Adirondack Town Of Franklin
Adirondack Town Of Franklin
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    Volume 4 Issue 2 - June 2013

    From the Supervisor

    By Art Willman

    Happy Spring/Summer. As I am writing this, we are on the tail end of several days of cool, rainy weather and occasional snowflakes are mixing in. The previous warm spell, accompanied by the emergence of the BBF (Beloved Black Fly) and even the occasional appearance of the BDF (Beloved Deer Fly) is but a memory. I know some folks who have already done their Spring planting and are keeping a watchful eye on the thermometer for signs of a late season freeze.



    Founders' Day Celebration Brought Back

    The big news from the Town Hall is the rebirth of our Founders' Day Celebration and Community Picnic. After a long hiatus, we are bringing back this event. There will be historical displays showing various highlights of our town's history, some great food, and live music on Saturday, July 20th from 11 am until whatever time everyone goes home. In addition, we are sending out word to the artisans, craftspeople, and growers in town and around the surrounding area, inviting them to set up a space to display and sell their goods. Also, we will have both a "Chinese" auction and a silent auction.

    Contributions Sought

    We are reaching out to local and area businesses and individuals who wish to help us out by contributing items of merchandise or gift certificates to these auctions. Anyone who wishes to contribute can contact me at the Town Hall at 891-2189, at home at 293-1383, or by email at awillman@hughes.net. A special August edition of the Franklin Flyer will be published to acknowledge the generosity of all those who helped us out.

    Bipartisan Support

    The entire event is being sponsored by the town Republican and Democratic committees. The goal is to celebrate our town's history, to stimulate community interaction, and, of course, to have a heck of a good time.

    We have extended invitations to the candidates for town and county office, as well as our state and congressional representatives to stop by, get acquainted and, in the process, learn a bit about our town's history and rub elbows with some really great folks.

    Proceeds Go To Kate Mountain Park Improvements

    All proceeds from the Founders' Day Picnic will go to the Kate Mountain Park Special Reserve Fund, which is solely dedicated to making improvements at Kate Mountain Park. Among these improvements will be the development of additional playing fields to enable us to host sports such as rugby, soccer, and lacrosse. We are also currently in discussion with the DEC about the construction of hiking and cross-country ski trails on Kate Mountain and the surrounding forest. Perhaps we can even go as far as to construct at least one route from the Park to Onchiota, which could potentially be an excellent two-vehicle day trip.

    Long Term Vision

    One of our bigger and more long-term dreams is to someday raise enough money to construct a nice community center to better serve our town. This would both provide space for weddings, parties, and other gatherings as well as muchneeded restrooms for our summer program and year-round use for those who come to use the trails, pavilion, and other facilities at the park. The good thing is that we would locate our kitchen facilities there as well. This would free up space so that we could construct a properly compliant justice court facility at the Town Hall.

    Community Involvement Essential

    All projects, no matter if they are trails, fields, or buildings require, of course, money, but more importantly help from all of us in the community. That is where you all come in. With your help, whether it be in the form of ideas, labor help, event planning, or any other assistance, we can bring these projects to reality. Those who are interested will have an opportunity to leave your contact information so that we can keep you informed and up to date on projects at the park. We welcome your ideas, feelings, and, of course, your criticism as we continue to bring this all together. We hope to see you all on July 20th.



    Listen to the Dog Whisperer

    By Lauren LeFebvre, Deputy Town Clerk

    What dog owner doesn't LOVE Caesar Milan? When I was asked to write this blurb about why it's important to license your dog, Caesar was the first one I consulted. Well ok, not exactly "consulted" like I called him on the phone or anything. Sad to say Caesar isn't on my speed dial but we are friends on Facebook! I'm also friends with Ironman but that's a story for another day. I mean "consulted" as in Googled. Here's what Caesar says about why we should license our dogs:

    1. It's the law. If you get caught without a license, which can and does happen, you can be hit with a hefty fine.
    2. If your dog goes missing, having him licensed drastically improves your chances of getting him back. A license tag helps animal control and shelters quickly identify your dog and get him back to you safely. If your dog is found wandering, a rescue organization can easily look up your dog via its license identifying number. Dogs that are licensed tend to be kept at the shelter longer than unlicensed dogs.
    3. The cost of the license is far less than the penaltycaught without one.
    4. Licensing lets people know that your dog is up to date on its rabies vaccinations. A dog cannot be licensed unless it is properly vaccinated. Animal control or a friendly neighbor will be much more likely to want to handle and care for your missing pup if they know that it is healthy and without rabies.
    5. License fees support the efforts local animal shelters to spay or neuter pets and to support local free rabies vaccination clinics. By paying to properly ID your dog, you are helping to feed and house stray dogs who don't happen to be as lucky as yours.

    So that being said, why wouldn't you license your dog? The price is certainly right and it's so very easy. The fee for a spayed or neutered dog is only $3.50 a year and $1.00 of that goes to help control the pet population (who just heard Bob Barker's voice?). The fee a dog that is not spayed or neutered is $12.50 and $3.00 of that goes to help control the pet population (thanks, Bob). All you need to do is stop in at the Town Clerk's office with a copy of your dog's current rabies certificate. We can even do this by mail. Heck, I'll come to your house and do it. Questions? The Town Clerk's office is open Monday- Thursday 9-3 or you can call 891-2189.



    Water and the Kitchen Sink

    We have also solicited bids for a water treatment system for the Town Hall. Although we have had the water tested and all is well in terms of chemical and bacteriological analysis, we are still required to treat our water. This system, using ultra-violet light, will fulfill this requirement and, along with the addition of a 3-bay sink, will allow us to obtain a Board of Health approval on an annual basis, eliminating the need for each group who uses the Town Hall to obtain a day-use permit.



    Mark Your Calendars Saturday, July 20th

    Well, that's about it for now. Please put the Founders' Day Picnic on your calendars for Saturday, July 20th. Anyone interested in helping out with cooking, tickets, setup,cleanup, or anything else, or if you wish to contribute in any way at all, please contact me, Ed Martin at 891-5989 or 524- 4144, or Sandy Oliver or Lauren LeFebvre at the Town Hall. Hope to see you there. Until next time, be well.



    AED Franklin

    Cardiac Emergencies Preparedness

    We have purchased two AED's (automatic external defibrillators) to be installed in the Town Hall and in the Highway Garage. We are currently in contact with the Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad to help us arrange with training in the use of this equipment. I am hoping we can have multiple sessions so that anyone who wishes to, can take advantage of the training. Although these devices "talk" to the operator and are relatively self-explanatory, it certainly can't hurt to be familiar with their operation before a crisis arises. If you send me an email to franklinsupervisor@roadrunner.com, my personal email mentioned above, or give a call, I will be happy to include you when I send out the information for training.



    FOUNDERS' DAY CELEBRATION

    Kate Mountain Park, Rte. 3, Vermontville; Saturday, July 20th, 11 am till...

    • Live Music Groups: Featuring "Replay" Band, Stone Ground Express Blues Group.
    • Great food
    • Historic Displays
    • Silent Auction, Chinese Raffle
    • Vendors
    • Artisans &Craftspeople


    KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR TOWN

    We have sent this edition of the Franklin Flyer out in the mail primarily to let folks know that the newsletter is available in a variety of places and our residents should be on the lookout for upcoming editions. We have been trying to publish three to four times a year following roughly a quarterly time table, depending mostly upon whether there is a great deal of news to relate. The Franklin Flyer is available online on our website at www.townoffranklin.com and in print at the Vermontville Post Office and at our Town Hall. As a special feature, our editor Vince Pagano has offered to make an email version available as well. Just email Vince at vincepagano@hughes.net to request that the newsletter be emailed to you and you will be all set. Unfortunately a regular mailing is too expensive. Also, you can keep abreast of month to month happenings by attending board meetings, held on the second Wednesday of every month a 7pm or at least look up the minutes of each month's meeting online on our website or in hard copy at the Town Hall

    55+ Club Meetings

    2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the Month at the Town Hall, Vermontville. Bring "Covered Dish". Contact Donna Buckley 891-9214

    St. Paul's Food Pantry

    Building behind Town Hall. Distribution one day a month and as needed...
    Make out donations to St. Paul's Food Pantry
    C/o Mary Ellen Keith, 9 Tyler Rd,
    Vermontville, NY
    or drop off at Birch bark Deli

    Town Board Meetings

    7 p.m. 2nd Wednesdays of the Month at the Town Hall, Vermontville

    Kate Mountain Community Recreation Association 4th Annual Music Fest & BBQ

    Saturday, June 15th @ Kate Mountain Park, Route 3, Vermontville; 10 am till...
    • Music starts @ noon, featuring Chaz DePaolo, Perkins Family, Phil Henry, Keith Gorgas, "Mad Dog" Marino, Inishee, Keith King and Damaged Goods.
    • Great food, including vegetarian, Silent Auction, Games, activities for Kids, Vendors
    • Bring Chairs



    Take Precautions

    Public Health authorities warn the public to:

    Use caution around all wild animals, especially raccoons, skunks and foxes. Talk to children now about not approaching wildlife and to immediately tell a parent or adult if they see a wild animal.

    Have pets vaccinated against rabies immediately. New York state law requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets be vaccinated by age 4 months. Vaccination is also recommended for livestock with frequent human contact.

    Report all animal bites to your local health department. If follow -up on the biting animal is not possible, the person may need rabies vaccinations to prevent the disease. Report all contact with bats, including finding a bat in the same room with a sleeping person.

    Have pets spayed or neutered because that decreases undesirable behavior, like aggression and roaming, and reduces the number of unwanted animals that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.

    Wear gloves before handling your pet if it has had a fight with a wild animal, and call the health department or your veterinarian for advice on what to do next.

    If an unvaccinated pet comes in contact with a rabid or suspected rabid animal, the pet must be quarantined for six months or euthanized.

    Vaccinated pets that come in contact with a rabid or suspected rabid animal must be given a booster rabies vaccination within five days of the contact.

    Franklin County Health Department: 481-1709. After hours, call 877-410-55753 (Press 5 for on call nurse.)



    Editorial

    With each season of the year certain precautions are indicated.

    Important to us individually and to the community is the issue of safety. In this connection, we are reminded to review the precautions regarding boating and swimming; e.g., personal flotation devices, sound producing devices, fire extinguishers, alternate propulsion, navigation lights, dewatering devises, etc. Regarding swimming, in open waters, identification flags are a must!

    In addition, emergency preparedness should be considered; e.g. CPR, First Aid. Courses are given by the Red Cross, www.redcross.org and the American Heart Association, www.americanheart.org .

    Furthermore, an awareness of fire prevention and preparedness is indicated; e.g., no open burning when burn bans are in effect and having household fire extinguishers on hand as well as working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; and your 911 address number proximately displayed.



    Town Board Picks New Senior Representative

    At its May 8, 2013 regular meeting, the Franklin Town Board appointed Vincent Pagano of Loon Lake as its Town representative to the Association of Senior Citizens of Franklin County. Donna Buckley will be representing the 55+ Club.

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    Town of Franklin
    P.O. Box 209, Route 3, Vermontville, NY 12989  ·  Tel: 518-891-2189  ·  Fax: 518-891-6389  ·  info@townoffranklin.com
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