59 Legislators Vote for Gas Tax Hike Have Taxpayers Pick Up Their Gas Tab!

Boston, MA: As taxpayers across the Commonwealth begin to feel the effects of new and higher taxes today, public records show that many of the legislators who voted to implement these higher taxes, such as the one on gasoline, are also benefiting from taxpayer funded reimbursements for when they travel to the Statehouse. Per diems […]

Valley Patriots Clinch First Place Head to the Playoffs in Over 30’s Girls Softball!

Valley Patriots Clinch First Place Head to the Playoffs in Over 30’s Girls Softball!

Allan Knowles – August 21, 2013 In their second year in a row as a team The Valley Patriots have once again clinched the 1st place spot and head to the playoffs in the True Vision, Over 30 – Girls Softball League. Last year The Valley Patriots not only captured first place in the league but won […]

The Very BEST of Newburyport… From Rebeccah Pearson of NewburyportGuide.com

  By: Rebeccah Pearson, Newburyportguide.com August 2013 Smitten – Newburyport Owner June Pastman of Smitten helps cater to the needs of customers and clients sharing her passion for the clothing industry that began from a young age. Instinctual knowledge of purchasing, dressing, and fashion consulting for women of work, leisure, and play speaks in volumes […]

The Ongoing Fight Against Tax Increases

By: State Senator Kathleen Ives – August, 2013 There has been some misinformation in the press about the Legislature’s recent vote to override Governor Deval Patrick’s veto of the Transportation Finance Bill. Some outlets are reporting that by fighting against the Governor on this veto, the legislature chose to raise the gas tax by 3 […]

Masssachusetts State Spending on Local Projects

Masssachusetts State Spending on Local Projects

Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives reports to the Valley Patriot that she has voted on the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget today in a 36-3 vote. The budget included numerous items that she advocated for, such as: $300,000 for Salisbury Beach Replenishment Salisbury beach is one of the Commonwealth’s most popular beaches and contributes greatly to our […]

11 Tips For Becoming A Natural Born Blogger

11 Tips For Becoming A Natural Born Blogger

By: Cheryl Hajjar – July 2013  It was 1999 and while the century was coming to a close and Prince was singing his iconic song , blogging was about to become one of the most used words in pop culture. A blog, as it is known today is a website that contains material of personal […]

Senator Kathleen Ives on Welfare Reform Bill

By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives BOSTON – Following a press conference that Senate President Therese Murray held Monday morning, the Senate is due to take up a comprehensive welfare reform bill on Thursday aimed at making state assistance transitional. The bill addresses cyclical issues that prevent recipients from transitioning off of welfare as well as […]

Speaking In Support of Police Training and Public Safety

Speaking In Support of Police Training and Public Safety

By: Senator Katie O’Connor Ives – June 2013 May was a busy month in the Senate. It was my first budget season and per tradition in the legislature, a new legislator has to give a first formal speech – a “maiden speech” before being able to engage in discussion and debate on the floor. Senators […]

IN YOUR CORNER WITH SENATOR IVES: Two Bills for Welcoming Survivors Home

  By: State Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives – May 2013 We are all shocked and saddened by the cruelty of the attacks inflicted on innocent people at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. We mourn for the four individuals who lost their lives and their grieving friends and families. Our hearts also go out […]

IN YOUR CORNER WITH SENATOR IVES – Let’s Get the Basics Right in Massachusetts!

By: State Senator Katy O’Connor Ives – April 2013   As the legislative session heads into the spring, there are a series of important issues facing the Commonwealth. I’m highlighting transportation funding and child safety in this column. As always, I welcome your thoughts on these and other issues. Trains, roads and taxes Beacon Hill […]

My First Weeks as Your State Senator

By: Senator Katie O’Connor Ives (D) Newburyport –  January 2013 Thanks to Tom Duggan for letting me set up shop here at the “Senator’s Corner” so I can update readers on what’s happening on Beacon Hill and my State Senate activities. This is still a working title, and might be different in the next edition. […]

Tom Duggan’s Notebook – November, 2012

FROM THE PAGES OF VALLEY PATRIOT PUBLISHER, TOM DUGGAN’S NOTEBOOK November, 2012   PANTS ON FIRE AWARD – Of all the candidates telling all the lies they could this election season, by far the winner of the Valley Patriot’s “Pants on Fire Award” for the 2012 election goes to Congressman John Tierney. Tierney took a […]

Senator-Elect Katie Ives: I’ll Attend Tea Party Meetings & Listen

Senator-Elect Katie Ives: I’ll Attend Tea Party Meetings & Listen

Listen to Hour 1        Listen to Hour 2 Saturday on The Paying Attention! Radio Program on WCAP (980AM) Senator-Elect Kathleen O’Connor Ives co-hosted The Paying Attention! Radio Program with Valley Patriot publisher Tom Duggan. Ives commits to attend Tea Party Meetings and listen to the concerns of her constituents in the Tea Party.  […]

A Bird’s Eye View of the 2012 Election – Evaluations, Endorsements & Links

A Bird’s Eye View of the 2012 Election – Evaluations, Endorsements & Links

Paying Attention! with Tom Duggan   November 3, 2012 After watching all the debate, interviewing the candidates, consuming the news and commercials every day I have made my final decisions on who I am supporting in Tuesday’s election. As the publisher of a newspaper, a political radio talk show host and an activist in my […]