Addressing Inequities in College Admissions ~ MA State Senator Pavel Payano

Addressing Inequities in College Admissions ~ MA State Senator Pavel Payano

By: Senator Pavel Payano, 7-23 For nearly a century, legacy preferences have played a significant role in American college and university admissions, granting preferential treatment to the children of alumni. These policies were established in the 1920s, coinciding with an influx of Jewish applicants to top schools. However, legacy preferences have been widely criticized as […]

Wood: Haverhill Chief Threatened Me With Release of Fake Document

Wood: Haverhill Chief Threatened Me With Release of Fake Document

7/23 Last month a media story appeared on-line accusing Haverhill School Committeeman Scott Wood, now a candidate for mayor, (and a current Haverhill Police Officer) of using the “N” word in an electronic message 20 years ago. The allegation stems from an unconfirmed report when Wood initially applied to the police department back in 2013. […]

Promoting Personal Financial Literacy for Our Students

Promoting Personal Financial Literacy for Our Students

By: State Rep. Ryan Hamilton – 7/23 Massachusetts is the pinnacle of education in the United States (if not the world) … yet, mounting evidence continues to remind us that we still have much work to do when it comes to preparing our students for successful and secure financial futures. The Commonwealth – especially the […]

Clear Path To Provide Services for Veterans in Methuen, Lawrence, and Haverhill

Clear Path To Provide Services for Veterans in Methuen, Lawrence, and Haverhill

7-23 Randy Carter and Jason Gilbert from Clear Path for Veterans New England (in Devens) held a public meeting at the Methuen VFW last month to announce a $205,000 grant to service veterans in Lawrence, Methuen, and Haverhill. Clear Path’s announcement came at just the right time with the closing of Veterans Northeast Outreach (VNOC) […]

Ed Girroir, U.S. Army Paratrooper and Firefighter ~ HERO IN OUR MIDST, VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH

Ed Girroir, U.S. Army Paratrooper and Firefighter ~ HERO IN OUR MIDST, VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH

By: John Cuddy 6-23 HAVERHILL – During World War II, Haverhill’s Ed Girroir enlisted in the US Army after Pearl Harbor, with most of his friends doing the same. He served as a Paratrooper with the US Army, in the European Theatre. He was on Active duty, from 1944 to 1946, assigned to the 517th […]

What is Your City/Town Paying Public Employees? Methuen Pays 64% Higher Than the National Average

What is Your City/Town Paying Public Employees? Methuen Pays 64% Higher Than the National Average

  WHAT IS YOUR TOWN PAYING CITY EMPLOYEES? According to govsalaries.com this is how much each city listed paid their city employees in 2021 (the most recent numbers available) compared to the national average. Items of note, the average city employee salary in Methuen is the highest in the region at $76,864. This is 64% […]

Payano: Championing Investments in Downtown Revitalization and Local Priorities

Payano: Championing Investments in Downtown Revitalization and Local Priorities

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 […]

Hamilton: Focusing on Your Kids’ Mental Health

Hamilton: Focusing on Your Kids’ Mental Health

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 […]

Addressing the Shortage of Qualified Mental Health Providers

Addressing the Shortage of Qualified Mental Health Providers

State Senator Pavel Payano (5-23) As your State Senator, I am committed to ensuring that every resident in our state has access to the quality mental health care they need and deserve. Mental health challenges can impact anyone, regardless of age, background, or socioeconomic status. Unfortunately, there are significant barriers to accessing mental health care, […]

Bringing Local Aid to Methuen and Haverhill

Bringing Local Aid to Methuen and Haverhill

During the last week of April, the House of Representatives, at its budget week, I am proud to report that the Methuen delegation, comprised of myself, Representative Estela Reyes and Representative Francisco Paulino secured $175,000 in local earmarks. I secured $50,000 for mental health resources in Methuen Public Schools, $25,000 for the Cogswell art centre […]

Haverhill School Committeeman Scott Wood Announces Candidacy for Mayor

Haverhill School Committeeman Scott Wood Announces Candidacy for Mayor

5-17-23 (Press Release from Scott Wood) Haverhill, MA — Scott Wood, Jr. currently the longest serving member of Haverhill’s School Committee and the youngest elected   official in the city’s history, has announced his candidacy for Mayor of Haverhill. “I am excited to announce my candidacy for Mayor of the City of Haverhill,” Wood said. […]

Kevin Lynch Receives John Ratka – Hero Veteran Award (Story and Video) ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH

Kevin Lynch Receives John Ratka – Hero Veteran Award (Story and Video) ~ VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH

By: John Cuddy – 4-23 On Friday March 31st at the Annual Valley Patriot Bash, Scholarship and Award Night, Haverhill Police Officer Kevin Lynch was awarded the Master Chief John Ratka Hero Veteran Award! Interviewing US Navy Seabee and Haverhill Police Sergeant Kevin Lynch uncovered a family tradition of US Military Service. Kevin served as […]

Valley Patriot BASH – Haverhill High and Whittier Tech Scholarship Winners (Story & Video)

Valley Patriot BASH – Haverhill High and Whittier Tech Scholarship Winners (Story & Video)

  Valley Patriot – Michelle DeLuca Benedetti Memorial Scholarship winner Liam Robertson received $5,335 at the newspaper’s annual charity BASH last month. The Valley Patriot ~ Michelle DeLuca Benedetti Memorial Scholarship was established by her brother Ken DeLuca with a $500 donation to a Haverhill High School Senior going into Criminal Justice or Social Work […]

Bill to Help Address Misuse of Over-the-Counter Medication

Bill to Help Address Misuse of Over-the-Counter Medication

Leading Community Development and Small Businesses By: MA State Senator Pavel Payano 3-23 This month, I would like to draw attention to a pressing issue regarding over-the-counter medication and introduce a bill that was filed this session to address it: S.1106, An Act specifying an electronic system to ensure that sales of certain products containing […]

Rescue Dog from Tennessee, Max is Haverhill’s Top Dog; Wears License No. 1

Rescue Dog from Tennessee, Max is Haverhill’s Top Dog; Wears License No. 1

Haverhill City Clerk Kaitlin M. Wright said Wednesday “Max,” a one-and-a-half-year-old male mixed breed, was named the first-place winner during the City Clerk’s office Second Annual “Haverhill Top Dog” contest. Max now gets to wear dog license no. 1 for the year. Max was adopted by Jack and Joan-Hatem Roy. “He loves to play catch […]