2009 Law Enforcement fatalities: A tale of two trends

Total line-of-duty deaths drop to lowest level in 50 years; gun related killings up 23% with five multiple-fatality shootings   March, 2010 Washington, DC – Fewer U.S. law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in 2009 than in any year in the past half century—an encouraging trend tempered by a disturbing increase in […]

Playing the race card in 2010

Is it time for City Councilor Grisel Silva to resign?     By: Robert O’Koniewski, Esq., – March, 2010   Just how far Lawrence can sink has yet to be seen. The recent events surrounding Mayor Lantigua’s insistence on keeping, and then resigning from, his State Representative job certainly has enabled us to plunge to the […]

A total waste of taxpayers’ money

  By: Michael Sweeney – March, 2010 You have to wonder when taxpayers are simply going to have enough and demand wholesale change. It appears the limits of taxpayers tolerance is being reached, particularly with the continued Tammany Hall tactics going on in the City of Lawrence. Just imagine how much of your tax dollars […]

From killing fields to candidate for US Congress

By: JAMES O’TOOLE – March, 2010   Sam Meas, the first Cambodian-American to seek congressional office, talks about growing up in war-torn Cambodia. Sam Meas, a 36-year-old investment analyst from Haverhill, Massachusetts, is a Republican candidate for the United States congress in Massachusetts’ 5th District. He is the first Cambodian-American to run for Congress, or […]

Dracut elections are stirring interest and controversy

  By: D.J. Deeb – March, 2010 Several candidates have taken out papers to run in the upcoming Dracut Town Elections scheduled for Monday, May 3rd. The positions that are drawing the most interest as of this writing are Selectmen, School Committee, and Housing Authority. All three are likely to stimulate interest among Dracut voters […]

GOP candidate Charlie Baker’s popularity surging in latest poll

Suffolk Poll shows voters favor casinos, cutting taxes   Riding the coattails of Scott Brown’s upset win for U.S. Senate, Republican Charlie Baker has jumped into second place and is within striking distance of Gov. Deval Patrick in a tight gubernatorial race, according to the latest Suffolk University/7News poll. Patrick (33 percent) still leads the […]

‘Heroes always … celebrating an anniversary’

GEORGETOWN TODAY By: Lonnie Brennan – March, 2010 Over the past years I’ve had the privilege to contribute a few words and reflect on a few thoughts regarding our fine communities; some positive observations, some less than desirable. Nothing has been more of an honor than meeting and listening to the many Valley Patriot Heroes […]

A Cause For Celebration… And a Somber Remembrance

Valley Patriot Editorial – March, 2010   This month, The Valley Patriot celebrates the 6th anniversary since our very first edition, published back in March of 2004. Since then, we have published 76 editions and close to a million individual newspapers. We never could’ve imagined back then that our 25 locations would grow to more […]

Suffolk University Poll: Give the People what they WANT?

Valley Patriot Editorial – March, 2010   Suffolk University conducted a statewide survey of 500 Massachusetts registered voters during February 21-24, 2010. The voters were asked to comment on two potential ballot questions that may appear on the fall ballot. One of the questions is whether or not to roll back the sales tax from […]

Tips for pet safety, please use common sense

Puppy Love with Kate Whitney   By: Puppy Girl Kate Whitney – March, 2010 Hi Everyone! A quick thank you to those of you who have sent in donation checks to help my rescue, One Tail at a Time! Also, don’t forget to check out Evenfall Restaurant in Haverhill. They were kind enough to run that […]

Councilor Criticizes Lantigua for Racist Policy

Lawrence Councilor LaPlante says mayor wrong for only putting city job postings in Spanish Language newspapers   By: Tom Duggan, February 2, 2010  Lawrence City Councilor Marc LaPlante took Mayor Willie Lantigua to task Wednesday night for his policy of only posting city jobs in Spanish Language weekly newspapers and not “the daily paper of record.  Since […]

Obama holds up arms to Israel, ships to Muslim countries

VALLEY PATRIOT EXCLUSIVE   March, 2010 According to a report last month by The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, the Obama Administration is blocking an arms deal with Israel. The report states that “Israel’s request for six AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters was blocked by the Obama Administration in June …” Meanwhile, Massachusetts Congresswoman […]

Methuen’s Residency Enforcement Policy

  By: Ken Willette – February, 2010 The Methuen School Committee votes every year at a public meeting against offering a school choice program within the district. Therefore, it is critically important to review and strengthen the current district policy relative to investigating, identifying and removing any out-of-district student not presently authorized to attend our […]

Lawrence Exchange Club Honors Fire, Police, EMT’s

Lawrence, Andover North Andover Heroes Honored By: Tom Duggan – Febrary, 2010 The Lawrence Exchange Club held their annual Police, Firefighter and EMT of the year awards last night honoring first responders in the valley. Police and Fire Chiefs from Lawrence, Andover and North Andover were allowed to present each honoree with a plaque and explain to […]