By: Brian Genest – April, 2021 Can someone explain how Rich Cowan is qualified to serve as chairman of the Dracut Finance Committee? Rich Cowan provided zero answers when I reached out to him about his lack of relevant financial experience. That’s right, I gave Rich Cowan the courtesy he never gives anyone else: I […]
By: Brian Genest – Feb, 2021 Remember when Lori Trahan was running for Congress in 2018? She’d probably like you to forget. Back then, the story was she wasn’t like other Democrats. She was going to be different. How’s that narrative about “Lori from Lowell” holding up back here at home today? Here’s how: LOL! […]
By: Brian Genest – Feb. 2021 Do you know someone in Dracut who deserves to be recognized for their service? Now’s the time to make it happen: nominations for this year’s Varnum Award are due February 19. The annual award, named after Dracut’s most famous son, was established to recognize a member of the community […]
By: Brian Genest It’s a Happy New Year at the Massachusetts State House. State legislators are kicking off 2021 with another pay hike. Talk about a kick in the teeth for taxpayers! Apparently, our state representatives and senators have done such an incredible job, they’re getting a 6.46% raise during the worldwide pandemic. Meanwhile, the state’s […]
By: Brian Genest – Dec, 2020 What a difference a year makes. Unlike 2019, which was filled with controversy and a management shakeup at town hall, 2020 was a time of positive change for Dracut. This year, Dracut got strong new leaders in the town manager’s office, at the police department and on the board […]
By: Brian Genest – Nov. 2020 Love, learning, and land are the legacies left by the life of Wanda Bozek. The well-known Dracut native, an indelible force in town, passed away October 22nd at 96. She truly was one of the Greatest Generation, a woman who was devoted to her family, revered the land and […]
By: Brian Genest – Oct. 2020 Once in a great while, a grassroots political movement emerges and changes our world. Gen Z GOP isn’t one of them. The only thing this group of babies will apparently change is their diapers! The Massachusetts organizers of this obliviously-young, allegedly-Republican group say they want to build the GOP […]
By: Brian Genest – Sept. 2020 The town of Dracut is in the news—for something positive. The Board of Selectmen stepped up, spoke out and backed the blue. The five members voted unanimously in favor of a resolution supporting the Dracut Police Department. Acknowledging the protests against police around the country and recent legislation aimed […]
Help The Valley Patriot Stay in Business Your Donation of ANY Amount helps By: Brian Genest – Aug. 2020 Do you support the police? Do you support law and order? Do you support the politicians “representing” Dracut who are working against both? This is no time for town citizens to be silent about supporting the […]
By: Brian Genest – July, 2020 Times are a-changin’ in Dracut. After the town scandals of 2019, it’s about time! Just ask the voters… This year, in a five-way race for two open seats on the board of selectmen, political newcomer Alison Genest topped the ticket, leaving some well-known town politicians in the rear […]
By: Brian Genest – April, 2020 It’s been a heck of a good year for the MassGOP and Chairman Jim Lyons. Our Republican Party has a Republican leader at the helm – a conservative who makes the now out-of-power establishment even weaker-kneed than usual. To make matters even better, Lyons has such strong support on […]
By Brian Genest It’s a fight for the heart and soul of the Massachusetts Republican Party. If you’re a Republican who cares about the future of the MassGOP, you should care about the outcome of the upcoming State Committee elections. At stake is whether the party moves ahead under Chairman Jim Lyons with the unity, […]
By: Brian Genest – Deember, 2019 It was a memorable year in Dracut. Unfortunately, it was memorable for a number of self-inflicted struggles, shenanigans and scandals at town hall that are going to be hard to forget. For a small town, there sure were a lot of big happenings in 2019. Shortly after the beginning […]
If you’re reading this column, please thank a veteran for making it possible. Since our country’s founding nearly 250 years ago, our veterans have fought to protect and defend all our rights, including freedom of speech, at home and abroad. Some veterans, including those who served in the Vietnam War, are still fighting painful memories […]
By: Brian Genest – Oct. 2019 Where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire, especially in Dracut. Just ask town firefighters. As the result of a number of smoldering issues, members of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2586, joined by the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, picketed outside the board of selectmen’s meeting, before bringing the […]