Elder Services Executive Director Wins National Leadership Award

Elder Services Executive Director Wins National Leadership Award

Rosanne Distefano, Executive Director of Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley was presented the Excellence in Leadership Award from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging during the n4a Annual Conference in San Diego, CA. Rosanne was one of three individuals recognized nationally for their work in the field of aging. Rosanne has 40 […]

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much…..Helen Keller ~ ROBIN’S KITTY CORNER

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much…..Helen Keller ~ ROBIN’S KITTY CORNER

By: Robin Desmet – Sept. 2016 Oftentimes when I show up at someone’s home to trap their backyard cats, I am by myself. I set up the traps and then spend a few hours getting to know them and explaining what I do. But although I am by myself, I am by no means doing […]

Veteran Employment and Housing Security ~ IN YOUR CORNER with SENATOR IVES

Veteran Employment and Housing Security ~ IN YOUR CORNER with SENATOR IVES

The Massachusetts Senate unanimously approved omnibus veterans’ legislation in June known as the Veterans H.O.M.E. Act. State Senator Katy Ives – July, 2016 Senate Bill 2325, “An Act Relative to Housing, Operations, Military Service, and Enrichment,” seeks to improve housing and employment opportunities for military veterans and their families. The bill allows municipalities to offer […]

CORNER NAMED FOR PFC. THOMAS A. SULLIVAN, US ARMY ~ Valley Patriot of the Month

CORNER NAMED FOR PFC. THOMAS A. SULLIVAN, US ARMY ~ Valley Patriot of the Month

Last month, the City of Lawrence and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts recognized the heroism of World War II veteran and former Lawrence native, Thomas A. Sullivan of the Army’s 338th infantry regiment in 85 Custer Division. Sullivan was drafted on October 29, 1943, went into training on November 19, 1943, and was shipped to Italy […]

Acadia Insurance Company Sues NH Man for Libel Over Boycott

Acadia Insurance Company Sues NH  Man for Libel Over Boycott

Mike Demers of Salem, NH Says His Boycott Website Has Ruffled Some Feathers at WR Berkeley  According to the New Hampshire Dept. of Environmental Services, Haffner’s Oil Company overfilled the oil tank at 21 Martin Avenue in Salem, NH in February of 2007.   As the result, more than 200 gallons of oil spilled into […]

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 […]

Dominicans in Lawrence Vote for Dominican President, Show ID to Vote and say Voter ID is “Not Racist”

Dominicans in Lawrence Vote for Dominican President, Show ID to Vote and say Voter ID is “Not Racist”

  By: Tom Duggan – 5-15-16 LAWRENCE – The gymnasium of the old high school on Haverhill St. was filled to capacity Sunday afternoon as Dominican citizens who live in the City of Lawrence, Massachusetts turned out in large numbers to vote for the next Dominican President.  Dominican citizens who have dual citizenship with the […]

State Auditor Bump Discovers State Retirement Board Paid $687K to Dead People

State Auditor Bump Discovers State Retirement Board Paid $687K to Dead People

Board Has Taken Steps to Address Problem, Recoup Funds BOSTON, MA — Auditor Suzanne M. Bump today issued an audit of the Massachusetts State Retirement Board (MSRB), which found that the agency made more than $687,000 in payments to deceased pensioners, and underpaid more than $271,000 to pensioners whose designated beneficiaries had died. The error […]

North Andover Sr. Center Discussion on Colon Cancer Awareness and Aging

North Andover Sr. Center Discussion on Colon Cancer Awareness and Aging

By: Dr. Frank MacMillan – April, 2016 Las month on March 28th, I was invited by my good friend and fellow North Andover Board of Health member, Mr. Joseph McCarthy, to hold an interactive discussion at the North Andover Senior Center on colon cancer awareness and health matters related to aging. Though we discussed some ideas […]

North Andover Town Moderator Opens On-Line Town Meeting Access

North Andover Town Moderator Opens On-Line Town Meeting Access

Innovation to allow non-attendee participation at Town Meeting expanded. Continuing what he calls “the historic initiative of the past two years”, North Andover Town Moderator Mark DiSalvo will be allowing questions at Town Meeting to be asked by citizens electronically. In the first year of the program residents were given an opportunity to post questions but were […]

The Genie is Out of the Bottle on Prescription Drug Prices ~ THE DR. IS IN!

The Genie is Out of the Bottle on Prescription Drug Prices ~ THE DR. IS IN!

By: Dr. Frank MacMillan – December, 2015 As a college student in the mid 1980s, I studied and received my bachelor degree in economics prior to attending medical school. Also In the mid 1980s, I took note that one component of the new wave in health care was insurance paid prescription drug coverage. As a […]

Continuing our Focus on Veterans and the Opioid Epidemic ~ IN YOUR CORNER with SENATOR IVES

Continuing our Focus on Veterans and the Opioid Epidemic  ~ IN YOUR CORNER with SENATOR IVES

By: Senator Kathleen Ives Dec. 2015 The Massachusetts Senate recently completed the first year of a two-year legislative session by sending to the governor’s desk legislation for increased penalties for trafficking fentanyl, and five bills related to veterans. To further address the health crisis of opiate abuse in the Commonwealth, the legislature passed House Bill […]