By: State Rep. Estela Reyes 6-26-23 I want the Valley Patriot readers to know this month, that having the opportunity to write this column has been really helpful in serving the taxpayers of Methuen and Lawrence. This column helps me relay important information to the public about what is going on in the state legislature […]
Dear Constituents, As your State Representative, I am privileged to play an active role in our community’s vibrant life. Today, I want to share with you some pivotal moments that have recently underscored our shared commitment to hope, safety, and honor – the graduation ceremonies at Methuen and Lawrence High, the Massachusetts Nurses Association’s protest […]
Access Point 8 Reopened 6/26/23 Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Brian Arrigo and Sen. Bruce Tarr, Chair of the Merrimack River Beach Alliance, today released the below statements on the reopening of Access Point 8 at Salisbury Beach. “We are thrilled to be reopening the access point 8 at Salisbury Beach today ahead […]
BOSTON: Among the bills sponsored this session by State Auditor Diana DiZoglio is legislation to reform the Commonwealth’s payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) program for state-owned land (SOL). PILOT programs help municipal governments replace some or all revenue lost from certain state property tax exemptions, including those associated with nonprofit organizations, recreational areas, and certain properties owned by […]
By: State Senator Pavel Payano – 6/23 On Thursday, May 25th, the Massachusetts Senate approved a comprehensive budget of $55.9 billion for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), signaling the Commonwealth’s commitment to fiscal discipline and the long-term economic well-being of the state. With a focus on equity and opportunity, the Senate’s budget delivers historic levels of […]
By: State Rep. Ryan Hamilton (Methuen) 6-23 As we look back on the month of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, I want to highlight one of my legislative priorities for this session – youth mental health. Our young people are facing staggering rates of poor mental health, made only worse by the isolating effects […]
6-23 Last month, attendees at North Andover Town Meeting overwhelmingly voted to ban the use of plastic bags for all businesses in town over 3,000 sq. feet. When we say it was overwhelming, we mean the measure won by more than 90%. Citizen after citizen (many still wearing masks three years after COVID) took to […]
PDF of the June, 2023 Valley Patriot
5-23 METHUEN – Just a week after Don Smeriglio announced that he was selling Borrelli’s Deli to the Tomacchio family, both Smeriglio and the Tomacchio’s appeared on the Paying Attention Podcast to talk about the turnover. We asked Don how he got into the business. Here’s what he said. “I purchased the original Borrelli’s in […]
Watch the Podcast HERE 5-23 When Methuen icon Don Smeriglio announced last month that he was selling Borrelli’s Deli on Merrimack Street, his customers panicked. All over social media, local residents expressed concern that the new owners may change the menu items and thereby change the unique nature of Borrelli’s. A week after Borrelli’s was […]
5-23 In 2018 Alex Petrarca, Operations Manager of Vintage Pet Rescue fell in love with a senior dog named Franklin (pictured to the right) at a Vintage Pet Rescue fundraising event. Kane has heard of love at first sight but he asked to see a picture of Franklin since he had such a mesmerizing effect […]
By: State Rep. Estela Reyes – 5-23 As the state representative for Methuen and Lawrence I have been focused on how the state’s budget can benefit my constituents in both communities. When putting the state budget together, legislators are allowed to request “earmarks” for our districts. An earmark is when the legislature votes to allocate […]
By: State Rep. Francisco Paulino As a state representative, I am proud to announce that we have secured significant funding for both Lawrence and Methuen in this year’s budget. Lawrence Chapter 70 will receive $266,144,831, an increase of $25,438,040 from FY23, while Methuen will receive $64,681,414, an increase of $8,080,389. Chapter 70 is the state […]
May 31, 2023 A Lawrence man pleaded guilty to manslaughter Wednesday for a 2020 shooting on Newton St. that left one man dead and two others wounded, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker announced. Hector Baez, 25, was sentenced to 22-to-26 years in prison, 18-to-20 years on the manslaughter charge followed by another four-to-six […]
EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE VALLEY PATRIOT By: State Auditor Diana DiZoglio – (05-23) Being a senior citizen in Massachusetts should be especially fulfilling, as our Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) operates with a core mission to “develop, implement, and evaluate innovative programs to promote the independence, empowerment, and well-being of older adults, individuals with disabilities, […]