Vilma Martinez-Dominguez to Lead Community Action Council

Vilma Martinez-Dominguez to Lead Community Action Council

  The long-time Executive Director & CEO of the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Inc., plans to retire and will be succeeded by Lawrence’s Vilma Martinez-Dominguez. Evelyn Friedman, Executive Director & CEO, has announced plans to retire in July, and the GLCAC Board of Directors has selected Martinez-Dominguez, the current Chief Operating Officer (COO), to […]

What We Need is Real Equity in Our Schools

What We Need is Real Equity in Our Schools

By: State Rep. Francisco Paulino As a state representative, I am deeply dedicated to fighting for equity in my community. Equity is not just about treating everyone the same, but it is about addressing the systemic barriers and inequalities that prevent certain groups from having the same opportunities for success. The difference between equality and […]

A Look Into the First Few Weeks as State Auditor ~ IN YOUR CORNER with STATE AUDITOR DIZOGLIO

A Look Into the First Few Weeks as State Auditor ~ IN YOUR CORNER with STATE AUDITOR DIZOGLIO

  Hello Valley Patriot Readers, Last Wednesday, surrounded by family and friends, I was sworn in as your State Auditor at Methuen High School, my alma mater, where I had the opportunity to share my audit plan. As Auditor, I am excited to collaborate with communities and stakeholders to increase access, accountability, and equity for […]

Fighting for Working Class Families in Lawrence, Methuen, and Haverhill

Fighting for Working Class Families in Lawrence, Methuen, and Haverhill

By: State Senator Pavel Payano ~ 02-23 My first month as a state Senator has been eventful both in the district and on Beacon Hill. I have been joined by an amazing team who work diligently to help me serve the First Essex District. They assist me with everything from policy research to responding to […]

Lawrence Mayor’s Homeless Plan Saved Lives in Brutal Cold ~ VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL (02-23)

Lawrence Mayor’s Homeless Plan Saved Lives in Brutal Cold  ~ VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL (02-23)

02-23 Last week during the frigid -11 degree weather that lasted for three days, Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena and his homeless coordinator Kelly Birchall put together a plan to help the homeless and other Lawrence residents who had no heat. First, Mayor DePena mobilized the police and fire departments to visit all of the homeless […]

Methuen Council Flip Flops on “Top Heavy Police Department” ~ PAYING ATTENTION! with TOM DUGGAN

Methuen Council Flip Flops on “Top Heavy Police Department” ~ PAYING ATTENTION! with TOM DUGGAN

  01-23 Remember last year – when the Methuen City Council was attacking Police Chief Joe Solomon on a daily basis, feeding information to the Boston media claiming the police department was “too top heavy”? Remember when they cut millions out of the police budget and laid off patrolmen and demoted superior officers because the […]

Fighting for Working Class Families in Lawrence, Methuen, and Haverhill

Fighting for Working Class Families in Lawrence, Methuen, and Haverhill

By: State Senator Pavel Payano – 01-23 I am honored to have the opportunity to represent the communities of Lawrence, Methuen, and Haverhill as the State Senator for the First Essex District. In the Senate Chamber, I am in seat number 13- the seat my predecessor, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, held. Diana was a fierce […]

A Black Eye On Dracut

A Black Eye On Dracut

By: Philippe Thibault – 01-23 There are milestones and benchmarks that people inevitably use to measure the growth, stagnation and decline of a community. While most would stive to foster growth by raising standards, three members of the Dracut Board of Selectman have taken the approach to removal standards for themselves and thus be held […]

Conflict of Interest Torpedoes Thibault in Dracut ~ EYE ON DRACUT

Conflict of Interest Torpedoes Thibault in Dracut ~ EYE ON DRACUT

By: Brian Genest – 01-23 Here we go again: Cue the violins for Dracut’s self-proclaimed victim, Phil Thibault. This time, he’s lamenting because he was rejected by the Board of Selectmen for the newly created at-large seat on the Zoning Bylaw Review Committee—and he’s blaming everyone but himself, just like he always does. Meanwhile, the […]

KANE’S KORNER ~ New Year’s the History and Resolutions

KANE’S KORNER ~ New Year’s the History and Resolutions

By: Kane 01-23 Kane would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year, even though the horn party favor was absolutely terrifying. The other thing Kane found daunting was pressure to figure out a New Year’s Resolution. Exactly who thought up this tradition? How did it all start? A December 21st, 2020, Article on the […]