This Week | Thursday, February 24,2022 durhamregion.com | 30 When confusion and uncertainty replaced everyday life in March 2020, a pair of Scugog residents began brainstorming on how they could help bring some clarity to the situation. At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, almost two years ago, Lisa Follows, and Keith Williams were as befuddled as everyone else as a cascade of closures and restrictions soon hogged headlines, creating a sense of fear in the community. That uncertainty led the pair of local real estate agents to quickly create the Port Perry Bulletin. This Facebook group now boasts about 11,000 members that seek to soothe the community, herald the efforts of front-line workers and provide answers in a time of crisis. "At the beginning, what I think it did was solidify people, and it became that community place where you could go to get all your information and share ideas," said Follows. The Port Perry Bulletin has a strict no-negativity policy policed by three administrators who actively keep discussion threads upbeat and look at the positive side of things. The occupation of downtown Ottawa by frustrated truckers and their supporters is one topic you won't find on the Bulletin, which tries to eschew politics and the negative comments that usually accompany those discussions. "It turns into such a vile conversation, and a lot of people that are on the Bulletin appreciate the fact we do keep that stuff off," said Williams. "There's plenty of other venues on social media to air grievances and opinions like that." This perch has given Follows, Williams and Kristen Myers-Creamer, who also moderates the group, a unique first-hand glimpse at how the Scugog community has reacted to the ongoing pandemic. For the most part, they say, the community has rallied together -- in support of each other, health- care workers and local businesses -- since the start of the pandemic, a sense of togetherness that survived through various shutdowns, lockdowns and other restrictions. One example, said Follows, is Cheryl Hill, a "single-handed warrior" who provided information through the Bulletin for those struggling to book vaccine appointments. "I can think of dozens of people in the community who have gone way out of their way to make sure others are safe and cared for," she said. "That has been incredibly heartwarming." However, as the pandemic has dragged on, there's a sense that Scugog's fellowship began to fray somewhat in the past couple of months as the latest Omicron variant brought on another round of restrictions, trying the patience of residents more than ever. "People haven't had the outlets to go exercise, to join their friends and family, to do the things to recharge them mentally and emotionally, so I do feel that we're at a little bit of a point where people need something new -- even more good, even more kindness than where we were at the beginning," said Follows. Williams also applauds the efforts of groups like the Port Perry BIA and Scugog Township through its 'Community Isn't Cancelled' campaign, which promoted togetherness, patience, and understanding. "We went into this together; we need to come out of it together," he said. From her perspective, Scugog Mayor Bobbie Drew believes "the community has pulled together" through the pandemic, citing the support for each other as well as local businesses that have suffered over the previous months. "The evidence of that is people are surviving, businesses are surviving -- they've been very good about following the rules, and that shows in the results," said Mayor Drew. "We're all tired of this -- of course, we want it to end -- but if we follow the rules and be respectful of one another, I think the end will come sooner rather than later." STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Nearly two years after the pandemic began, the Port Perry Star looked to see if the Scugog community had rallied together throughout COVID-19 or if a sense of divisiveness had taken over the township. 'WE WENT INTO THIS TOGETHER, WE NEED TO COME OUT TOGETHER' CHRIS HALL chall@durhamregion.com COMMUNITY SCUGOG COMMUNITY RALLIES TOGETHER DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT FRAYS ARE BEGINNING AS COVID-19 CONTINUES Kristen Myers-Creamer, Lisa Follows and Keith Williams are all administrators of the popular 'Port Perry Bulletin' Facebook page which was created in March 2020 to bring the community together at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jason Liebregts/Metroland A Durham District School Board trustee who planned to to step down earlier this month has rescinded her resignation. Oshawa trustee Linda Stone informed the board via email she would be resigning as of Feb. 1. A special board meeting was scheduled for Feb. 7 for trustees to deal with the matter. "The Education Act requires that a board approve a trustees' resignation. In this instance, the special board meeting called for this purpose was cancelled because Trustee Stone rescinded her resignation prior to the board meeting being held," DDSB board chair Carolyn Morton said in a statement. "Trustee Stone currently remains trustee for Oshawa." Stone declined to comment on why she intended to resign -- or why the resignation was rescinded. The trustee has faced scrutiny in recent weeks after raising concerns that the DDSB's draft Human Rights, Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Racism Policy could limit free speech and suggesting such polices can be "dangerous." The Durham local of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario spoke out against Stone's comments, with ETFO Durham president Mary Fowler saying the trustee used her public platform "to discuss equity in a way that many would view as provocative and confrontational." At a Jan. 24 meeting of the DDSB's governance and policy committee, Stone said "attacks on free speech is a universal tactic of intolerant groups who wish to only have their beliefs heard. Fall in line with the orthodox way of thinking or you will be cancelled, chastised, doxxed, fired ...." Stone then stepped down from her role as chair of the governance and policy committee on Jan. 31, noting "my voice is no longer welcome or wanted and I no longer feel safe on this committee." SCHOOL TRUSTEE DOES ABOUT FACE, RESCINDS RESIGNATION JILLIAN FOLLERT jfoller t@durhamregion.com NEWS LINDA STONE DDSB photo