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Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108 |
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
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Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108 |
"The timing is just mind-boggling," Cusson, 43, said yesterday recalling the Presidents Day incident. "I just feel like God had me there at the exact right time."
If Cusson hadn't gotten the milk, she would have arrived five minutes earlier, been occupied helping her grandmother and may not have noticed Thornhill's internal defibrillator had been activated.
The machine, which goes into action when a person has a heart attack or irregular heartbeat, went off at least three times, attempting to shock his heart back into a normal rhythm.
However, the defibrillator was unable to get his heart working properly again and he had a heart attack, Cusson said.
"Had I been a few steps further away, I might not have heard him," said Cusson, who also lives in Franklin and is a nursing student at MassBay Community College in Framingham. "I called 911. ... His eyes started to roll back. And then he passed out. I kicked the feet out of the chair and then laid him down on the floor and started CPR."
"... government transparency is associated with residents’ feelings of efficacy and empowerment: Those who think their government shares information well are more likely to say that people like them can have an impact on government. It might be the case that signals from government that “we want to be open about what we do” make people think they can take advantage of that openness and influence the way the government operates."This report helps foster the activities that you and I have been taking here. Our engagement on the website,through the weekly and daily newsletters, and on Facebook are helping to encourage Franklin to do more in these areas. Franklin regularly wins an award for for government information sharing but it can still do better. One of the major issues with the budget crisis we face is the lack of trust in the information provided. Increasing the transparency will foster trust.
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Franklin has had at least one crew of two to five workers out fixing potholes Monday through Saturday and has people on call to respond to emergencies during off hours.
"The guys are doing a great job," he said. "One day they put down six tons (of material). That was one crew. We have a program where we pretty much hit all the main (streets) and residents are not afraid to call in and tell us where they are."
But Cantoreggi said it is frustrating to deal with potholes every year. The problem is exacerbated because towns have not been able to keep up with road repairs, he said, noting Franklin needs $20 million in road resurfacing and reconstruction work.
"Part of it is that the economy is starting to loosen up a little bit, and the Franklin area is just prime for almost any new business," said Jack Lank, president of the United Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The Franklin Cafe and Grill, which will serve Mediterranean and American food, is expected to open in a few weeks in the former Kentucky Fried Chicken building near Panther Way.
In October, owners of the hibachi and sushi bar Ichigo Ichie plan to open in the old Piccadilly Pub just beyond where West Central Street and Rte. 140 split.
And local businessman James Daddario hopes to begin construction of a Wendy's and Taco Bell at the old Knights of Columbus hall this spring.
Lank said the availability of several vacant restaurant buildings on a busy road near Interstate 495 created a perfect opportunity for new businesses.