By: State Rep. Francisco Paulino – 7/23 As your State Representative, my primary aim is to enhance the lives of Massachusetts residents. To that end, our legislative team has been focusing on three key areas: public safety, equity, and the significant issue of student loan debt. Starting with public safety, we’ve made strides to enhance […]
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) […]
07-23 Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña has announced the City of Lawrence has been approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington D.C. and Boston for the HOME ARP Plan with the grant award of $3,174,052 Million for the City of Lawrence. These funds are possible through the Federal American Rescue Plan […]
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 […]
6-30-23 Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque has signed an agreement with the City of Lawrence to not return to duty and retire from the City of Lawrence after being put on leave by Mayor Brian DePena. According to sources, Vasque will be paid approximately $780,000 which includes about $300,000 in accrued sick and vacation time […]
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% […]
By: State Rep. Estela Reyes 6-26-23 I want the Valley Patriot readers to know this month, that having the opportunity to write this column has been really helpful in serving the taxpayers of Methuen and Lawrence. This column helps me relay important information to the public about what is going on in the state legislature […]
Dear Constituents, As your State Representative, I am privileged to play an active role in our community’s vibrant life. Today, I want to share with you some pivotal moments that have recently underscored our shared commitment to hope, safety, and honor – the graduation ceremonies at Methuen and Lawrence High, the Massachusetts Nurses Association’s protest […]
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 […]
By: State Rep. Estela Reyes – 5-23 As the state representative for Methuen and Lawrence I have been focused on how the state’s budget can benefit my constituents in both communities. When putting the state budget together, legislators are allowed to request “earmarks” for our districts. An earmark is when the legislature votes to allocate […]
By: State Rep. Francisco Paulino As a state representative, I am proud to announce that we have secured significant funding for both Lawrence and Methuen in this year’s budget. Lawrence Chapter 70 will receive $266,144,831, an increase of $25,438,040 from FY23, while Methuen will receive $64,681,414, an increase of $8,080,389. Chapter 70 is the state […]
May 31, 2023 A Lawrence man pleaded guilty to manslaughter Wednesday for a 2020 shooting on Newton St. that left one man dead and two others wounded, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker announced. Hector Baez, 25, was sentenced to 22-to-26 years in prison, 18-to-20 years on the manslaughter charge followed by another four-to-six […]
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, […]
Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña, alongside other elected officials, welcomed Congresswoman Lori Trahan to Lawrence City Hall, for a very productive meeting to discuss Lawrence’s infrastructure priorities and projects, in particular the bridges in Lawrence that are in serious disrepair. Consequently, Congresswoman Trahan says she is committed to ensuring these projects in Lawrence receive funding support. […]
By: John Cuddy – 05-23 Despite the fact that I arrived with a two-pound box of Tripoli’s cookies, ninety-nine-year-old US Army Veteran Salisbury’s Robert “Boots” Chouniard, spent a good part of our time together, on his rowing machine, vigorously working out. He walks a mile a day, rows, lifts weights, and travels worldwide. Boots spends […]