Owner of Tax Preparation Company fled the United States after being indicted and remained a fugitive for 19 months BOSTON – A Lawrence woman pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to separate fraudulent schemes that targeted banks and the Small Business Administration (SBA). Luz Paulino, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of bank […]
By: Philippe Thibault – 5/24 The populace in Dracut is fiercely proud of its agrarian ancestry. The wilderness north of the river, known to the native peoples as Augumtoocooke, was incorporated into the Town of Dracut in 1701. The earliest “European “settlers with names of Varnum, Richardson, Fox, and others took to the soil to […]
By: Kevin Dube, 5/24 On April 22nd the 55th Earth Day was celebrated. Sadly, it came with little fanfare this year. Sure, there were a few mentions. Some politicians touted their green credibility and the moves they are making to save the planet, all of which involve massive spending programs and lowering living standards for […]
Hello Valley Patriot Readers, Recently, our office released an analysis illustrating how Transportation Network Companies’ (TNCs’) classification of drivers as independent contractors or employees significantly impacts TNCs’ contribution obligations to Massachusetts employee protection programs such as workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance (UI), and paid family and medical leave (PFML). What’s a TNC? Think Uber or […]
By Maureen Rooseboom People love to come to the SeVmar Mediterranean Bistro at the corner of Main Street and Shannon Road in Salem, N.H. because it’s a cozy fun place to eat. Jocelyn Maroun says she worked in this Salem restaurant (formerly called the Salem Kabob) her parents owned when she was in high school […]
By: State Rep. Ryan Hamilton 5-24 I’m happy to report that the House Budget has been passed and that Methuen and Haverhill did well in this year’s house budget. In Chapter 70, Methuen received 68.62 million, while Haverhill received 87.97 million. In Unrestricted local aid, Methuen received 6.56 million, and Haverhill received 11.87 million. For […]
State Senator Pavel Payano 05/24 This month, the Massachusetts Senate passed three important consumer protection bills aimed at safeguarding our community members from unfair practices across several sectors. The passage of S.2738 is a milestone in curbing the deceptive practices of third-party electric suppliers. This legislation prevents these entities from enrolling new residential customers, protecting […]
Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena has hired former City Councilor Carlos Matos’s as the new Director of the Office of Planning & Development. Matos was most known as a District “B” City Councilor who went up against the developers of Lawrence High School to stop them from taking land from the Veterans Memorial Stadium and […]
Last month, at The Valley Patriot’s 20th Anniversary BASH, not only did the newspaper give out $58,000 in scholarship money to local students but several people were honored for their work in the community with recognitions and awards. THE JOHN RATKA HERO VETERANS AWARD Because honoring Veterans is so much a part of what we […]
By: State Rep. Estela Reyes – 3/24 I want to start my column this month by recognizing Tom Duggan and the Valley Patriot’s 20th Anniversary BASH. This event raised a record amount – over $58,000 for scholarships for eight local students in the Merrimack Valley. Tom is instrumental in the operations of the Valley Patriot […]
By: Katie Cook – 4-24 “If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in the dark with a mosquito” Betty Reese joked. You may think that you are only one person and that you don’t have the power or the money to make a big difference in the […]
State Senator Pavel Payano – 4-24 Amidst a flurry of legislative activity, myself and my colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate have been hard at work this month, addressing a myriad of pressing issues impacting residents across the Commonwealth. From passing significant laws to gearing up for this year’s budget discussions, engaging with constituent cases, to […]
Tom Duggan (04-24) There’s a new worker at the Daybreak Homeless shelter in Lawrence and while his surname is quite familiar to those who have been there a while, his youth and enthusiasm make him a valuable member of the team at the Daybreak homeless shelter on Winter Street in Lawrence. Meet Mike Pappalardo, […]
By: Philippe Thibault – 3/24 Massachusetts House Bill 4138 goes by the moniker “the Affordable Homes Act.” This is being layered on top of the recent MBTA Communities bills passed by the legislature in 2020. The MBTA Communities, now law, requires those communities served by or adjacent to communities served by the Massachusetts Bay Transit […]
By: Former State Rep. Lenny Mirra – 3/24 Back in 1927 U.S. Rep. Robert Bacon of New York secured funding for a new Veterans Bureau hospital on Long Island and was horrified when a contractor from Alabama won the bid and came to New York with a crew of Black construction workers. This led to […]