New year, new council, new hope in Lowell

By: Joe Mendonca, Lowell City Council January, 2010    The New Year has begun. The new City Council has been sworn-in. Jim Milinazzo was elected as the Mayor and Kevin Broderick was elected as the Vice-Chairman of the Council. Now the work begins.   There are many challenges ahead for the new Council. The largest […]

Dan Cotnoir, Valley Patriot of the Month

Hero in Our Midst, Sgt. Dan Cotnoir, U.S. Marines Ordnance Maintenance Company, 4th Maintenance Battalion, Devens, MA   By: Tom Duggan In 2005, Sergeant Daniel Cotnoir of Lawrence was named Marine of the Year by the Marine Corps Times for his outstanding bravery and service to the United States.    Sgt. Dan Cotnoir began his military […]

City Council Subcommittee Divided on Lantigua Firings

Sweeney uses award-winning Valley Patriot article to make his case Tom Duggan – January, 2010   It was a contentious meeting before the Lawrence City Council’s Personnel Subcommittee Tuesday night, when three city department heads (fired by Willie Lantigua) got a chance to appeal their terminations.  The subcommittee first elected Roger Twomey as their chairman […]

Challenges Ahead for Methuen

Methuen Mayor Bill Manzi Looks Ahead By: Methuen Mayor Bill Manzi – January, 2010 This week I will have the honor of being sworn in for my third term as Methuen’s Mayor. Much has been accomplished over the past four years, but so much more remains, with the challenges facing Methuen as great as any […]

Mike Miles, Warren Shaw launch personal attacks

But Warren Shaw and Mike Miles Can’t Debate the Real Issues By: D.J. Deeb – January, 2010 The letter is ludicrous and speaks for itself. Unlike Mike Miles and his Gang, I will actually address the issues that he raises regarding my previous column, statements in his letter, and offer insight into some of the […]

Five questions for Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua

By: Bob Okoniewski – January, 2010 As we go to print, the City of Lawrence stands on the threshold of history. On Monday, January 4, Lawrence state representative William Lantigua was sworn in as the city’s first elected mayor of Hispanic descent. As a newly elected mayor, however, Mr. Lantigua is now faced with a challenge […]

Challenges ahead for Methuen

  By: Bill Manzi, Methuen Mayor – January, 2010 This week I will have the honor of being sworn in for my third term as Methuen’s Mayor. Much has been accomplished over the past four years, but so much more remains, with the challenges facing Methuen as great as any that we have ever faced. […]

‘Anyone But Deval’ – A year in Review

  By: Lawrence, “Lonnie” Brennan – January, 2010 They say that every path has a few puddles, and for many, 2009 was a washout. The year began with Gov. Deval ‘Together-We-Can’ Patrick’s foot pushed flat against the spending pedal.  Fresh off another round of finding taxpayer funded jobs for his friends and neighbors, the ‘Gov.’ […]

Five questions for Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua

By: Robert O’Koniewski, Esq. – January, 2010     As we go to print, the City of Lawrence stands on the threshold of history. On Monday, January 4, Lawrence state representative William Lantigua was sworn in as the city’s first elected mayor of Hispanic descent. As a newly elected mayor, however, Mr. Lantigua is now […]

Recovery Act Dollars being spent in The Valley

How Some of Your Money is Being Spent “Since Recovery Act dollars began to be released in March, the Fifth District has received more than $350 million, helping to create or save 1,600 jobs. This includes construction projects with Lowell Public Housing, Community Health Center expansions in Lawrence and Lowell, and double tracking along the […]

North Andover Merchants … stay local, shop locally!

     By: Phil Decologero, January, 2010 Truly North Andover’s finest…. Formed to advocate on behalf of the business community of North Andover, the North Andover Merchants Association (N.A.M.A.) is wasting no time tackling its mission. “I really can’t remember the last time I went a day without doing something N.A.M.A. related,” said Lesley Carlson, […]