State Senator Barbara L’Italien’s Trip Israel: Part II

State Senator Barbara L’Italien’s Trip Israel: Part II

This is part II of our sit down interview with State Senator Barbara L’Italien concerning her trip to Israel late last year. Since part I of our interview in March, Senator L’Italien and the other Senators who visited Israel have come under fire by anti-Semitic, hate groups disguised as “peace” organizations but actually support Palestinian […]

Methuen Energy Program Will Save Ratepayers $900K in Electricity Costs

Methuen Energy Program Will Save Ratepayers $900K in Electricity Costs

Methuen residents and business owners will save more than $900,000 annually thanks to the newly created Methuen Community Choice Power Supply program. The City of Methuen and Colonial Power Group, Inc. announced that they have entered into a two-year agreement to bring significant energy cost-savings to the city’s residents and small businesses through this initiative. […]

Kinder Morgan Pipeline Suspension is Victory for Merrimack Valley – IN YOUR CORNER WITH SENATOR IVES

Kinder Morgan Pipeline Suspension is Victory for Merrimack Valley – IN YOUR CORNER WITH SENATOR IVES

By: State Senator Katy Ives May, 2016 Kinder Morgan, a Houston, Texas-based energy infrastructure company, submitted its first letter related to their Northeast Energy Direct Project (NED Project) to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on September 15, 2014. It detailed a plan to construct 177 miles of new pipeline from Wright, New York to […]

The Ugly Truth About Common Core Education

The Ugly Truth About Common Core Education

By: DJ Deeb – May, 2016 The debate over Common Core has been heating up over the past several months, especially with the Presidential and Congressional Elections looming. The purpose of this article is to explain the origins of Common Core, summarize the standards, and offer suggestions on how to stop Common Core from being […]

Valley Patriot of the Month – Sgt. RICHARD LUSSIER – U.S. Army Sgt. 78th Infantry Division

Valley Patriot of the Month – Sgt. RICHARD LUSSIER –  U.S. Army Sgt. 78th Infantry Division

NORTH ANDOVER – Last month The Valley Patriot went along with Gerard Maguire, the Veteran’s Services Coordinator for the towns of North Andover and Boxford as he delivered a custom fitted, electric wheelchair for a WWII hero veteran who lost his arm in battle and now is unable to walk. Richard Lussier fought against the […]

Phyllis Jones To Challenge DiZoglio For State Rep.

Phyllis Jones To Challenge DiZoglio For State Rep.

By: Tom Duggan – May, 2016 14th Essex District State Representative Diana DiZoglio will have a challenger for the Democratic Party’s primary in September. She is North Andover attorney Phyllis Jones, who says that she is “disappointed” in the incumbent’s lack of transparency and refusal to support gay marriage and “transgender rights”. Originally from New […]

Andover High Eliminates King & Queen of Prom, Crowns Two Boys to “Prom Court”, School Committee Never Notified or Approved Change

Andover High Eliminates King & Queen of Prom, Crowns Two Boys to “Prom Court”, School Committee Never Notified or Approved Change

By: Tom Duggan – May 25, 2016 The Valley Patriot has learned that Andover High School has changed their longstanding policy and tradition of crowning a king and queen of the prom, replacing them with what they are now calling the “prom court”. The 2016 graduating class at Andover High had their prom two weeks ago, […]

Final Language of New Public Records Law Released by Conference Committee

Final Language of New Public Records Law Released by Conference Committee

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H4333 5-23-16 On Monday, a joint conference committee of the Massachusetts legislature negotiated and reached a final deal on a new public records reform bill for the first time in 40 years.  CHANGES TO THE PUBLIC RECORDS LAW If signed by Governor Baker, the new law, (Final BillH4333) , would allow judges to award legal costs and attorney […]

H-1B Foreign Workers Are Destroying Merrimack Valley Economy

H-1B Foreign Workers Are Destroying Merrimack Valley Economy

By: Duncan Burns – May, 2016 Right now, when it comes to labor issues, all eyes are currently on The Verizon Strike, which affects many municipalities across The Merrimack Valley. Many will question the union’s motives, as the tactic of going on strike is usually in order to strong-arm a company into submission and usually […]