By: Bill Manzi, Methuen Mayor – January, 2010 This week I will have the honor of being sworn in for my third term as Methuen’s Mayor. Much has been accomplished over the past four years, but so much more remains, with the challenges facing Methuen as great as any that we have ever faced. […]
Mayor Manzi Attacks Tribune for “misleading reporting” By: Tom Duggan – January, 2010 The Massachusetts Department of Revenue has certified the City of Methuen’s tax rate as voted on by the city council last week. Mayor Bill Manzi told the Valley Patriot that he was excited to be able to send out the property […]
By: Lawrence, “Lonnie” Brennan – January, 2010 They say that every path has a few puddles, and for many, 2009 was a washout. The year began with Gov. Deval ‘Together-We-Can’ Patrick’s foot pushed flat against the spending pedal. Fresh off another round of finding taxpayer funded jobs for his friends and neighbors, the ‘Gov.’ […]
By: Robert O’Koniewski, Esq. – January, 2010 As we go to print, the City of Lawrence stands on the threshold of history. On Monday, January 4, Lawrence state representative William Lantigua was sworn in as the city’s first elected mayor of Hispanic descent. As a newly elected mayor, however, Mr. Lantigua is now […]
How Some of Your Money is Being Spent “Since Recovery Act dollars began to be released in March, the Fifth District has received more than $350 million, helping to create or save 1,600 jobs. This includes construction projects with Lowell Public Housing, Community Health Center expansions in Lawrence and Lowell, and double tracking along the […]
By: Phil Decologero, January, 2010 Truly North Andover’s finest…. Formed to advocate on behalf of the business community of North Andover, the North Andover Merchants Association (N.A.M.A.) is wasting no time tackling its mission. “I really can’t remember the last time I went a day without doing something N.A.M.A. related,” said Lesley Carlson, […]
By: Tracey Zysk, Doggie Columnist January, 2010 Kyzer, Julie, Iris, and Eiko. Over the past five years these are names North Andover residents have heard or read about time and time again. But who are they? These brave CANINES are North Andover’s Finest! They help protect the Town of North Andover, Essex County, the […]
Valley Patriot Questions Tsongas, Governor Patrick on Spending By: Tom Duggan – January, 2010 LINK: How Some of Your Money Was Spent Deval Patrick: As the senator said, we have had to close a multi-billion dollar budget gap in the last few years, nine billion dollars, actually over the last 18 months and we have […]
An eight day Menorah, a one day Menorah, no Menrorah…. The Merry Christmas sign is up, the Merry Christmas sign in down, ……wait it’s back up again… what happened to the holiday spirit in North Andover? By: Tom Duggan – December, 2009 It all started with a policy change limiting displays on the Town […]
Blanchette Pats himself on the back while purposely trying to create budget deficit, state takeover By: Tom Duggan, December, 2009 Under the leadership of Council President Patrick Blanchette, the Lawrence City Council spent the last two years taking “symbolic” budget votes, blaming the Sullivan administration for their own inaction, and refusing to pass […]
PAYING ATTENTION with Tom Duggan – November, 2009 Few people can really understand the magnitude of the changes that are about to occur in the City of Lawrence with the election of State Representative Willie Lantigua (da chief). Not only did Willie win an overwhelming victory on Election Day, but almost every one of […]
By: Tom Duggan – October, 2009 ELECTION EDITION Lawrence Mayor Michael Sullivan is finishing his final term because the city charter limits the mayor’s job to two, four year terms. Sullivan defeated Isabel Melendez in 2001 and Marcos Devers in 2005. Ironically Willie Lantigua endorsed and supported Isabel Melendez in ’01 but flipped in ’05 […]
By: Tom Duggan – October, 2009 Only half of the ten candidates running for mayor in Lawrence filed their campaign finances reports with Lawrence City clerk Billy Maloney by the September 15th deadline before the primary. By state law, candidates for all municipal offices must record and file a detailed accounting of all money raised and spent on […]
By: Tom Duggan – September, 2009 There are ten candidates running to replace Lawrence Mayor Mike Sullivan in the September 22nd city primary elections. The top two candidates will face a runoff election on November 3rd. Here is a snapshot of each candidate. David Abdoo Abdoo is the District “E” city councilor representing South […]
By: Tom Duggan – September, 2009 First Integrity Mortgage, located in Sal’s riverwalk, has become a local favorite among those purchasing or refinancing their homes. In fact, they were voted Methuen, Lawrence, and the Andover’s “Best Mortgage Company” for 2008 by Market Surveys of America. owners Anne Marie Concemi and Steven Sirmaian, both life-long residents of the Merrimack Valley, credit this to […]