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. 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 […]
PDF of the June, 2023 Valley Patriot
5-23 METHUEN – Just a week after Don Smeriglio announced that he was selling Borrelli’s Deli to the Tomacchio family, both Smeriglio and the Tomacchio’s appeared on the Paying Attention Podcast to talk about the turnover. We asked Don how he got into the business. Here’s what he said. “I purchased the original Borrelli’s in […]
Watch the Podcast HERE 5-23 When Methuen icon Don Smeriglio announced last month that he was selling Borrelli’s Deli on Merrimack Street, his customers panicked. All over social media, local residents expressed concern that the new owners may change the menu items and thereby change the unique nature of Borrelli’s. A week after Borrelli’s was […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
PDF of the May, 2023 Valley Patriot
Each year the Valley Patriot gives out an Officer Tom Duggan, Sr. Hero Police Officer Award in honor of the former Lawrence Police Officer who was murdered in the line of duty in 1990. This year Methuen Sgt. Eric Deleon nominated Officers Schiavone and Keating to be recognized for their bravery, courage, and ability to […]
4-23 A few years ago we lost a great friend and lifelong supporter of The Valley Patriot, Scott Clegg. Scott was a man who went out of his way to donate his time, money and resources to helping those less fortunate, as well as honoring veterans, and being active in the community. When he passed, […]
This year’s Greater Lawrence Tech Scholarship winner Arielle Cavarretta of Methuen received a check for $6,125 from Valley Patriot readers at our annual BASH. Cavarretta was chosen for this scholarship by Methuen City Councilor Jessica Finocchiaro Arielle Cavarretta is a 12th grade student in the Engineering program at Greater Lawrence Technical School. Arielle has excelled […]
This scholarship at our annual BASH was started last year by Dave Garofalo of the Studio 21 Podcast Cafe in Salem, N.H. for a student going into media or communications. Because we did not have a Methuen High School student on our scholarship program Tom Duggan got permission from Dave to designate this scholarship […]
By: Rep. Francisco Paulino ~ 3023 As a state representative, one of my top priorities is addressing the nurse shortage in Massachusetts. This shortage not only has serious implications for the health and well-being of our residents, but it also puts a significant strain on healthcare costs in our state. That’s why I am committed […]