By: Jamison Tomasek – February, 2012 The Mayor of Lawrence, everyone must admit, is an interesting character. Some people love him, some hate him. Some really, really hate him. I for one am fascinated by how he seems at times to show two completely different sides to his character. He’s always being mentioned or […]
By: Ronnie Ford – February 2012 Bruin’s goalie Tim Thomas has the right stuff, stood up for his opinion and didn’t join team mates to meet the president. He exercised his freedom of speech and movement. Let his teammates bask in the Glory of being the Champs and seen at the White House. It doesn’t […]
Looking Back at 8 Years And 100 Editions of Exclusive News And Views! February – 2012 Looking Back On Our First Edition Next month The Valley Patriot will celebrate our 8th anniversary. It’s quite a milestone considering that the experts in the industry and the local pundits predicted our doom from day one […]
Diana Fay Dizoglio – January, 2012 With heavy hearts people from all across Massachusetts honored four firefighters who lost their lives this holiday season. Among these brave fathers, husbands, brothers and sons was firefighter Robert George of Methuen who unexpectedly passed away just a few days before Christmas. Robert or “Robby” as his close […]
Welcome to The Great Hall of the Nevins Memorial Library, another shining jewel among the many that makes us all wonderfully proud to live in Methuen. Thank you all for being here today. I am honored by the opportunity that the citizens of Methuen have given me. I look forward to working with all of […]
By: Kim Saltmarsh – January, 2012 It’s dawn. You’re hungry and cold, dirty and tired. The faint light of a rising sun only reflects the exhaustion and determination on your face. All you have is the hope that boot camp taught you well because you are an American Marine. I always honored our American troops, […]
By: Cecelia Calabrese – January, 2012 Want a crash course in decision making, leadership and teamwork skills? Tell it to the Marines! That is what Mary Payne of Dracut, Massachusetts did when she spent a week at the Marine Corps training facility at Parris Island. Mary is the College Relations Counselor at Lowell High School. […]
By: Lawrence “Lonnie” Brennan – January, 2012 There’s a bridge in Haverhill, you all know it. Just as you get through the speed-trap zone in Groveland, you cross the river. The bridge is old, rusted and generally falling apart. Instead of properly maintaining the bridge, the state is simply building a new bridge alongside […]
By: Peter Larocque – January, 2012 As of the time this article went to print, The Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, Mr. Mitchell Chester held meetings with the Lawrence Teacher’s Union, Lawrence Parents and Community members, and finally with the Lawrence Public School Personnel. His message to all is that he is […]
A Middlesex County Superior Court Judge has issued a restraining order against Andover resident Clark Smidt the soon-to-be former majority shareholder of 980AM WCAP radio in Lowell. Despite a court agreement between Smidt (and his former business partner) Colonel Sam Poulten, giving Poulten control of station operations in a buyout deal, Lowell police say […]
Prisoners in “Sober House” on Crack Corner Have No Supervision, Escapes Continue with No Accountability Paying Attention! with Tom Duggan Tom Duggan – January 2012 LAWRENCE, MA – The intersection of Oxford and Lowell Street is known as “crack corner” by Lawrence Police because the amount of drugs and drug dealers in the neighborhood is staggering. […]
UNBECOMING! 12-07-11 Over the years, embattled School Committee Chairman Chris Allen has worked very hard to help the public school children of North Andover get a better education. But, Allen’s behavior of late has overshadowed much of the good her efforts might have accomplished. First, Allen was engaged in using school department resources (and employees) […]
December, 2012 North Andover School Superintendent Christopher Hottel handed The Valley Patriot a bill for $7,099 to fill a freedom of information request last month. The Valley Patriot had requested copies of all emails, sent and received by members of the school committee and the superintendent covering a 30 day period just prior to and […]
PUPPY LOVE WITH KATE WHITNEY By: Kate Whitney – December, 2011 This month celebrates my four year anniversary writing for this fantastic newspaper! First and foremost, I want to give a big thank you to Tom Duggan (editor of the Valley Patriot). Without the “VP”, there would be no Puppy Girl column. Tom […]
By: Tom Duggan – December, 2011 Wakefield – Former State Senator and candidate for Lt. Governor Richard Tisei announced last month that he will seek the republican nomination for congress in the hopes of unseating democrat John Tierney. Flanked by supporters and members of the media, Tisei said that he was going to make jobs […]