The Movement Family (TMF), a group of volunteers who feed the homeless in Lawrence, attended the Valley Patriot BASH last month to support the newspaper’s charitable endeavors and help raise money for local scholarships. Instead, they walked away with more than $5,800 in donations after being surprised by Jessica Phillips of Enterprise Bank and her […]
By: Francisco Paulino To the Valued Residents of Methuen and Lawrence, Currently, our community, along with the broader national landscape, has encountered a series of economic challenges. One of the most pressing issues has been the rise of credit card indebtedness and defaults, a trend that leads to a greater financial burden among many […]
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 […]
By: Lenny Mirra, former State Rep. (Georgetown) 4-24 Republicans like to complain about media bias, and I would know, I’m one of them. But I also figured out that at some point we needed to stop complaining and actually do something about it, which is why I make it a point to submit an article […]
By: State Rep. Francisco Paulino – 04-24 This month I wanted to take the space that Valley Patriot publisher Tom Duggan affords to me to write a column about my works and accomplishments in the community and dedicated it to him. On March 22nd, I was honored to attend The Valley Patriot’s 20th Anniversary […]
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, […]
Defendant previously convicted of heroin distribution conspiracy BOSTON – An illegal alien from the Dominican Republic was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for reentering the United States and distributing fentanyl after previously being deported. Juan Carlos Santos-Ocasio, a/k/a “Cristhian Aybar-Done,” 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to six […]
By: John Cuddy – 3/24 “Breakfast is the best meal of the day.” Tom Finn’s family has been hearing this for decades. They assumed it was an ode to health experts or to picking up the tab for the least expensive meal. But, no, it is a nod to the U.S. Army. Though the […]
How Come Nobody Investigates Corrupt Judges Anymore? By: Atty Gary Dolan – 3/24 Question: what’s the difference between a lawyer and a catfish? Answer: one is a slimy bottom feeder and the other’s a fish. The general public obviously has a dim view of the legal profession considering the whole genre of lawyer jokes […]
Valley Patriot investigation shows Lawrence Homeless Coordinator tried to steer federal funds to her own non-profit, funds administered through her department. Felon Kelly Birchall Frazier, Homeless Coordinator for the City of Lawrence, and her husband Donald Frazier of New Hampshire (also a convicted felon who goes by the “street name” Debo Brown) filed […]
HAVERHILL – Audits are a process typically thought of as painful inconveniences to businesses and organizations. Recently, however, several Merrimack Valley mayors joined with State Auditor Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen) to highlight the positive experience that went along with a routine audit of MeVa. “While audits can be daunting, Auditor DiZoglio and her office understood […]
By: State Senator Pavel Payano – 03/24 As the warmth of spring approaches, my dedicated team and I are working tirelessly to strengthen community bonds and advance key legislative initiatives. A recent and pivotal highlight was the historic unveiling of Frederick Douglass’s bust in the Massachusetts Senate, symbolizing not only our commitment to justice and equality […]
By: State Rep. Estela Reyes 3/24 Before I begin, I want to congratulate Tom Duggan and everyone at The Valley Patriot on your impressive achievement of celebrating your 20th Anniversary publishing news for the Merrimack Valley. I’m so excited to have attended the the 20th Anniversary Charity BASH on March 22nd at The Relief’s In […]