US Navy Seabee & Boston Police Officer James LaCroix -Valley Patriot of the Month ~ Hero in Our Midst

US Navy Seabee & Boston Police Officer James LaCroix -Valley Patriot of the Month ~ Hero in Our Midst

“A Camping Trip with Automatic Weapons” By: John Cuddy “A camping trip with automatic weapons”, is how Hyde Park native and Boston Police Officer James LaCroix described his service in Bosnia with the US Navy Seabees as an Equipment Operator 3rd Class. James is not the only family member who served in the US Navy, […]

Planet Fitness “Judgement Free” Gym at the Loop Now Open

Planet Fitness “Judgement Free” Gym at the Loop Now Open

Planet Fitness, one of the largest and fastest-growing global franchisors and operators of fitness centers with more members than any other fitness brand, today announced its new club in Methuen is now open. It’s located in The Loop shopping center at 90 Pleasant Valley Street, recently relocated from the 40 Jackson Street location. Planet Fitness […]

Illegal Alien Anyelo Aybar-Franco (25), from Lawrence Indicted for Fentanyl Possession

Illegal Alien Anyelo Aybar-Franco (25), from Lawrence Indicted for Fentanyl Possession

BOSTON – A Dominican national previously living in Lawrence was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in connection with fentanyl possession. Anyelo Aybar-Franco, 25, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Aybar-Franco was previously charged by criminal complaint. According to the charging documents, on […]

VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL ~ McConnell, D.C. Republicans Are A Disgrace

VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL ~ McConnell, D.C. Republicans Are A Disgrace

Senate President Mitch McConnell and some of his Republican colleagues in Washington, D.C. are a disgrace to our country. Since March of last year, millions of Americans have been out of work because of government imposed shut-downs. In the first nine months of the COVID crisis the best our Congress could do for the American […]

New Year Brings Same Old Political Nonsense

New Year Brings Same Old Political Nonsense

By: Brian Genest It’s a Happy New Year at the Massachusetts State House. State legislators are kicking off 2021 with another pay hike. Talk about a kick in the teeth for taxpayers! Apparently, our state representatives and senators have done such an incredible job, they’re getting a 6.46% raise during the worldwide pandemic. Meanwhile, the state’s […]

State Legislature Extended 2020 Session to Get More Done During Pandemic

State Legislature Extended 2020 Session to Get More Done During Pandemic

By: Linda Dean Campbell The State Legislature extended its two-year session past the usual July 31st end date in order to continue legislating during the pandemic. While we have accomplished a great deal, so much remains to be done to continue state funding of critical services related to the pandemic, pass important legislation, support cities […]

Significant Progress Despite a Challenging 2020 ~ IN YOUR CORNER with SENATOR DIZOGLIO

Significant Progress Despite a Challenging 2020 ~ IN YOUR CORNER with SENATOR DIZOGLIO

Hello Valley Patriot Readers, 2020 was a challenging year to say the least, with our communities facing hardships that COVID-19 brought to our economy, families, health care system and many other facets of our lives. At the same time, it was amazing to see the people of the Merrimack Valley come together during an unprecedented […]

GLCAC Now Enrolling Students for Head Start

GLCAC Now Enrolling Students for Head Start

The Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Inc. is now accepting students for enrollment in its Head Start programs. All of GLCAC’s centers in Lawrence and Methuen are open for in-person and virtual education. The centers serve families in Lawrence, Methuen, Andover and North Andover. “Research shows children who receive early learning do better in school,’’ […]

Methuen Mayor Announces MASSWORKS Grant

Methuen Mayor Announces MASSWORKS Grant

Methuen Mayor Neil Perry is pleased to announce that the City has received state funding to further enhance the economic development of the downtown area by improving the transportation and parking infrastructure on Charles and Lawrence Streets. Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Secretary Mike Kenneally of the Executive Office of Housing and […]

NECC Expands Health Care Programs, Thanks to State Grant

NECC Expands Health Care Programs, Thanks to State Grant

    Good News for NECC Health Care Programs Northern Essex Community College is expanding its health care programs, thanks to a $400,000 grant which the college recently received from the Massachusetts Skills Capital Program. The grant was part of $11.7 million awarded by the Baker-Polito Administration this year to help high schools, colleges, and […]

Illegal Alien from Lawrence Sentenced for Drug Trafficking

Illegal Alien from Lawrence Sentenced for Drug Trafficking

BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for heroin trafficking. Angel Martinez-Peguero, 30, who previously resided in Lawrence, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 10 years in prison and four years of supervised release. In November 2020, Martinez-Peguero pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute […]