Vincenza Groppo never intended to have dinner at Franklin on Thursday night.
But after saying hello to a few friends after work, she decided to extend her stay at the Main Street Restaurant for a bite to eat.
That decision would prove beneficial to local developer Mac Bell.
As Groppo enjoyed her meal, she looked over at a man who was later identified as Bell and had huddled in his seat.
“I heard someone say they had no pulse and then I went right over there,” said Groppo, the owner of VIP Fitness on Pleasant Street, on Friday.
“He didn’t have a pulse and turned blue,” she recalled.
After Groppo brought Bell to the floor and raised his legs, he began giving CPR.
“In my head I said I wasn’t going to let this man die,” she said.
After 28 compressions, Bell regained consciousness and was later taken to hospital by the Gloucester Fire Department for further treatment.
Bell noted that he had some heart problems in the past and there were concerns at the time that it was something worse.
“But it wasn’t like that,” he said, assuring that he had just passed out.
“I’m embarrassed that I passed out because passing out can be scary,” Bell said.
He noted that Groppo, the ambulance, hospital, and staff at the Franklin were “fabulous”.
“It was a fine example of community,” he added.
– Taylor Ann Bradford
In other news from the Cape Ann Police and Fire Department logs:
GLOUCESTER
Friday May 14th
8 o’clock in the morning: A woman came to the Community Impact Unit office on Brown’s Mall on Main Street to report that she felt unsafe in town with people rushing past her or following and pushing her while she was driving.
Thursday May 13th
9:03 pm: A caller from the Veterans Memorial School at 11 Webster Street reported that there was a group of children on the roof.
6:44 pm: A caller from 1104 Heights in Cape Ann reported the smell of something burning in her neighbor’s home and fire alarms. She doesn’t think the neighbor is home. The fire department was dispatched and found that there was food on the stove, toast was being burned and no one was home.
6:02 pm: A 29-year-old homeless man was arrested on an arrest warrant.
5:56 pm: A caller from Main Street 306 reported that his neighbor was blowing leaves in the pavement. An officer spoke to the neighbor, who said he would clean up the leaves.
10:54 am: Scott R. FreitasThe 42-year-old from 18 Washington Square was arrested at the Crow’s Nest on Main Street for a no-show in court.
10:13 am: A smoke and flame bushfire was reported at 357 Concord Street.
ROCKPORT
Thursday May 13th
4:01 pm: Report of a possible domestic problem in a residence on Granite Street. The caller said he heard glass breaking and screaming. Officers arrived to find out the cause of the commotion was a turkey that broke through a window and was running around the house. Animal Control was called and the turkey was taken out of the house.
2:52 pm: Medical Emergency on Railroad Avenue. The person was taken by ambulance to Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester.
2:14 pm: Report of a neighbor quarrel in the High Street. The officials spoke to both parties and the peace was restored.
11:38 am: A driver on the mountain. Pleasant Street received a criminal complaint for unlicensed surgery.
Wednesday May 12th
Medical emergencies Millbrook Park at 11:28 am, Sandy Bay Terrace at 8:24 pm, and Wildon Heights at 11:17 pm. All three people were transported by ambulance to Addison Gilbert Hospital.
2:35 pm: The officers assisted a Broadway resident who was locked out of his home.
9:54 am: Medical Emergency on Gap Head Road. The person refused to be ambulance service.
MANCHESTER
Thursday May 13th
7:39 pm: A Rockwood Heights Road resident reported that his dog was missing. The animal control was notified.
5:23 am and 11:59 am: Two drivers on Hickory Hill Road and Route 128 southbound received verbal warnings of inspection sticker violations.
11:14 am: A driver on School Street received a verbal speed limit warning.
Wednesday May 12th
5:44 pm: A driver on Crooked Lane received a verbal speed limit warning.
5:21 pm: An illegally parked car on Ocean Street has been flagged.
3:20 pm: Justin Schofield44-year-old 30 Ocean Drive, Ipswich, was arrested on Beach Street for operating under the influence of alcohol after crashing into a pylon on Beach Street. The car was towed from the scene and an electrical company was called in to fix the broken rod. Schofield was tried in Salem District Court on Friday morning.
13 o’clock: Report of a two-car accident on School Street. No injuries were reported. The state police have been notified to deal with the situation.
12:23 pm: Report of a two-car accident on School Street. No injuries were reported. Both cars were towed from the scene.
8:13 am: Report of a small fender bender in the parking lot of the Manchester Essex Regional Middle High School. The school clerk has been notified.
ESSEX
Friday May 14th
6:45 am: A driver on Main Street received a verbal speed limit warning.
Thursday May 13th
7.46pm and 6pm: Two drivers on Main Street and John Wise Avenue received verbal speeding warnings.
Wednesday May 12th
8:54 pm: Beverly police asked for information about a Western Avenue resident who may have been involved in a case in their city.
4:22 pm: Landlord-tenant dispute on Apple Street. The officials spoke to both parties and the peace was restored.
1:27 p.m .: Marcus Basiliere103 Cove East Road, 28, in Wakefield, New Hampshire, was arrested on two active arrest warrants issued from Woburn. Essex officials quoted him for driving without a license. Basiliere was indicted in Gloucester District Court Thursday.
11:59 am: A driver on John Wise Avenue received a quote for an expired inspection sticker.
Tuesday May 11th
1:23 pm: A driver on John Wise Avenue received a verbal warning about defective equipment.
Monday May 10th
8:59 am: Henry BuffumThe 63-year-old from Gloucester was arrested for possession of a Class A drug and an active arrest warrant issued from Gloucester. He was also listed for operating with a suspended license. Buffum was indicted in Gloucester District Court on Tuesday.
