In Other News

CVS recently announced a layoff of about 500 people at its Woonsocket, RI, headquarters (above). Fewer than 200 were reportedly RI residents, a significant percentage of the remainder are likely from Franklin.

The 'horse rapist' whose activities occurred just over the border in Norfolk and were reported here in 2021, was finally convicted last week, according to reports in the Boston Herald.

Laurie A. Helberg, who lived for a time in Franklin, passed away earlier this month in West Bend, Wisconsin at the age of 56. Her obituary can be found here.

More tick concerns. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed a case of a rare tick-borne disease, powassan, killed a Rhode Island woman, according to published reports. Officials with the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) said the case was detected in a woman over age 80 from Washington County. Powassan is most often found in the Northeast, Great Lakes region and parts of eastern Canada and while still rare, has been increasing over time.