Accountability Needed in Division of Professional Licensure ~ IN YOUR CORNER SENATOR with DIANA DIZOGLIO

Accountability Needed in Division of Professional Licensure ~ IN YOUR CORNER SENATOR with DIANA DIZOGLIO

Oct. 2021 Hello Valley Patriot Readers, The state Division of Professional Licensure (DPL) licenses and regulates more than 580,000 individuals, businesses, and schools to engage in over 150 trades and professions in Massachusetts, from plumbers and electricians to psychologists and optometrists. Its mission is supposed to be to protect the public through the establishment of […]

Stopping Combined Sewer Overflows, Part II ~ Rep. Linda Dean Campbell

Stopping Combined Sewer Overflows, Part II ~ Rep. Linda Dean Campbell

By: Rep. Linda Dean Campbell – Oct. 2021 At a recent public hearing about how to spend $4.8 billion in federal dollars coming to the Commonwealth, the need to address combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in the Merrimack River came up again and again. It’s been a rainy summer, causing millions of gallons of sewage to […]

Establishment Republicans Establish Lack of Consistent Standards

Establishment Republicans Establish Lack of Consistent Standards

By: Brian Genest – Oct. 2021 Blatant hypocrisy. Shameless double standards. Profiles in cowardice. All were on display at the recent meeting of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee. Not one establishment Republican had a word to say about Tom Mountain, the former MassGOP vice chair who has stepped down from the party’s executive committee. Not […]

Marijuana Facilities Fail in Low Interest Methuen Election

Marijuana Facilities Fail in Low Interest Methuen Election

11/2/21 The question of whether or not Methuen should allow marijuana growing facilities to locate within the city was rejected by voters 2,266 to 1,681. Every single incumbent official was reelected. Only two races were challenged. Mayor Perry ran unopposed, as did East District Councilors Steve Saba and Eunice Zeigler. Central District Councilors Joel Faretra […]

DePena Pulls Off Upset Win, Defeats Kendrys Vasquez for Mayor of Lawrence

DePena Pulls Off Upset Win, Defeats Kendrys Vasquez for Mayor of Lawrence

  Former At-Large City Councilor Brian DePena pulled an upset win over Acting Mayor Kendrys Vasquez in Lawrence on Tuesday. Unofficial Results Brian Depena 6,093 Kendrys 5,338 LIVE VIDEO OF DEPENA AT LAWRENCE CITY HALL Vasquez was appointed mayor by the city council after Mayor Dan Rivera abandoned the job to work for Republican Governor […]

Average Bay Stater Would Give Up Four Years of Their Life to Keep Drinking

Average Bay Stater Would Give Up Four Years of Their Life to Keep Drinking

Life vs. Liquor: The average Bay Stater would give up four years of their life to keep drinking alcohol, survey reveals. One-third would give up caffeine for life, if they can continue drinking alcohol. 30% admit they ignore studies warning about alcohol health risks. Infographic included. Science and Sobriety: There are many behaviors and habits we’ve developed […]

Gladys Araceli Ceron of North Andover Sentenced for Performing Illegal Silicone Injections

Gladys Araceli Ceron of North Andover Sentenced for Performing Illegal Silicone Injections

Defendant injected individuals with silicone oil, which can cause stroke, death or disfigurement 10-9-21 BOSTON – A North Andover woman was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for performing illegal silicone injections in exchange for money. Gladys Araceli Ceron, 73, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to two years in […]

Dracut Man Indicted for Armed Robbery

Dracut Man Indicted for Armed Robbery

Defendant allegedly robbed three convenience stores on Christmas Eve 10/8/21 BOSTON – A Dracut man was indicted today in federal court in Boston in connection with the armed robbery of three convenience stores in Lowell and Tewksbury on Dec. 24, 2020. Michael Vangpa, 32, was indicted on three counts of interfering with commerce by robbery […]

Stop Sweeping the Homeless Out of Sight ~ VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL (10/21)

Stop Sweeping the Homeless Out of Sight ~ VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL (10/21)

October, 2021 At a time when the Merrimack Valley desperately needs our elected officials at the highest level of government to experience the homeless crisis first hand, Lowell, like so many other communities, sweeps their homeless problem out of sight, or under the rug, as some may say. At issue; Lowell City Councilor Rita Mercier […]