CHANNEL 5 DEBATE – Of all the debates this political season, Channel 5’s debate between Charlie Baker and Martha Coakley was by far the worst. It was so awful and apparently biased that I actually had to go back and watch it twice. It was like a train wreck you can’t look away from. […]
By: Linda Dean Campbell – November, 2014 Very recently, I was afforded the opportunity to have a discussion with our new national Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Robert McDonald. Wisely, he is taking time to visit VA health care centers across the country, including our center in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. I was impressed by some of […]
By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives November, 2014 November 11, Veterans’ Day, a national day of remembrance to honor the men and women who have served in the armed forces during war, was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954. In my first term as State Senator, I am proud to have worked […]
By: Tom Duggan – November, 2014 State Representative Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen) handily defeated Rosemary Smedile (R-North Andover), on Election Day by 1,133 votes. Smedile is Chairman of the North Andover Board of Selectmen and does not come up for re-election until 2016. DiZoglio represents Haverhill, Methuen, North Andover and Lawrence. “I’m just glad it’s all […]
By: Tom Duggan, 11-20-14 Haverhill police arrested a Watertown man Thursday night on Computer Dr. with a ledger of distribution points, thousands of dollars in illegal drugs, and $1,656 in cash. Police say that John Rielly, (36) was delivering drugs to a woman who ordered them on-line through the website “Boston Herbal Organization”. A press release by […]
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD HOUR 1 CLICK HERE TO LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD HOUR 2 Today Tom, State Rep. Lenny Mirra and Phil DeCologero talked about the election results, analyzed the numbers and dissected the raw numbers from Tuesday. TOPICS: The governor’s race, the Rosemary Smedile race against Diana DiZoglio, the Jim Kelcourse race in […]
By: Tom Duggan, November 3, 2014 While The Valley Patriot newspaper has a policy against endorsing candidates, each member of our editorial board is free to endorse or make public who we are voting for. Here are my personal picks for the 2014 election season and why. Governor Charlie Baker, Republican As a right […]
By: Tom Duggan – October, 2014 14th Essex District State Representative Diana DiZoglio is seeking her second term in the legislature. She says that what she is most proud of is co-sponsoring a bill to put photo ID on EBT (welfare) cards. “It’s really important to have photo ID on EBT cards because it helps […]
By: Ralph Wilbur – October, 2014 Rosemary Smedile is running for state representative from the 14th District including parts of North Andover, Lawrence, Methuen and Bradford. Rosemary graduated from Boston College with honors. Married 33 years with three children, she is a small business owner and has served the North Andover community for 5 years […]
Political Deceptions Valley Patriot columnist and member of the Methuen School Committee, DJ Deeb wrote in his column this month that voters should choose Republican candidates in the upcoming state elections. Deeb listed a number of reasons to make his case, but is now issuing a public apology to Democrat State Representative Linda Dean Campbell […]
By: Tom Duggan – September, 2014 It was like a drama from a Hollywood movie. The “good” Arthur T. Demoulas vs. the “evil” Arthur S. Demoulas is how the scenario played in the news and on social media. The evil cousin, consumed with greed, profit, and the bottom line tries to take over a […]
By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives September, 2014 There are several pieces of legislation I supported and co-sponsored, which have been signed into law by the Governor and will assist the disabled community and their families in Massachusetts. These measures will expand employment opportunities, health care coverage and ensure these residents are being cared for in […]
Recently, 216 Northern Essex Community College students were awarded 236 scholarships totaling more than $200,000 for the 2014/2015 academic year. “Our students are deeply appreciative of the many generous individuals and organizations that make these scholarships possible,” said Jean Poth, vice president of institutional advancement. “For many of our students, a scholarship is what allows […]
Good grades were something Valeryn Polanco, 18, had always worked hard to earn. So when those grades started sliding her senior year at Methuen High School, leaving her in danger of not graduating on time, Valeryn sought out an opportunity to turn things around. She, along with nine of her classmates, enrolled in the Senior […]
By: State Rep. Linda Dean Campbell – 9-14 In my recent visits on and to the Merrimack River, I was impressed with the water quality. It is still amazing to me how far we have come from those years when the smell of the Merrimack River reminded us of how polluted it really was. I […]