The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is due to make a formal recommendation on whether to adopt the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test or to continue with the MCAS test at their meeting on November 17. In the final weeks leading up to the decision, the debate […]
By: Peter Larocque – November, 2015 I remember years ago, a friend of mine who lived down the street from where I lived got a new bike. But this was not just an ordinary bike; it was The New Varoom Bike from Mattel with Stingray handlebars, which came with the sound of a motorcycle. This […]
By: Cindy Annis – November, 2015 One of the most successful couples of the 60s and 70s were Sonny and Cher. Cher was born on May 20, 1946 in El Centro, California. Her real name is Cherilyn Sarkisian. Her parents divorced when Cher was ten months old. Being of a poor, broken home was tough […]
By: Cheryl Hajjar, Nov. 2015 In days past, bullying was somewhat of a norm, or almost even seen as a rite of adolescent passage. Most kids at some point were victims of some sort of bullying whether it be physical, emotional, or a little of both. Today, it is recognized as a serious mental health […]
By: Maria Fiato. Christine Ryan, and Tom Duggan Nov. 23, 2015 MASSACHUSETTS – After nearly five years of trying to get the Massachusetts legislature to reform the state’s impotent public records law, Valley Patriot publisher Tom Duggan says that they have made a good first step towards holding public officials accountable for not turning over […]
More than five years after being closed because of budget cuts, Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera has reopened the Engine 9 Fire Station on Bailey St., saying the station “will be operated by a minimum of three firefighters, one apparatus and one rescue boat twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.” “This is the best case […]
By: Tom Duggan – November 29, 2015 RELATED STORIES – PHOTOS (videos below) More than 100 people rallied in support of embattled Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera Sunday on the Campagnone Common, in the wake of two recall petitions to throw Rivera out of office. Rivera is in his second year of a four year […]
My favorite lesson from high school physics was learning the second law of thermodynamics, that matter cannot be created nor destroyed under ordinary chemical means. It is a really useful concept. What it says is that you can’t make something out of nothing, and that you can’t make that something disappear into thin air either. […]
Despite a delay because of rain, the North Andover Santa Parade was held on Main Street Saturday. PHOTO GALLERY Winners of the Parade Category: Floats 1st place – Taki’s 2nd place 60’s Invasion 3rd place Shriner’s Mini-Haulers Category: Entertainment 1st place Center for Performing Arts 2nd place Methuen High School Marching Band 3rd […]
By: Tracey Zysk – Nov. 2015 Eat Eat Eat… When preparing your Thanksgiving dinner, take a moment and create a plate for your four legged friend. Over and over we are told NOT to feed our dogs “people food”. Well on this Thanksgiving, let’s break the rules a little and let your dog be included […]
By: Rep. Linda Dean Campbell – Nov. 2015 Over this past summer, we saw two women graduate from the Army’s Ranger School, our military’s premier course for both leadership and light infantry combat. While there has been a long ongoing debate upon whether American women should fill military occupations associated with close combat, we are […]
METHUEN – Francisco Urena, Massachusetts Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs, is recommending a children’s book “Veteran Heroes In Our Neighborhood” by Valerie Pfundstein and recently introduced the book to VAV Board Members. In an effort to help Secretary Urena with his mission to help educate children about Veterans, VAV donated 26 copies of “Veteran Heroes In Our […]
By: Rebecca Pearson – November 24, 2014 With recent reports hitting the news streams about the over whelming opioid overdoses in our area and around the Massachusetts and New Hampshire boarders. The question remains, are there enough long term facilities available for those overcoming substance abuse whether it be from drug or alcohol. Many detoxes […]
HAVERHILL – The City and Capitol Waste Services, the City’s trash hauler, are pleased to announce Haverhill’s new wheeled trash cart program. In the spring of 2016, the City will be switching from traditional trash barrels and manual trash collection to a new technologically advanced waste collection system. The program is designed to improve collection […]
By: Tom Duggan – November, 2015 Methuen Mayor Steve Zanni was re-elected to his third and final term last month. Methuen has a charter provision that limits the consecutive terms a mayor can serve to three. Mayor’s serve for two years. Mayor Zanni was first elected to the Methuen School committee and then the city […]