recycling in Canada, has presented the City of Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes with “Leader in Sustainability” awards for 2023. Both communities participate in the Call2Recycle program.

In Peterborough, residents diverted 4,241 kilograms of batteries from the landfill in 2023 by using the municipality’s battery collection options, which target ensuring the environmentally responsible disposal of and reuse of the materials, a media release noted.

“Thanks to your contributions and support of valued partners like you, Call2Recycle increased collections by 32 per cent in 2023, diverting almost six million kilograms of batteries from landfill,” Call2Recycle stated in its award notification to the city.

Meanwhile, Kawartha Lakes collected 7,970 kilograms of household batteries through the Call2Recycle program in 2023, making it one of the program’s top-performing partners, noted a media release from Kawartha Lakes.

The Leader in Sustainability award is granted each year to organizations that display exceptional commitment to the environment and responsible battery management.

“Each year, Canadians recycle more and more of their used batteries with Call2Recycle, thanks to the ongoing partnership of organizations like the City of Kawartha Lakes,” said Joe Zenobio, president of Call2Recycle Canada.

“This partnership speaks to a real commitment to sustainability and makes a significant difference, The support we receive from Kawartha Lakes helps us achieve our mission of maximizing battery diversion from the waste stream, which in turn protects wildlife, the environment and our communities.”

Kawartha Lakes said its proud to be named a 2023 leader in sustainability.

“Recycling batteries properly and keeping them out of our landfills is very important to us from both an environmental and sustainability perspective,” said David Kerr, manager of environmental services for Kawartha Lakes. “A big thank you goes out to our residents for supporting our battery collection program and helping us work towards our goal of diverting all used batteries from our landfills.”

In Kawartha Lakes, the spring curbside battery collection occurs this month. The municipality will be collecting used batteries curbside from March 18 to 21 on residents’ regularly scheduled collection day.

To dispose of used batteries properly, Kawartha Lakes asks residents to place the batteries inside a clear, re-sealable bag and leave it on top of their fibre recycling materials. The bag of batteries should be at the curb by 7 a.m. For more information, read the municipality’s March 18 to 21 battery collection reminder.

In Peterborough, batteries can be dropped off for safe disposal at the household hazardous waste depot at 400 Pido Rd. and at these locations throughout the city:

• City Hall, 500 George St. N.
• Peterborough Public Library, 345 Aylmer St.
• Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr.
• GreenUP Store, 378 Aylmer St.
• Kingan Home Hardware, 167 Simcoe St.

Businesses that are interested in becoming a City of Peterborough battery diversion drop-off location can contact Shivaan Burke, circular economy municipal services coordinator, at sburke@peterborough.ca for more information.

Call2Recycle is Canada’s leading organization for battery collection and recycling, fulfilling product stewardship obligations on behalf of over 400 members, including producers of single-use and rechargeable batteries.

Since its inception in 1997, Call2Recycle has diverted over 45 million kilograms of batteries from Canadian landfills.

Call2Recycle powers “Recycle Your Batteries, Canada!”, which is a household and e-bike battery collection and recycling program. Residents can check out recycleyourbatteries.ca for more information on battery recycling, including the 10,000 drop-off locations across Canada that accept batteries for recycling.

A teenage girl is facing an assault charge for allegedly stabbing a teenage boy in Peterborough early Thursday afternoon (March 7).

At around noon on Thursday, police officers were called to the parking lot of St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church at Hilliard Street and St. Pauls Street after reports of a disturbance involving a large group of youth.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers learned that a 15-year-old boy had been stabbed.

The boy was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre with non-life threatening injuries.

After an investigation, police arrested and charged a 15-year-old Peterborough girl with aggravated assault.

The accused teen was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court on March 25.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the entire Kawarthas region for possible significant rainfall late Friday (March 8) through Saturday.

The special weather statement is in effect for Peterborough County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.

A low pressure system will bring widespread rain across southern Ontario over the weekend. Periods of rain will begin over southwestern Ontario late Friday and progress eastward overnight into Saturday.

Total rainfall amounts of 20 to 40 mm are expected, with higher amounts possible. At this point, there is still uncertainty regarding rainfall amounts.

Rainfall warnings may be issued for some regions as the event approaches.

The rain is expected to taper to flurries Saturday night as colder air moves into the region.

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.