Tom Duggan’s Post Election Notebook, November-2014

  CHANNEL 5 DEBATE – Of all the debates this political season, Channel 5’s debate between Charlie Baker and Martha Coakley was by far the worst. It was so awful and apparently biased that I actually had to go back and watch it twice. It was like a train wreck you can’t look away from. […]

Lawrence Mayor Rivera Fires Election Coordinator Rafael Tejeda After Scathing Report, City Clerk Maloney May be Next

Lawrence Mayor Rivera Fires Election Coordinator Rafael Tejeda After Scathing Report, City Clerk Maloney May be Next

By: Tom Duggan – 11/21/14 Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera has fired Rafael Tejeda, (the Lawrence Bilingual Elections Coordinator) after a review of the Lawrence election process by election attorneys at Kopelman and Paige. The municipal law firm released a scathing review of Lawrence’s handling of the election process after reviewing the 2014 elections. Rivera said […]

Republican Jim Keclourse Wins Recount by 12 votes in 1st Essex Rep. Race

Republican Jim Keclourse Wins Recount by 12 votes in 1st Essex Rep. Race

By: Tom Duggan – December 2, 2014 PREVIOUS STORY UPDATED 6;20 pm 12/4/14 James Kelcourse has held on to his razor thin lead in the 1st Essex State Rep. race recount that wrapped up on Thursday, showing Keclourse defeated Newburyport Democrat Ed Cameron on election day by 12 votes in a three way race that included […]

“Remembering the Lessons of History as We Honor America’s Veterans”

By: Kenneth Willette – November, 2014 I have always deeply valued the honorable service and sacrifices rendered by veterans throughout our beloved nation. These veterans came from vastly different backgrounds, races, ethnicities, economic classes and neighborhoods. However, they always collectively shared the common purpose of duty, honor, and love of our nation. Their remarkable journeys […]

New Veterans Affairs Secretary Comes to Massachusetts

New Veterans Affairs Secretary Comes to Massachusetts

By: Linda Dean Campbell – November, 2014 Very recently, I was afforded the opportunity to have a discussion with our new national Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Robert McDonald. Wisely, he is taking time to visit VA health care centers across the country, including our center in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. I was impressed by some of […]

Health Care Rationing and the Politics of Hepatitis C

Health Care Rationing and the Politics of Hepatitis C

By: Dr. Frank MacMillan, MD Back in April, I wrote about anticipated new treatments for Hepatitis C viral infection. The first all-oral treatment was FDA approved on October 10, with additional new medications expected before this year’s end. These new medications not only treat, but they actually cure Hepatitis C in almost everyone who takes them […]

After Defeat, Lantigua Plans Beacon Hill Agenda (Satire)

After Defeat, Lantigua Plans Beacon Hill Agenda (Satire)

By: DJ Beauregard, Satirist November, 2014 In the days following this year’s elections, former Lawrence Mayor Willie Lantigua has been preparing to take the oath of office as Lawrence’s new State Representative in January. He lost to Marcos Devers by over 400 votes but is looking forward to enacting his agenda on Beacon Hill. “I […]

American Training Honors Partners at Annual LIFE Matters Awards

American Training Honors Partners  at Annual LIFE Matters Awards

Applause filled the room as the 2014 LIFE Matters Award recipients were announced. The crowd rose to their feet as Market Basket associates were called to the stage. Each year American Training recognizes companies and individuals in the community who make a difference in the lives of those they touch by putting people first, at […]

Homework Wars – BABIES AND BRIEFCASES

Homework Wars – BABIES AND BRIEFCASES

By: Cheryl Hajjar – November, 2014 ‘Tis the season for homework. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy. If you have grade school children, even mentioning the word homework is like dragging your fingernails down a never ending chalkboard. Some days I honestly would rather walk over a 1000 hot coals in my bare feet than suffer the […]

New Hampshire’s Federal Delegation Should Lead on the World Stage by Emulating Bush

New Hampshire’s Federal Delegation Should Lead on the World Stage by Emulating Bush

By: DJ Bettencourt – November, 2014 Few presidents upon leaving office have kept a lower profile than George W. Bush. Where other presidents have sought to bolster or define their legacies, Bush has been content to let history pass judgment on his leadership. When pressed for comment, Bush is emphatic: “There’s no need to defend […]

A Tale of Three Cities – Lawrence, Haverhill and Methuen: Comparing Voter Registration Lists by the Numbers

A Tale of Three Cities – Lawrence, Haverhill  and Methuen: Comparing Voter Registration Lists by the Numbers

By: Kathy Runge – November, 2014 I’ve been writing programs to look for duplicate registrations on the voter registration list in Lawrence for a few years. This list can be searched using many criteria; in this article I have used three of my algorithms. These programs can’t really tell if two registrations correspond to the […]

Redefining Marriage ~ Ye Gay Ol’ Valley

Redefining Marriage ~ Ye Gay Ol’ Valley

By: Dani Langavin – November, 2014 Allowing same-sex marriage has not redefined marriage. Marriage has been redefined over and over and over again. It is constantly transitioning and to blame same-sex marriage on its redefinition is ignorant and shortsighted at best. Yes, marriage has been around for a long time, but it has not been […]

The Need for Veterans’ Housing in Massachusetts

The Need for Veterans’ Housing in Massachusetts

By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives November, 2014 November 11, Veterans’ Day, a national day of remembrance to honor the men and women who have served in the armed forces during war, was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954. In my first term as State Senator, I am proud to have worked […]

Backyard Chickens … in Lawrence!

Backyard Chickens … in Lawrence!

By: Susan Wilson Laplante – November, 2014 Yes it’s true, backyard chickens are allowed in Lawrence. The growing rage in urban areas to keep a small flock of chickens in your backyard has made its way to Lawrence. Chickens in the city are nothing new. However, without a permit from the Board of Health, those […]