AMESBURY Cider Hill Farm, Jul 9th 11AM Outdoor Hard Cider Bar & Free! Live Music Series Jul 15th-16th & 22-23 8AM Blueberry & Flower Fest Jul 15th 11AM Outdoor Hard Cider Bar & Free! Live Music Series ANDOVER Canzoni da Sonar Jul 12th 7:30 - 8:45PM Canzoni da Sonar at The Chapel at West Parish Jul […]
Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in a raid in Lawrence that resulted in the arrest of two people in early Wednesday. Law enforcement recovered over 16 pounds of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine pills, plus two guns, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker and Lawrence Police Capt. Michael McCarthy announced today. Vincent Cahalane, 36, […]
7-23 Randy Carter and Jason Gilbert from Clear Path for Veterans New England (in Devens) held a public meeting at the Methuen VFW last month to announce a $205,000 grant to service veterans in Lawrence, Methuen, and Haverhill. Clear Path’s announcement came at just the right time with the closing of Veterans Northeast Outreach (VNOC) […]
7-23 For decades, local city councils, boards of selectmen, and school committees have tried to silence criticism of their actions by instituting vague and interpretive “civility policies” whereby people are silenced at public participation whenever they try to call out the bad behavior of elected officials, or raise issues that political insiders are trying to […]
07-23 Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña has announced the City of Lawrence has been approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington D.C. and Boston for the HOME ARP Plan with the grant award of $3,174,052 Million for the City of Lawrence. These funds are possible through the Federal American Rescue Plan […]
Solomon allegedly caused changes to CBA that would increase his salary and provided unwarranted benefits to five intermittent police officers, including one who was a City Councilor 7-6-23 The State Ethics Commission’s Enforcement Division has issued an Order to Show Cause alleging former City of Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon violated the conflict of interest […]
PDF of the July 2023 Valley Patriot
6-30-23 Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque has signed an agreement with the City of Lawrence to not return to duty and retire from the City of Lawrence after being put on leave by Mayor Brian DePena. According to sources, Vasque will be paid approximately $780,000 which includes about $300,000 in accrued sick and vacation time […]
6-23 Kane had the honor of accompanying Raymond Brunelle to Arlington National Cemetery to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Kane found the experience to be very humbling. Kane learned that Raymond Brunelle is no stranger to serving his country and local citizens of the Merrimack […]
6-23 BOSTON – Last month, Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) was presented with a special award for his work to protect animals at a State House event. The award was presented by a coalition of Massachusetts animal welfare organizations that work together to advocate for the humane treatment of animals. The award acknowledges his […]
6-23 Over the last four years, Methuen Mayor Neil Perry and the Methuen City Council clutched their pearls and pounded their fists calling the controversial police superior officers’ contract (passed by the previous council) a “criminal contract” that was “bloated” and paid the cops “far too much of the taxpayers money.” They attacked the police […]
Fahey received private compensation relating to his public employment, allocated payments to himself and other town employees 6-27-23 Former Andover Youth Services Director William Fahey has paid a $20,000 civil penalty for violating the conflict of interest law by receiving payments from a private nonprofit in connection with his employment with the Town of Andover, […]
WHAT IS YOUR TOWN PAYING CITY EMPLOYEES? According to govsalaries.com this is how much each city listed paid their city employees in 2021 (the most recent numbers available) compared to the national average. Items of note, the average city employee salary in Methuen is the highest in the region at $76,864. This is 64% […]
Access Point 8 Reopened 6/26/23 Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Brian Arrigo and Sen. Bruce Tarr, Chair of the Merrimack River Beach Alliance, today released the below statements on the reopening of Access Point 8 at Salisbury Beach. “We are thrilled to be reopening the access point 8 at Salisbury Beach today ahead […]
BOSTON: Among the bills sponsored this session by State Auditor Diana DiZoglio is legislation to reform the Commonwealth’s payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) program for state-owned land (SOL). PILOT programs help municipal governments replace some or all revenue lost from certain state property tax exemptions, including those associated with nonprofit organizations, recreational areas, and certain properties owned by […]