PDF of the Print Edition of The Valley Patriot, January 2019
Download PDF of the January, 2019 Valley Patriot READ ON LINE IN OUR FLIP PAGE VIEWER
Raytheon Company Penalized $45,750 for Wetlands Violations in Andover
BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) penalized Massachusetts-based Raytheon Company $45,750 for unauthorized destruction of approximately 5,000 square feet of bordering vegetated wetland during site work at the company’s 178-acre Osgood Street facility in Andover. Raytheon had originally requested that the Andover Conservation Commission grant an emergency certification that would allow the […]
The Abuse of Diamond Girl
By: Marlene Bistany – Dec.2018 METHUEN – This is a story that should never need writing. It’s a story about apathy, irresponsibility, and disrespect. It’s a story about the bitter treatment of animals and the inadequate systems that fail in its due diligence to the community. But most of all, it’s a story about a pure […]
Christmas Wishes for Better Days in Dracut
By: Brian Denest – Dec. 2018 What a year it’s been in Dracut! Here’s a look back at 2018 with some heart-felt holiday wishes for the coming year… For Dracut voters, I wish town elections would focus on the important issues. Our town keeps living up to its naughty reputation for the putrid […]
Governor Baker Signs Civics Education Bill
By: Rep. Linda Dean Campbell – Dec. 2018 Governor Baker recently signed into law a bill filed by Senator Harriette Chandler and myself that will enhance non-partisan civics education in our public schools. This legislation exposes students to the founding documents of our country, the fundamentals of our legal system, the roles and responsibilities of […]
Lawrence Rep. Moran Secures $750K for Lawrence Police
State Representative Frank A. Moran (D—Lawrence, Andover, Methuen) today announced that a state grant program the representative filed in this year’s state budget has resulted in over three quarters of a million dollars in increased funding to hire more police officers in the City of Lawrence. This year was the sixth that Representative Moran has filed this […]
Christmas Kitty ~ ROBIN’S KITTY CORNER
By: Robin Desmet – Dec. 2018 Who wouldn’t want to wake up on Christmas morning to find that Santa had gotten them a fluffy kitten as a Christmas gift? As appealing as this may sound to many of you, it actually may not be the best idea. The holidays are a special time of year, […]
Identity Politics and the Rise of 21st Century Witch Hunts
By: Ken Willette – Dec. 2018 When I review Left-leaning social media memes and comments, I almost always have one of two reactions:–that either the people circulating these social media bombs watched Star Wars or V for Vendetta far too many times. Or that they are woefully ignorant of American history. Maybe, a little bit […]
VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH – HERO IN OUR MIDST: Peter Fantasia, 102-yr-old World War II US Army Medic
By: John Cuddy – Dec. 2018 Somerville’s Peter Fantasia, now living in Reading, Massachusetts at the Artis Senior Living, vividly described to me how he got captured near Rodalbe, France. While serving with Lima Company, of the 3rd Battalion, of the 104th Regiment, of the 26th Infantry Division, the “Yankee Division” as an Army Medic, […]
Heroes and Bozos of 2018 – TOM DUGGAN’S NOTEBOOK (Dec. 2018)
HEROES AND BOZOS OF 2018 While we normally reserve the word “hero” for our brave veterans, police officers, and firefighters, the use of the word hero in this yearly notebook feature “HEROES and BOZOS” is to denote community heroes who go above and beyond to make our lives better. BOZO – METHUEN SCHOOL COMMITTEEMAN […]
Violent Crime Plummets in Lawrence
THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM OR A NEW NORMAL IN LAWRENCE? It isn’t a sexy story, so you probably won’t read about it in the local daily newspaper, but violent crime in Lawrence is plummeting and the results are quite noticeable. Lawrence has a new Police Chief Roy Vasque who certainly can take credit for […]
Homelessness Fight is an Opportunity for Dialogue
By: Joe DAmore – Nov. 2018 Recently news reports – and explosive social media message decried Mayor Daniel Rivera, apparent uniliteral decisions regarding the use of the Buckley Bus Station as a staging area for feeding homeless people. He ordered that homeless people vacate the station and that a humanitarian group no longer offer dinner […]
Greater Lawrence Tech Senior Ashlin Reyes Named Presidential Scholar Nominee
LAWRENCE — Superintendent John Lavoie is pleased to announce that Greater Lawrence Tech senior Ashlin Reyes is one of five students from Massachusetts chosen as a nominee for the U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program. Established in 1964 by an executive order of President Lyndon Johnson, the U.S. Presidential […]
What “The Movement Family” Proved About the Homeless Crisis ~ VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL (DEC. 18)
If there is one thing that Michael Gorman and his volunteers at TMF (The Movement Family) have proved over the last six months, it’s that helping the homeless and making people’s lives better only takes one thing: effort. For six months TMF offered food, clothing, detox services, transitional housing, and other counseling services to the […]
Thankful for Jesus!
By: Peter Larocque – November, 2018 As we approach Thanksgiving this year I find myself so thankful to God who so loved me and still does love me in spite of all my sin, failures and screw ups. Knowing this, God still gave His Son Jesus for me and not just to save me […]