By: Tom Weaver – Augut. 2013 What does it take to be a slave? We have the old definition – belonging to another person, but that has been outlawed in modern society. However, when we think of the old definition, where those people allowed liberty or the ability to pursue happiness? Were those people dependent […]
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 […]
By: Joe Leone – August, 2013 Like many of my fellow Methuen voters, I try to keep myself informed about issues that affect the community and my tax bill. What I’ve been hearing and reading over the last 18 months has not made me a very happy camper. Not much seemed to be getting done, […]
By: Kathy Runge – August, 2013 Anyone familiar with the city of Lawrence is aware of the lax record keeping and controls in various city departments, i.e. city garages and Inspectional Services to name two. Does anyone believe it’s any better in the Elections Department? Let me share my findings. I’ve been writing programs to […]
By: State Rep. Diana Dizoglio If there is one thing that I have learned during my first term representing you on Beacon Hill, it’s that things don’t always appear as they seem and that the legislative process can be a real head scratcher. Witness recently when Governor Deval Patrick vetoed a transportation bill that significantly […]
By Sandra Stotsky – July, 2013 Why Massachusetts needs to defund implementation and testing of Common Core’s current standards In this essay, I suggest why Common Core’s English language arts and mathematics standards need revision before further implementation in any Common Core state—and well before tests are given that are based on these flawed standards. […]
By Dr. Padmanabhan – July, 2013 This column was triggered by a gushing puff piece published naturally by Brian McGrory’s newspaper – The Boston Globe – on May 21, 2013. Even by their standards, that piece was a new low. This particular gusher was about the second $125 Million given to Harvard by a Swiss […]
By: State Representative Linda Dean Campbell – July 2013 The Legislature successfully passed the FY14 budget Monday after a prolonged conference committee between the House and the Senate. It was worth the wait. I am pleased with the overall package that increases our Rainy Day fund, keeping it within the top four highest funds in […]
BOSTON – State Representative Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing legislation that provides immediate funds for reforms to the electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system and the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA). The bill updates EBT oversight measures included in the FY ’14 budget and advances continuous […]
By Sandra Stotsky, special to the Valley Patriot Why Massachusetts needs to defund implementation and testing of Common Core’s current standards In this essay, I suggest why Common Core’s English language arts and mathematics standards need revision before further implementation in any Common Core state—and well before tests are given that are based on these […]
By: Tom Weaver – June 2013 Yes, our President is fighting a war, a war run by bureaucrats with rules of engagement set by those not risking their lives to carry out a mission. Young folks are being killed and maimed by those we believe may be friends. But, we will continue the mission, even […]
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 […]
By: State Rep. Linda Dean Campbell – June 2013 First I would like to thank Valley Patriot Columnist D. J. Deeb for his label as a moderate Democrat. My colleagues would likely tweak that that to conservative Democrat but nonetheless, I accept. I also want to thank writer Deeb for paying attention to our State […]
By: Crystal Galloway Arnott – May 2013 Shelter Manager, Lowell Humane Society Sure signs of spring have arrived, sunshine and blooming flowers, but for those of us in the animal sheltering field we have a different name for it: KITTEN SEASON. The usual reaction to kittens is a chorus of “awwws” and the fierce desire to snuggle […]
By: Cheryl Hajjar – May, 2013 As I listen to my Ipod, I hear Christina Aguilera’s voice reciting “Nobody’s gonna hold us down, nobody’s gonna hold us down “, I remember a friend of mine once told his daughters they could be anything they wanted to be, that nobody could hold them back from […]