Last modified: Sunday, December 31, 2006 12:48 AM EST Abel Veiga offers ideas to Deval Patrick cutting his 9-year-old son, Christopher's hair at A&C Barber Shop in downtown Attleboro. (MARTIN GAVIN/THE SUN CHRONICLE) What should Deval do? BY REBECCA KEISTER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF Well, he asked for it. Gov.-elect Deval Patrick's transition team spent considerable time gathering and reporting more than 5,000 suggestions submitted to his administration through community meetings. Some 7,000 state residents also spent some time outlining for Patrick, who will take office as governor this Thursday, what he should be paying attention to during his four years on Beacon Hill. But what about residents in this area? The Sun Chronicle spent a little time last week finding out what they would like to see from their governor. "Just make it (Massachusetts) better," said Luis Colon, of Taunton, while sitting in A&C Barber Shop in Attleboro on Friday. Local residents had plenty to say about what they would say to Patrick. Many spoke about the same topics that the administration's team surveyed: education, the economy, health care, the environment and technology. Also at A&C, owner Abel Veiga said he was excited about Patrick's transition. "This is an exciting time," Veiga said. "We're moving to a positive generation and, if we can put our minds together, together we move into a good (place)." Veiga also said he would like to see Patrick pay attention to individual communities. "In Attleboro, we're small," he said. "But he has a lot of support here." One thing some residents hope Patrick won't support is a proposed wind farm, which would consist of 130 wind turbines in Nantucket Sound, which also is opposed by the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound. Although she lives in Providence, Patricia Hyde said she hopes Patrick will support an alternative site. Patrick supported the project during his campaign. "I would tell him to look very closely at the (project) and not do it," Hyde said. "It's going to ruin our fragile ecosystem and coastline. I think he's really got to watch out for our coastlines." Hyde's lunch companion at Jaec's on Friday, Sandy Copel-Parsons of Attleboro, is more worried about the state's public education. Copel-Parsons, who hopes to become a teacher, herself, would like Patrick to revisit the educational system. "Higher education has to be more affordable, and there has to be more access," she said. "There are so many challenges (now)." Barbara, a North Attleboro resident who declined to give her last name, wants more attention paid to the state's welfare system. "There are people who abuse the system, and it's not right," she said. "There are people who really need it." The official suggestions, which are posted on Patrick's transition team Web site, now are being reviewed by Patrick and Lt. Gov.-elect Timothy P. Murray. More than 76 meetings were held across the state to compile the suggestions. REBECCA KEISTER can be reached at 508-236-0336 or at rkeister@thesunchronicle.com.