Socialist Meltdown

VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL October, 2008 Have you ever had a sibling do something really horrible and then have the sibling point at you and scream, “He did it, mom!”?  Well, that is the case with the big government types (Republican and Democrat) who are trying to blame capitalism for the financial meltdown caused by their […]

At 31, Breast Cancer survivor inspires councilor

May, 6, 2008 METHUEN – “We love her. We want to adopt her and take care of her, (and give her) anything she needs.”  These are the words of Methuen City Councilor Debbie Quinn and Methuen Fire Department and Veterans Affair employee Dottie Avery when speaking of Riverbank Vice President and Branch Manager Veronica Calixto. […]

Hero in Our Midst – Natasha Young – Valley Patriot of the Month

By: Tech. Sgt. James Moore, USAF  – May, 2008 LAWRENCE – A patriot, as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is “One who loves his or her country and supports its authority and interests.” The word is sometimes overused or even misused, but not when we use it to describe Natasha Young, make that Staff Sergeant […]

State meets obligation on SPED mandate

  By: State Senator Steve Panagiotakos – April, 2008 Chairman Senate Ways & Means Committee  The following information is intended to address the issue of local mandates and explains how the state complies with the applicable laws. I would also like to explain how the state assists municipalities in the funding of certain education categories. […]

Hero In Our Midst – Christoper Fantasia, Salem NH – Valley Patriot of the Month

By: Tech Sgt. James Moore, USAF – February, 2008 SALEM, NH – Airman First Class Christopher Fantasia, home on Recruiting Assistance Duty at the Air Force Recruiting Office in Lawrence, Ma., is making a difference in the world. He is a patriot and has a genuine enthusiasm for his work. Airman First Class Fantasia joined […]

Taking it in the Ear(marks)

VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL   January, 2008   It’s time for Congress to get slapped upside the head. Our irresponsible and corrupt legislators in Washington have attached almost 12,000 earmarks to the latest defense appropriations and omnibus spending bills. We have yet to total the cost of these, but in FY06 the cost of earmarks totaled over $63 billion […]

Silence of town officials at N.A. Special Town Meeting is Unacceptable

Silence of town officials at N.A. Special Town Meeting is Unacceptable

    Sandy Gleed     This Monday’s special town meeting demonstrated far more about the shortcomings of municipal government than it did about the average citizen’s desire to exert control over wireless communications. The wireless article sparked very legitimate concerns about:  * our town’s failure to monitor current cell tower permits * our town’s […]

N. Andover’s poor education choices shouldn’t be repeated in other communities

    By: Ralph Wilbur – December, 2007 In the late 1960’s, North Andover was one of the first communities to wholeheartedly adopt the then current fad for “open classroom” teaching. A new high school was constructed without internal partitioning walls and the result was noise, constant distractions and educational bedlam. Generations of North Andover […]

City Council Must Stop Playing Games and Follow the Law (opinion)

PLANNING FOR YOUR FUTURE By: Michael Sweeney (December, 2007) Lawrence Planning Director   “Truth is generally the best vindication against slander.” -President Abraham Lincoln  Good call there by President Lincoln. Unfortunately, under the weak-armed rule of Patrick Blanchette, truth has been replaced in the city council chambers by slander and personal attacks.  The truth is […]

Democracy in Pakistan

VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL    December, 2007 There is a rush to judgment by the media and our government, both Democrats and Republicans, reacting to Pakistan’s Pervez Musharraf’s declaration of emergency and suspension of their constitution. Everyone now waving the flag of democracy says this is the anti-democratic conduct of a dictator, and should be stopped […]

Hero in Our Midst – Sara Payne Hayden – WASP Pilot

By: Kathleen Corey Rahme – November, 2007 METHUEN – The Massachusetts Women Veterans’ Network named Methuen resident, Sara Payne Hayden the Woman’s Veteran of the Year at a special ceremony in the State House in Boston this month. It was a privilege to nominate her for this honor and according to Heidi Kruckenberg the coordinator for […]

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick Thanks Police

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick Thanks Police

VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL   November, 2007  Governor Deval Patrick recently stirred up controversy when he stated on a Boston radio program that he is interested in getting rid of police details on state and local construction sites and replacing them with civilian flagmen.  If Governor Patrick were to issue an executive order, then only state […]

Lawrence Mayor Mike Sullivan Shows Class

VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL September, 2007  Thanks to Lawrence Mayor Michael Sullivan, police officers in Lawrence will not be laid off this year, a firehouse will not close and DPW workers will be able to continue maintaining Lawrence’s ball fields, streets and sewer system without political interference by the Lawrence City Council. Over the last three […]