Republicans Must Stand & Deliver

VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL November, 2004 The voters have spoken. Republicans have been entrusted with the power to establish and direct government policy. President Bush won a clear victory in both the popular vote and the Electoral College. The Senate is now 55% Republican and the House of Representatives has a 53-54% Republican majority. Republican Governors […]

When National Security Hits Home

  By: Jim Rurak, Former Mayor of Haverhill – December, 2004  We had a great Thanksgiving visit with family in Kansas, but on the way back terror hit home.  Tightened airport security is often a pain in the neck, but when they checked our bags for our return flight from Kansas to Boston via Chicago […]

Signs of Growth are Everywhere in Lawrence – By Lawrence High Principal Tom Sharkey

By: Tom Sharkey – September, 2004 The development of the mill buildings, the construction of a new rail center, and the repairs to City Hall and to Veterans Stadium speak to a community coming together to shape its future. Though still in its early stages, emerging as another success story for the City is Lawrence […]

An Interview with Principal Kostan – Hanna’s Education Corner

By: Hanna, age 10 – September, 2004 Our new ace reporter, Hanna interviewed (Kathleen Kostan) the new principal of the Thomson School in North Andover. How do you feel about MCAS? “I wouldn’t just say it is just MCAS, because I think the Education Reform Bill which started MCAS is the best that has ever […]

Global Warming, Don’t Worry Mother Nature Is In Control PART 3

  By: Ted Tripp –  September, 2004 Since the 1960s, science has become increasingly politicized with large, well-organized groups using a particular scientific theory or research result to further their political agenda. In many cases, scare tactics are used to stir up citizens and the groups bringing you this news have a solution to the […]

SENIOR MOMENTS WITH JAMES CASSIDY

SENIOR MOMENTS WITH JAMES CASSIDY Disabled Vets Fight Injuries, Red Tape September 2004 As we remember the anniversary of 9/11, the most devastating attack on American soil, all Americans must also be constantly reminded of this: since the Civil War, veterans who have fought and defended this country’s liberties and freedoms have been assured that […]

Hanna’s Education Corner – An Interview with Lawrence School Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy

By: Hanna, Age 10 – October, 2004 What is the difference between a teacher, a principal and a superintendent? Teachers work most directly with the students in the classroom. Principals run the schools and are in charge of everyone in the school building. Superintendents are in charge of all the schools. We make sure that […]

UN Confirms: WMDs Smuggled Out of Iraq

By: Rod D. Martin – August, 2004  In a report which might alternately be termed “stunning” or “terrifying”, United Nations weapons inspectors confirmed last week not merely that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, but that he smuggled them out of his country, before, during and after the war. Late last week, the UN Monitoring, […]

Common Sense School Reform

Frederick Hess, Beacon Hill Institute – June, 2004 (Guest Columnist)   A Measure of the Need for Reform America’s schools are in a state of crisis. Few of our schools are excellent, many are mediocre, and yet we, the adults responsible, are content to tinker and theorize. Demands for radical change are consistently met by protestations […]

Torture at the Hands of the IRS

VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL   April, 2004 While working on your Federal tax returns you may come across the following general rule taken verbatim from Title 26, Subtitle A, Chapter 1, Subchapter Q, Part II, Section 1311 (a): General rule — If a determination (as defined in section 1313) is described in one or more of […]

Let the Market Dictate Insurance Rates

VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL   March, 2004  Mayor Sullivan wants the legislature to modify the formula for auto insurance rates. The solution lies not in tinkering with government regulations, but in eliminating them.  Massachusetts’ legislators have been trying to engineer our auto insurance system for decades and they just can’t seem it get it right. But […]