By: Jamison Tomasek – November, 2011 The results of the Massachusetts legislature’s redistricting commission, at least as far as the House and Senate are concerned, are official. In a fair world we would have legislative districts that represent a common interest and have geographic integrity, but no one has ever called the political environment […]
By: Selectman Tracy Watson – November, 2011 On Tuesday November 15th North Andover will be conducting a Special Town Meeting. Among the articles on the warrant is Article 9 (Local Options Meal Tax). This article would add an additional .75% tax on top of the current 6.25% tax bringing the overall tax on food […]
By: Diana Dizoglio One hopes that tough times will produce humility, strength of character, and eventually growth and change. As anyone who has faced a challenge knows, however, this process is A LOT easier said than done. When you are faced with losing your home, your car is broken down and you’ve lost your job–how […]
LYONS’ AMENDMENT CLEARS THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 5, 2011 BOSTON – State Representative Jim Lyons (R-Andover), joined by his Republican House colleagues, introduced a “transparency in spending” amendment to the state supplemental budget that passed the House of Representatives. Titled “An amendment to account for budget expenditures,” the Lyons-authored amendment directs the […]
By: Zack Murray – October, 2011 Up until this September, North Andover High School was the last public high school in the region without a regimented security program. Seniors had the ability to leave school campus for lunch, provided they returned on time for their next class. Students were allowed to walk freely to […]
VALLEY PATRIOT OF THE MONTH By: Helen Mooradkanian – September, 2011 Out of the darkness, engines roaring, hundreds of American B-17 Flying Fortresses took off March 20, 1944, in World War II, from Deenethorpe, England. Destination: Frankfurt. Mission: destroy production of dreaded Luftwaffe FW-190 fighter planes. At 30,000 feet, under heavily overcast skies and […]
By: Tracey Zysk – September, 2011 Back-to-school time can be a really hard time on your family dog. After having the children to play with all summer, your pup is suddenly alone most of the day and that can give him a case of the “back-to-school blues”. Dogs get use to having the kids […]
By: Nate Richards, North Andover High School – September, 2011 Apple’s executive, Steve Jobs who almost single handedly changed the way people consumed music, internet, and T.V, announced his resignation. Jobs, who has been suffering from Pancreatic Cancer for a little over three years now, sent a letter to the company’s board late […]
November, 2011 Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) was recently recognized by Protect Mass Children for his years of advocacy in support of passing stronger state laws to protect children from sexual predators. “Senator Tarr has worked to protect the community throughout his entire career; it is an honor to be able to recognize Senator […]
August, 2011 Newly appointed Police Chief Paul Gallagher in North Andover sat down with Valley Patriot publisher Tom Duggan to talk about his new job, his background and where he hopes to take the men and women in blue who protect and serve North Andover, Massachusetts. Duggan: How long have you been a police […]
VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL July, 2012 Last month, The Valley Patriot criticized Essex County Sheriff Frank Cousins for his failure to notify the public of an escape from the Lawrence jail on Marston Street (known as “the farm”). After our editorial was published, we were contacted by Paul Fleming, the sheriff’s press director, stating that we were “wrong” and that they […]
By: Diana Dizoglio – July, 2012 About a year ago, I wrote an article regarding civic engagement and community involvement. The article was inspired out of my encounter with a group of high school honor students from the Merrimack Valley. In the piece, I discussed the lack of understanding that the students seemed […]
Tom Duggan – July, 2011 After ten years of managing the Town of North Andover, Mark Rees has taken a job as the city manager of Portland Maine, leaving members of the Board of Selectmen looking for a new manager with what they called Rees’ “financial genius and even temper.” Selectman Dan Lanen said […]
Superintendent Reaches out to Marines, says they will be treated respectfully By: Tom Duggan – June, 2011 Sgt Cardona the Marine Recruiter in Lawrence and a number of past recruiters have long complained that the faculty at North Andover High School are not only uncooperative when they enter the building to recruit, “but there’s […]
By: Tom Duggan – June, 2011 After ten years of managing the Town of North Andover, Mark Rees has taken a job as the city manager of Portland Maine, leaving members of the Board of Selectmen looking for a new manager with what they called Rees’ “financial genius and even temper.” Selectman Dan Lanen said […]