By: Rep. Linda Dean Campbell The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed numerous bills last year to support small businesses and hard-hit industries like our restaurants. We have continued that work by sending to Governor Baker’s desk a financial relief bill to help businesses and employees most affected by the pandemic. The bill, which passed the […]
Hello Valley Patriot Readers, We have been under an indefinite state of emergency, declared by the Governor, for one year now – a challenging period in which we have witnessed countless small businesses close their doors for good and all too many individuals scramble and struggle to obtain a vaccine appointment. More now than ever, […]
The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF), the charitable arm of the non-profit School Nutrition Association (SNA), has named Robert Frati, food service director of Methuen Public Schools in Methuen, MA, as the recipient of the SNF Winston Equipment Grant for school meal program equipment. Facing continued challenges stemming from the pandemic, school nutrition professionals around the […]
By: Bill Cushing – March, 2021 Showtime’s ‘City ON A Hill’ is a gritty crime drama set against the backdrop of 1990’s Boston and stars Kevin Bacon as wayward FBI Agent Jackie Rohr. Jackie appears to be well known throughout all levels of the law enforcement community. Let’s just say his reputation precedes him. He’s a […]
By: John Cuddy – March, 2021 North Andover’s Jack Garvin graduated from North Andover High, where he played football and captained the track team. He also served on the student council. Later, he attended Northern Essex Community College. After graduating from Northern Essex, he was drafted into the US Army, during the Vietnam War. He completed […]
By: Eric Spagnoli LAWRENCE While it has long had the reputation as a crime plagued city, Lawrence Police say crime in Lawrence has decreased 32% overall in 2020. This included a fairly sharp decline in all major crime categories except for murder, which rose from four cases in 2019 to five cases in 2020. […]
Kane put on his thinking cap so he could pay special attention to what president Kelly Burns and Tommy the Pitt Bull Terrier had to say about their nonprofit organization Bullied Breed Rescue. Kane also a rescue felt he would learn how Bullied Breed gives dogs like Tommy a chance to find a loving […]
Representative Tram T. Nguyen (D-Andover) met the February 19th filing deadline with 27 bills filed. Her proposed legislation ranges from support for working families to enhanced protections for victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes; consumer protection; criminal justice; climate change; animal welfare; addressing discrimination; combatting hate crimes; and increasing racial […]
By: Brian Genest – Feb, 2021 Remember when Lori Trahan was running for Congress in 2018? She’d probably like you to forget. Back then, the story was she wasn’t like other Democrats. She was going to be different. How’s that narrative about “Lori from Lowell” holding up back here at home today? Here’s how: LOL! […]
A Lawrence man pleaded guilty today to a scheme to defraud the U.S. Navy relating to glove liners purchased for use on nuclear submarines. Adrian Urena, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing false papers to defraud the United States and one count of making false statements. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns […]
NECC Announces Graduation Plans For the Class of 2021 The pandemic has had a tremendous impact on just about everything, including the way colleges celebrate their graduates. Last year, Northern Essex Community College’s traditional graduation ceremony—typically held in May under a 3,000-person tent on the Haverhill Campus quad—was cancelled and replaced with a virtual ceremony […]
March, 2021 Seventeen years ago, this month, the very first Valley Patriot rolled off the printing press at Graphic Development in Hanover, Massachusetts. We remember the predictions of local politicians who said we would be out of business in 3 months, laughing at the idea that anyone would take this monthly publication seriously. We also […]
By: Brian Genest – Feb. 2021 Do you know someone in Dracut who deserves to be recognized for their service? Now’s the time to make it happen: nominations for this year’s Varnum Award are due February 19. The annual award, named after Dracut’s most famous son, was established to recognize a member of the community […]
By: Bill Cushing – Feb. 2021 In 2018, the original cast members of the iconic 1984 film ‘The Karate Kid’ reunited for the revival series ‘Cobra Kai.’ What resulted was a fresh, thoroughly enjoyable spin on the well-established franchise, as well as a surprisingly heartfelt look at the immense power the past can hold over us. […]
By: Kane – Feb. 2021 Kane felt privileged to tour Clear Path for Veterans New England to learn about the numerous ways the program assists Veterans in building upon their many strengths to create a well lived and balanced life, after honoring their country in the military. The program provides direct and indirect programs and services […]