Questions Every Parent Should Ask to Learn More About Their Child’s School

Questions Every Parent Should Ask to Learn More About Their Child’s School

By: Amy Berard – November, 2015 1. How often is the SpEd (Special Education) teacher in the inclusion classroom? At an IEP meeting, parents will be notified if their child is in an inclusion class. A class is labeled as an inclusion class when a SpEd teacher is pushing in to provide extra support for […]

First Muslim Elected in Lawrence Being Pressured to Resign … Does Lawrence Have Islamophobia?

First Muslim Elected in Lawrence Being Pressured to Resign … Does Lawrence Have Islamophobia?

  Kemal Bozkurt is the first Muslim elected to public office in Lawrence. Bozkurt, the city’s acting library director, ran a sticker campaign for school committee last month as there was not even one candidate on the ballot to fill the seat.  Now, Bozkurt is being pressured by members of the city council to either […]

School Cover-ups Must Not Be Tolerated ~ VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL, Nov. 2015

School Cover-ups Must Not Be Tolerated ~ VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL, Nov. 2015

Last month, The Valley Patriot broke three exclusive stories on-line concerning cover-up situations in the Methuen and Lowell Public School systems. First: Lowell High School Headmaster Brian Martin and his administrative staff tried to cover up the fact that Lowell School Committeeman Steve Gendron’s son, Chris, was engaged in racist behavior at school. Gendron’s son […]

The War on Public Education ~YE GAY OL’ VALLEY

The War on Public Education ~YE GAY OL’ VALLEY

By: Dani Langevin – November, 2015 A study conducted by the America Federation of Teachers in 2013 revealed that U.S. students spent as much as thirty days taking practice tests and/or learning test-taking strategies. Considering how much rhetorical energy is spent by politicians and school administrators about time on learning, how is the time dedicated […]

Home Health VNA Recognized Nationally for Patient Satisfaction

Home Health VNA Recognized Nationally for Patient Satisfaction

Lawrence, MA – Home Health VNA was recently ranked as one of the country’s highest performing home care agencies in the area of patient satisfaction by scoring in the top 25% of Fazzi Associates National Patient Satisfaction survey called the Home Health Care Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems or HHCAHPS.  This survey is […]

MassDEP Penalizes Realty Land Trust $105,000 for Violations at Merrill Avenue Site in Haverhill  

MassDEP Penalizes Realty Land Trust $105,000 for Violations at Merrill Avenue Site in Haverhill  

 Foreclosed property had substantial, unauthorized alterations to bordering vegetated wetlands  BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) penalized Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust (LBMLT) $105,000 for unauthorized alterations made to approximately 10,000 square feet of wetlands at 115-117 Merrill Avenue in Haverhill. Preceding the foreclosure on this land by LBMLT, Marilyn Campbell owned […]

Army Veteran Oscar Camargo to Challenge Jim Lyons for 18th Essex State Rep. Seat

Army Veteran Oscar Camargo to Challenge Jim Lyons for 18th Essex State Rep. Seat

ANDOVER- Shortly after delivering remarks at the annual Veteran’s Day ceremony in neighboring North Andover, Andover resident Oscar Camargo will announce his candidacy for the 18th Essex’s State Representative seat.  Camargo, a 15-year US Army veteran, will express his intentions to prospective voters on November 11th at 2:30PM in front of Andover’s Old Town Hall.  Running […]

Recall Chaos – Two Recalls vs Lawrence Mayor Rivera Now Circulating, Mayor Asks Judge for Fair Hearing

Recall Chaos – Two Recalls vs Lawrence Mayor Rivera Now Circulating, Mayor Asks Judge for Fair Hearing

LAWRENCE – The recall effort against Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera by former Mayor William Lantigua supporters has declined into chaos with two separate (legally valid) recall petitions circulating throughout the city to remove the mayor from office. Rivera’s attorney was in court Wednesday asking a judge to put a halt to the second recall, the […]

Worcester Semi-Pro Football Players Sentenced for Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

Worcester Semi-Pro Football Players Sentenced for Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

BOSTON – A member of the Worcester Wildcats semi-professional football team was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Worcester for his role in carrying out a stolen identity refund fraud scheme that resulted in an almost $1 million loss to the federal government. Jose Manuel Abreu-Elicier, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Timothy […]

ATF, Haverhill Police Make Major Drug Trafficking Arrests

ATF, Haverhill Police Make Major Drug Trafficking Arrests

On Tuesday morning, (10/27/15), the US Marshals and Haverhill Police arrested Willy J. Metz age 29 at 30 Briarwood Dr. Haverhill MA on multiple warrants for Trafficking Firearms and Trafficking Cocaine. These warrants were the result of a joint Haverhill Police/ ATF investigation. To date 28 individuals have been charged as part of the investigation involving […]

Haverhill School Committee Candidate Declared Bankruptcy in 2010 – Says Will Better Serve School Committee Having Learned From Experience

Haverhill School Committee Candidate Declared Bankruptcy in 2010 – Says Will Better Serve School Committee Having Learned From Experience

By: Tom Duggan – Oct. 29, 2015 In 2010, Sven Amirian declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy when his successful business was hit hard by the recession. Documents obtained by The Valley Patriot show that Amirian owed $303,244.75 in total debt including his mortgage. The bankruptcy was discharged in 2011.  Amirian is a candidate for Haverhill School Committee and also […]

Rep Report: Action Regarding The Department of Children and Families (DCF)

Rep Report: Action Regarding The Department of Children and Families (DCF)

  By: Rep. Linda Dean Campbell October, 2015 The Baker Administration has placed our DCF under new executive leadership that is deeply committed to effecting very necessary improvements in our State’s child protection systems. As a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, I can tell you that the Legislature is highly supportive […]