By: State Rep. Diana Dizoglio If there is one thing that I have learned during my first term representing you on Beacon Hill, it’s that things don’t always appear as they seem and that the legislative process can be a real head scratcher. Witness recently when Governor Deval Patrick vetoed a transportation bill that significantly […]
Babies and Briefcases By: Cheryl Hajjar – August, 2013 Unless you have been living in a landfill or still have an analog TV in your home, you have heard of the term “crowdfunding” or stories of people raising thousands of dollars for their businesses or projects online. So what is this new rage and how […]
LISTEN TO HOUR ONE (RIGHT CLICK TO DOWNLOAD) Russia takes a hard line on gays and the gay community is outraged…. but are we supposed to respect other people’s cultures? Who are WE to say that their culture is wrong and OUR culture is right? I mean that is what we have been told by […]
July 26, 2013 BREAKING… According to Lt. Charles Grey of the North Andover Police at 5:14 this morning a caller from Heritage Green Condo Complex observed two males taking tires off of an Accura. Officers Reardon Whittaker and Gilligan responded and found them in a minivan with two stolen tires. Officer Whittaker canvased the area […]
By: Tom Duggan – July 26, 2013 Billerica DPW director Abdul Alkhatib says there are no shenanigans going on with his town’s public bid to purchase fire hydrants. He told the Valley Patriot that the public bids requests by the town were not tailored to favor (a) certain large American company, but a Valley Patriot […]
By: Tracey Zysk – July, 2013 Holy Hot! As my Boston Terrier, Lani, was panting while trying to cool down after our walk, I gave her fresh water with ice cubes. As she was drinking from the bowl and playing with her ice cubes, I decided to look for some recipes that could make this […]
Expansion Opens Information on Level 2 Offenders to the Public Under current Massachusetts law, the public only has access to information on Level 3 sex offenders. Such limited resources inspired State Representative James Arciero (D-Westford) to sponsor legislation, endorsed by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, geared to reforming the Commonwealth’s registry board. Arciero […]
Representative Jim Lyons (R-Andover) reports that Andover, Tewksbury, Boxford, and North Andover will receive an increase in Local Aid in Fiscal Year 2014. “When I was first elected State Representative in 2010, I promised that Local Aid would be my top priority,” said Lyons. “I have fought tirelessly for more equitable funding for our […]
Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives reports to the Valley Patriot that she has voted on the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget today in a 36-3 vote. The budget included numerous items that she advocated for, such as: $300,000 for Salisbury Beach Replenishment Salisbury beach is one of the Commonwealth’s most popular beaches and contributes greatly to our […]
By: Cheryl Hajjar – July 2013 It was 1999 and while the century was coming to a close and Prince was singing his iconic song , blogging was about to become one of the most used words in pop culture. A blog, as it is known today is a website that contains material of personal […]
By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives BOSTON – Following a press conference that Senate President Therese Murray held Monday morning, the Senate is due to take up a comprehensive welfare reform bill on Thursday aimed at making state assistance transitional. The bill addresses cyclical issues that prevent recipients from transitioning off of welfare as well as […]
BOSTON – State Representative Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen) joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing legislation that provides immediate funds for reforms to the electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system and the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA). The bill updates EBT oversight measures included in the FY ’14 budget and advances continuous […]
By: Senator Katie O’Connor Ives – June 2013 May was a busy month in the Senate. It was my first budget season and per tradition in the legislature, a new legislator has to give a first formal speech – a “maiden speech” before being able to engage in discussion and debate on the floor. Senators […]
Downtown, Public Assets, Consolidating Town Services The Valley Patriot sat down with North Andover Town Manager Andrew Maylor in March of this year to give residents a chance to get to know the man running their town, and his plans for their future. ( Part 1 – Part 2) (Transcribed by Kathleen Laplante) VP: How do we […]
By: Cheryl Hajjar – June 2013 As the end of the school year approaches and families are making their summer vacation plans, both the seasoned and budding entrepreneur are most likely thinking of ways to gear their businesses up for the fall. If you are a business owner, you are well aware of the […]