LYONS’ AMENDMENT CLEARS THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 5, 2011 BOSTON – State Representative Jim Lyons (R-Andover), joined by his Republican House colleagues, introduced a “transparency in spending” amendment to the state supplemental budget that passed the House of Representatives. Titled “An amendment to account for budget expenditures,” the Lyons-authored amendment directs the […]
By: Dracut Selectman, Cathy Richards – September, 2011 The back to school shopping, reviewing of school supplies lists and bus schedules, and creating new lunch ideas has begun. Sports programs are already underway. In Dracut there are changes worth noting that should benefit the children in the public schools. The first change is the […]
By: John Golnik – September, 2011 In mid August, Representative Tsongas was in Lawrence to present a $300,000 grant to the Workforce Investment Board, federal monies from the EPA, for ‘green’ jobs training. A few days later Evergreen Solar, Inc. declared bankruptcy with nearly half a billion dollars in debt. This is the same Evergreen […]
By: Kathy Richardson – August, 2011 To those who know Dracut, it brings to mind beautiful farms, rock walls, a rich Yankee heritage and a community that stood tall and strong after the tragedy of 9/11. Dracut is a strong and generous town which holds its rural character dear. The history of this farming […]
By: D.J. Deeb – May, 2011 Dracut voters came out in record numbers for the May 2, 2011 Town Election to return incumbents to office and vote in favor of a Proposition 2 ½ Debt Exclusion for renovating Dracut High School. Nearly 31% of the registered voters in Dracut, a total of 5,958 people, […]
By: D.J. Deeb – April, 2011 The Dracut Town elections are just a few short weeks away on Monday, May 2nd. A debt exclusion issue, the Selectmen, School Committee, and Town Moderator seats are proving to be most contentious races this year. As I wrote in last month’s column, the Massachusetts School Building Authority […]
By: Gerry Nutter – December, 2010 Since we are in the Holiday season, I thought I’d save time and hand out my Christmas presents to the area politicians a little early so they don’t forget I got them something. Some you may get and others only a few may get but it’s done in […]
By: Jamison Tomasek – December, 2010 I was recently a candidate for the Massachusetts State Senate representing Andover, Dracut, Lawrence and Tewksbury. I have time on my hands to write this because I lost the election. While doing well in the towns, I lost Lawrence, and I lost it big. Voters, VP readers or […]
By: D.J. Deeb – December, 2010 Dracut residents chose their candidates and issues wisely in the November 2nd statewide election. Although the state of Massachusetts voted for higher taxes and bigger government, Dracut voters made the right decisions. First off, Dracut School Committee Chairman Matt Sheehan lost his bid as an Independent candidate for […]
VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL NOVEMBER, 2010 Election night 2010 was stunning for many here in Massachusetts, but the results were not always what we hoped for. Many of us worked hard on campaigns, taking time away from families and jobs to help elect our favorite candidates. When the candidates we worked for were defeated, it […]
By: D.J. Deeb – November, 2010 Dracut residents recently rejected a warrant article lowering the quorum requirement at its annual November town meetings to 50. This change was proposed by Dracut Town Clerk Kathy Graham as a cost saving measure. Although I can appreciate Kathy Graham’s good intentions, I believe that lowering the quorum […]
GEORGETOWN TODAY By: Lawrence “Lonnie” Brennan – November, 2010 Locally and nationally, ultra-liberal, ultra-taxing, ultra-arrogant and entrenched politicians got slapped in the face and kicked to the curb. It’s about time. James Faggan was that notorious ‘rep’ who argued against protecting children, even going so far as to let us all know he would make […]
By: David Trumbull – November, 2010 While nationally the Republicans picked up about 60 seats, and control, in the United States House of Representatives, here in Massachusetts a tide of Republican support doubled the size of the GOP caucus in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. On Election Day Republicans held 15 of the 160 […]
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX By: Dr. Charles Ormsby – October, 2010 Do you believe in personal responsibility, or do you want to be oppressively taxed to permit others to escape the consequences of their irresponsibility? Do you struggle to balance your family’s budget and try to save for the future while you see your taxes […]
By: D.J. Deeb – October, 2010 Perhaps the title of this column should be, “The Importance of Studying Several Different Sources Before Making a Decision”, but I just found it fascinating at this past June Town Meeting how Dracut’s various media outlets and Internet blogs handled a certain warrant article, which I felt […]