VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL OCTOBER 2016 There are four ballot questions Massachusetts voters will be asked to decide on Election Day. Here are our recommendations. VOTE YES ON QUESTION #1: Voters are asked in question #1 whether or not to expand the amount of slot gambling parlors in Massachusetts from one to two. We believe in […]
Lawrence resident and United States Navy Veteran Brian Mercer teaches others to save lives through training and education. Five years ago Mercer, an EMT and owner of a wheelchair van service in Lawrence, saw a news story about 17 year old North Andover High School student Alexander Farese, who died of a heart failure on […]
By: Forest Rain – Sept. 2016 “Aren’t you afraid of the soldiers?” the reporter asked the old Arab man. A resident of Jenin, approximately 60 or 70 years old, was sitting on a pile of rubble. He was calmly sitting there, not doing much of anything. He was surprised by the reporter’s question. I watched […]
By: Dani Langevin – Sept. 2016 Last month, Tom Duggan posted a comment asking people if they supported merit pay for teachers and the claws came out. I’ve been an educator for my entire adult life and I have never come face to face with anyone who expressed disdain for my field. I know few […]
Northern Essex Community College is the first community college in Massachusetts to offer a method of learning designed especially for busy adults who need flexibility in order to pursue a certificate or degree. Northern Essex has launched an eight-course certificate in computer applications as well as two additional art courses—Two Dimensional Foundations and Computer Graphics—delivered […]
New location expands capacity, increases student resources and enhances access Cambridge College recently announced plans to move its campus from 360 Merrimack Street to 280 Merrimack Street in Lawrence, effective September of 2016. Located in the heart of the Riverwalk, the new location offers students large modern classrooms, improved technology, student-focused amenities such as a […]
An information session, for individuals interested in enrolling in a Medical Interpreter Certificate Program at Northern Essex Community College, will be held on Saturday, September 10, from 10 to 11 a.m. at NECC Riverwalk, Building 9, Entry K, 3rd Floor, 360 Merrimack St., Lawrence. The information session is designed to explore the field of medical […]
The Valley Patriot newspaper hosted a debate for the Democratic Candidates for Essex County Sheriff at North Andover High School on Thursday, August 18, 2016. The candidates are: Michael Marks, Paul Russell, Jerry Robito, Kevin Coppinger, and Ed O’Reilly. The debate moderators were: Tom Duggan, Valley Patriot Publisher, Christine Morabito and Jerry Flynn. The […]
By: John MacDonald – August, 2016 On Wednesday, July 20th I was honored that my friend, Valley Patriot publisher, Tom Duggan, asked me to speak at the Pro Police Rally at Methuen High School. Tom had mentioned my involvement with Veterans Assisting Veterans (VAV), which is a 501 C3 nonprofit, 100% volunteer organization that helps […]
By: Paul Murano, Aug. 2016 When I was growing up I saw Democrats and Republicans switch values on the important cultural issues defining what it means to be human. Democrats were pro-life and supported natural marriage while Republicans were liberal on cultural issues. This changed when Rockefeller Republicanism evolved into Reaganism, and secular humanism was […]
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) today announced his intention to file legislation creating the crime of using the Internet and other communication channels to propagate so-called ‘kill lists’. The Tarr bill creates penalties for anyone who attempts to induce, tempt, command, or entice another person to take action in a conspiracy to commit a […]
By: John MacDonald – July, 2016 The reality of UMass Lowell and its significant impact on the City of Lowell has hit hard lately. UMass Lowell recently purchased Perkins Park Residences and Lofts for a reported $61.5 million dollars , a purchase that has infuriated much of the residents in Lowell, the City of Lowell […]
By: DJ Deeb – July, 2016 June proved to be a volatile month for both the City of Methuen budget and the Methuen Public Schools budget. Even though Mayor Steve Zanni proposed increasing the city budget by 6.25%, he initially proposed level-funding the schools. Faced with nearly $3 Million in new Federal Special Education mandates, […]
Free English classes for adult English language learners, who want to further their education or employment opportunities, will be offered at Northern Essex Community college beginning in September. This 16-week program is for English language learners who would like to explore careers in health care, technology, engineering, or advanced manufacturing. The goal of the program […]
All eyes were on the sky as a plane circled overhead at the LARE Institute graduation celebration on June 16th. Students started snapping pictures of the message it was carrying, “Congrats 2016 LARE Grads! #WOW!Magic!” That was the kickoff for the celebration. Students were fitted for caps and gowns, lined up in order of their programs […]