In the News: white fox "Frankie"; college enrollment declining

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"A rare white fox was captured Thursday in Franklin after spending the last few weeks visiting the yards of various homes near the state forest. 

The gregarious vixen, with soft streaks of red and black in her fur and black-tipped ears, was taken in by the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife after she was caught in cooperation with the Franklin animal control department. The capture followed a sighting reported to the agency Thursday morning. 

Dave Wattles, a black bear and furbearer biologist with the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, said the fox showed no indications of being rabid, though she has been vaccinated."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161209/rare-white-fox-captured-in-franklin/1

https://www.facebook.com/animaladventures.waycoolerthanazoo/videos/1374168705940101/

If you want to help the white fox "Frankie" listen to this
https://www.facebook.com/animaladventures.waycoolerthanazoo/videos/1374168705940101/

"Since hitting a peak in 2013, enrollment at Massachusetts public colleges and universities has decreased for the third consecutive year, posing challenges that education leaders are working to address. 

"This was predictable. All you had to do was go back 17, 18, 19 years ago and look at birth rates," state Higher Education Commissioner Carlos Santiago said. "We knew it was coming … But we don't want to just sit back and let those demographic trends take shape." 

After more than a decade of growth, public undergraduate enrollment in Massachusetts has declined by 10,744, or 5.5 percent, since 2013. There are an estimated 186,103 undergraduate students on public campuses in Massachusetts for the fall 2016 semester."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161208/college-enrollment-declining-in-massachusetts

Petting Zoo to appear at Franklin LIbrary - Oct 3

The petting zoo will appear at the Library parking Lot on Main St (not at the temporary location on Kenwood Circle). 

Monday, Oct 3 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.

Petty Zoo to appear at Franklin LIbrary today

This was shared from the Franklin Library webpage
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2016/09/animal-affair-traveling-petting-zoo.html

The traveling petting zoo brings barn babies to the Franklin Library

Barn babies will make an appearance at the Franklin Public Library on Tuesday, Aug 16 at 2:30 PM. The babies are wrapped in snuggling cloth to enable the children to hold them and keep them safe and warm.

The traveling petting zoo brings barn babies to the Franklin Library

This was shared from the offical Town of Franklin webpage
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/I02471121

Franklin Library: Animal World Experience - Aug 5

Summer time we have lots of opportunity to be fit and healthy. How do animals do it? Find out Friday, Aug 5 at 1:00 PM at the Franklin Public Library.

Remember the Library is operating from its temporary location at 25 Kenwood Circle for the next year while renovations on the Main St building are underway.

Animal World Experience - Aug 5

For additional information, check out the Library page n the official Town of Franklin website   http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_TownLibrary/index

In the News: candidates night, preschool fair, speech competition, National Merit award, coyote alert

The opioid problem and town finances prominently featured in the conversation among candidates for Town Council in the November election during a Tuesday evening forum. 

Fourteen candidates for the council - along with those running for School Committee, the Board of Health and Town Clerk - took part in a candidates night, giving their perspectives to prospective town voters. The candidates are seeking nine seats on the council in the Nov. 3 election. 

Several candidates, when asked to name a pressing problem facing Franklin, mentioned the opioid abuse crisis in Massachusetts.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151006/NEWS/151006987

The annual Franklin Preschool Fair is planned on Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 5-7 p.m., at the Franklin Public Library, 118 Main St., Franklin. 

Representatives from local preschools in Franklin, Bellingham, Medway, Millis, Norfolk and Wrentham will be on hand to answer questions and provide information to parents seeking preschools for the 2015-2016 school year.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151006/NEWS/151007026/1994/NEWS

This year, the Franklin Lions is sponsoring a youth speech competition open to all students in grades 9-12. 

The topic is "In What Ways Has Social Media Changed Society?" The speech must be 5-8 minutes in length, begins at the club level and progresses through to state level, where the winner gets $1,500.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151006/NEWS/151007120/1994/NEWS

Tri‐County Regional Vocational Technical High School senior Nicholas Wotton was named a commended student in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program. 

Wotton, a Franklin resident, received a letter of commendation from the school and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for placing among the top five percent of U.S. students who took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in 2014. About 34,000 students from across the nation received the commendation.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151006/NEWS/151007142/1994/NEWS

Officials are advising Franklin pet owners to be vigilant after a coyote killed a local dog. 

Animal Control Officer Cindy Souza said the attack took place on the Norfolk side of town - near Chestnut and Pleasant streets - around the end of September."We've had a couple of (attacks) over the past two to three weeks," she said. "One dog was killed, while another was just bitten - that was a larger dog."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151006/NEWS/151007207/1994/NEWS

Franklin Federated Church: Blessing of the Animals - Sunday, October 4th

Blessing

of the Animals

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Franklin Federated Church - 171 Main Street

3 p.m. – Outdoors on the Front Lawn

(Rain date is Sunday, October 11^th also at 3 pm)

Pets are treasured gifts from God and worthy of blessing.

Join us for prayer, celebration, blessings, and treats for our beloved special companions. All creatures great and small are welcome!

We ask that all pets be leashed/caged/restrained.

If your pet is no longer living, you may bring a photo in their honor.

People and pets of all faiths are welcome!!

Please bring a lawn chair for your comfort and convenience.

www.franklinfederated.org

Pastor Charley Eastman - 508-528-3803 - federatedrev@gmail.com

A Welcoming and Affirming Congregation affiliated with the United Church of Christ and American Baptist Churches USA

No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.

Franklin LIbrary: Barn Babies - Aug 25, 1:00 - 2:30 PM

Pet the animals today! The Franklin Library welcomes the traveling petting zoo today at 1:00 PM.

This is another event in the series sponsored  by the Friends of the Franklin Library.

Barn babies, Aug 25 1;00 PM

This was shared from the Franklin Library page

http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/08/traveling-petting-zoo.html

In the News: animals at the Library, lightning strikes, TEDxNatick being scheduled

Rabbits, frogs and turtles are among the animals that could be making an appearance at the Franklin Public Library this afternoon. 

The library is set to host a "Wild Heroes" program by Animal World Experience at 4 p.m. today, looking to educate children about the creatures that inhabit the natural world. 

The event, said library Director Felicia Oti, is part of a slate of programs that has been running throughout the summer.

Continue reading the article in Milford Daily News (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150819/NEWS/150816626/1994/NEWS

Several lightning strikes were reported during a Tuesday afternoon storm. 

The Franklin Fire Department reported via its Twitter account that it had been dispatched to a house struck by lightning on Hunters Run at approximately 5:10 p.m. 

About a half-hour later - at 5:42 p.m. - the department reported, again through Twitter, that it had responded to a house fire at Royal Court. 

Both situations were dealt with, though an estimate of the damage done was not immediately available.

Continue reading the article in Milford Daily News (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150818/NEWS/150816596/1994/NEWS

Rosemary Driscoll, one of several organizers of the event, said organizers are planning for the event and looking for ideas for speakers. The group is also happy to have more people help out. 

Natick Education Foundation sponsored a simulcast viewing of a TED youth conference last year. Driscoll, president of the foundation, said TEDxNatick is much broader and not a specific Natick Education Foundation event, though the foundation expects to be a sponsor. 

“This is much more about a community event than it is a straight public education event,” Driscoll said. “The whole idea is it’s ideas that inspire.”

Continue reading the article in Milford Daily News (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150818/NEWS/150816904/1994/NEWS

yard sale - Acorn Animal Hospital - Aug 16 - 8:00AM to 2:00 PM

Posted to the Franklin Matters Facebook page yesterday:

Acorn Animal Hospital will be hosting a yard sale TOMORROW (Sunday) from 8-2!  

If you have any unused items that you are looking to get rid of, we will be accepting donations TODAY (Saturday) from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.  

All proceeds from the yard sale will go directly to the Maggie Fund to support pets in need. unfortunately we cannot accept the following items: sofa beds, clothing, mattresses, paints, tires, chemicals, textbooks, computers, televisions, air conditioners or other large appliances.

Acorn Animal Hospital

In the News - rabies clinic

Bellingham/Franklin Animal Control offers rabies clinic

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin, MA

Live reporting - animal control, Tri-County

Nutting
we have a long standing relationship with Bellingham
we get use of an employee and a vehicle, we have the pound
they get busy with beavers, coyotes, deer, etc

occasionally we have a capital expense to replace the vehicle

motion to approve, passed 9-0


Nutting
Tri-County is an assessment
one of eleven communities that comprise the regional
how many students come from the community determine the allocation to the community
it varies depending upon how many students we send them

They have run a tight ship up there, they can come and speak with you if needed
If our assessment is to be changed, the other communities would have to agree to it

have been able to maintain budget from time to time with cuts in materials which is one key area of their expense

Teixeira
what percent of the increase is the increase is students vs the overall increase in their budget
Nutting
the percent of the students drove the budget

Nutting
I don't have the student enrollment numbers with me
I'll have the numbers for you on Monday

Quinn
question on the school committee line
Gagner
like to be their supplies and expenses

motion to approve, passed 9-0

motion to adjourn

Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Cultural, Animal

Cultural Council

starter funds for matching grant to provide support to local artists in the community

Animal Control

in conjunction with Bellingham, salary paid by Bellingham, we pay certain expenses and gain 24x7 coverage

been going on for 15 years, well oiled and operating

Expansion could be considered but the kennel size would need to be increased
Would cost more to add to the kennel than it would generate in revenue to offset

end of budget hearings

Reminder - Financial Planning Committee meeting being held at Horace Mann/Mercer Auditorium on Monday April 27th, 7:00 PM

Earth Day - 9:00 AM on Saturday April 18th, start at Beaver Pond

motion to adjourn

Open for business: PetShop.biz

As part of our continuing series on businesses located here in Franklin, I find out that PetShop.biz is now open for business via this notice.

Founded by Paula And William Ross, Petshop.biz has about 1,000 products to help pet owners enhance the health and relationship with their pets.

PetShop.biz offers a business opportunity in the $40 Billion Pet Industry and an on-line Pet Store for each Petshop.biz affiliate. Petshop.biz affiliates have a fully equipped customer service center at their disposal, ready to take customer orders.

For more info, you can buzz them at 888-303-7775, visit their website (http://www.petshop.biz), or stop in at their Franklin, MA headquarters.

For information on other businesses in Franklin check out the prior postings here