Urban turkeys

DAVIS, CALIF. (AP) >> Leaders of a California college town are working to relocate turkeys that have been harassing people on the streets.

The Sacramento Bee reports that the Davis City Council voted this week to approve a wild turkey management plan that includes trapping and relocating many of the birds and possibly killing some of the more aggressive ones. It also called for an ordinance prohibiting people from feeding the turkeys.

Davis residents are fond of urban wildlife. They built a tunnel for toads and protected jackrabbits from construction, but the wellknown turkeys wandering the streets are too much.

Police Chief Darren Pytel says his department has fielded calls from people accosted by turkeys, including a manwho was pinned against the wall of a bank by a bird.

Obscure election

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) >> An election that few residents of a Rhode Island city knew about has decided who controls a fund that traces back to an early 19th-century philanthropist.

WPRI-TV reports 238 of Providence’s 180,000 residents cast ballots Thursday during the brief election at City Hall. Many city employees voted.

The Dexter Donation Trust Fund holds $2.2 mil- lion and distributes a portion of the money each year to nonprofit organizations. It’s named after Ebenezer Knight Dexter, a businessman who died in 1824.

Dexter’s will turned his Providence farm into an almshouse for the poor. Proceeds from selling the property to Brown University in the 1950s created the trust fund, which is run by an elected board.

A slate of candidates endorsed by DemocraticMayor Jorge Elorza beat two other factions to win board seats.

Renamed iPhone

KIEV, UKRAINE(AP)>> AUkrainian man has officially changed his name to iPhone 7 after an electronics store offered the latest Apple product to the first five peoplewho do that.

The 20-year old iPhone Sim (Seven) got the coveted prize Friday. He said he might change it back to his original name, Olexander Turin, when he has children.

The price of phone starts at US$850 in Ukraine, while the name changes costs the equivalent of $2.

Sim’s friends and family were shocked at first but eventually supported the idea.

His sister, Tetyana Panina, said“it wasdifficult toaccept that and hard to believe it’s true.” She added: “Each person in this world is looking for a way to express himself. Why not to do that in this way?” presentations. Some like to sing carols; some like to play music; and others just like to stand and greet their kettle visitors.

Whatever their approach, the volunteer bell ringers are invaluable to the collection process, he complimented.

“Without the volunteers none of this would be possible,” Monfiletto said.

Individuals can volunteer by themselves, or join with some friends. Groups and businesses can work together, as well. A friendly contest can also spice up the activity, as volunteers can issue a fun challenge to their friends or co-workers to raise more money than they do, he said.

Families can also enjoy some bonding time while helming a red kettle, Monfiletto said.

“The parents can use that experience to teach their kids that although they might be going to be having a nice holiday season, not everybody else is going to,” he explained.

There is no minimum time commitment needed to be a bell ringer, Monfiletto stressed, and volunteers can pick the time and place to be stationed. If they want to be somewhere specific he is happy to work with them, he said. Their responsibilities include only ringing the bells and collecting the donations -- someone else will deliver and pick up the kettle, and count the money at the end of the day, Monfiletto said.

In his coverage area, bell ringers will be at Price Chopper in Oneida from Nov. 7 through Dec. 24; Tops in Sherrill from Nov. 18 to Dec. 24; andWalmart in Oneida from Nov. 25 through Dec. 24. Other locations will also be available, he said, depending on a volunteer’s schedule.

Monfiletto said the best part of overseeing all the volunteers out ringing their bells is that all of the money they collect stays right here in the area.

“It all stays locally,” he said. “It isn’t collected and sent to a national organization. This is for the people who through no fault of their own now need assistance but don‘t qualify for other programs. The Salvation Army is there for those in-between -- people facing extenuating circumstances causing themto struggle to make ends meet.

“I feel I have been very fortunate in my life,” he added. “I know there are others who have not been so fortunate. This is my way of giving back to them.”

To schedule a bell ringing spot, or for any other information, call Monfiletto at (315) 601-5851.