By: Lawrence, “Lonine” Brennnan – September, 2011 As we head into an important fiscal year, with the first of what has been promised to be several tax-overrides recently approved, we note that we’re a bit behind in posting taxpayer expenditures. Specifically, the top 40 taxpayer supported earners of 2010. (The Valley Patriot had previously […]
Dear President Obama, As you know, nationwide unemployment remains unacceptably high. The job numbers released earlier this month show that the private sector added only 154,000 jobs. While this number was higher than expected and marked the 15th straight month of private sector growth, it also demonstrated that our economy is simply not creating enough […]
By: Jamison Tomasek – September, 2011 Last month’s article detailed irregularities in the list of Lawrence registered voters. On the official voter list hundreds of voters were registered two or three times, with the repeating names typically spelling errors or maiden names.In any circumstance this would be troubling, as one of the primary responsibilities […]
Sullivan says same suit filed twice before, expects dismissal again By: Tom Duggan – September, 2011 LAWRENCE – On February 9, 2007 (then) Public Works Director Frank McCann was suspended by (then) Mayor Michael Sullivan for a myriad of reasons. At issue was a $400,000 cost overrun on the paving project of High Street, […]
ANOTHER VALLEY PATRIOT EXCLUSIVE! Public not being notified of escapes, pretrial detainees being held at CAC BY:TOM DUGGAN, SEPT. 04, 2011 Meet James Walsh. According to documents obtained by the Valley Patriot, James Walsh is a career criminal, with 43 priors and was out on probation when he was arrested again last month on drug and assault […]
November, 2011 Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) was recently recognized by Protect Mass Children for his years of advocacy in support of passing stronger state laws to protect children from sexual predators. “Senator Tarr has worked to protect the community throughout his entire career; it is an honor to be able to recognize Senator […]
August, 2011 Newly appointed Police Chief Paul Gallagher in North Andover sat down with Valley Patriot publisher Tom Duggan to talk about his new job, his background and where he hopes to take the men and women in blue who protect and serve North Andover, Massachusetts. Duggan: How long have you been a police […]
Short Handed and Under Siege Cops Get Little Support At City Hall By: Tom Duggan – August, 2011 It was a busy Saturday night in Lawrence as the men of the Lawrence Police Force were once again under siege and short handed as they tried to bring order to a city plagued with violence […]
By: Tom Duggan – July, 2011 During the late 80’s, former Lawrence Mayor Kevin Sullivan tried to orchestrate a recall election against two members of the Lawrence School Committee who opposed his Emerson College relocation plan. That effort, backed with money, resources and the help of the daily newspaper, failed. In the early 90’s, former Lawrence Mayor Larry Lefebre lost a […]
By: Diana Dizoglio – July, 2012 About a year ago, I wrote an article regarding civic engagement and community involvement. The article was inspired out of my encounter with a group of high school honor students from the Merrimack Valley. In the piece, I discussed the lack of understanding that the students seemed […]
Tom Duggan – July, 2011 After ten years of managing the Town of North Andover, Mark Rees has taken a job as the city manager of Portland Maine, leaving members of the Board of Selectmen looking for a new manager with what they called Rees’ “financial genius and even temper.” Selectman Dan Lanen said […]
By: Tom Duggan – June, 2011 Lawrence City Councilor Mark LaPlante (District F) has been one of the more outspoken supporters of the Lawrence police. Last month LaPlante went on two police ride-alongs with Lawrence Police and it’s an experience he says all members of the city council could benefit from. “We are […]
Superintendent Reaches out to Marines, says they will be treated respectfully By: Tom Duggan – June, 2011 Sgt Cardona the Marine Recruiter in Lawrence and a number of past recruiters have long complained that the faculty at North Andover High School are not only uncooperative when they enter the building to recruit, “but there’s […]
VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL June, 2011 Father’s Day is June 19th. It’s a day to celebrate fathers all across the country. It is a day to spend time with the man who cared for you, protected you, raised you, guided you, loved you, made personal sacrifices for you, and tried to point you in the […]
By: Paul Murano – January, 2011 The scandal within the Catholic Church was one of ignorance and evil. No question. It was the cause of much confusion and pain. But two evils do not make a good. The second evil I speak of is the mischaracterization communicated through the media about it. The facts seem […]