By: Dani Langevin – February, 2014 The gay community is just as diverse and varied as our heterosexual counter community. I would also venture to say that we are probably a bit more unique and colorful. I am painfully aware that those who are not part of the gay community have never had a ‘close […]
By: John Lenotte – February, 2014 There have been a lot of news stories about the computer security problems at Target and other stores. Have you heard much about the computer problems with the Veterans Administration? A software glitch allowed users to access one another’s private information. The government wants veterans to file online, but […]
By: Cheryl Hajjar – February, 2014 So the other day while sitting at my kitchen island I found myself writing an email, having 2 conversations going via text, cooking dinner, and helping my son with his Math homework. Does that qualify for quintuple tasking? Is there such a word? I feel that that scenario goes […]
By: Phil Lahey – February, 2014 Everyone knows that addicts are low life people who deserve what they get for choosing a life of addiction. Hell, I felt the same way right up until the time I found out my daughter was a heroin addict. My first thoughts were what would people think? How can […]
By: Attorney Timothy Stark – February, 2014 Many people don’t realize that sexual harassment is actually a form of sex discrimination. The statute that makes sexual harassment unlawful in Massachusetts is M.G.L. c. 151B. Although there are also federal statutes that prohibit sexual harassment, it is often better for an employee to file the action […]
By: Bill Cushing – February, 2014 CBS new series ‘Intelligence’, starring LOST’s Josh Holloway and CSI’s Marg Helgenberger, premiered on January 7th to decent ratings. It boasted a good cast, and an interesting premise. The drama centers on a high tech intelligence operative named Gabriel, played by Holloway, who has a super computer microchip implanted […]
By: Dr. Bharani Padmanabhan – February, 2014 Attorney General Martha Coakley made a lot of noise prior to her last election about public entities not being allowed to force nondisclosure agreements onto whistleblowers and other employees. Turns out it was just that, noise. In a very important report this week, the Globe revealed that it had […]
By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives – February, 2014 Senators Barry Finegold, (D-Andover), Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge), Eileen Donoghue (D-Lowell), James Timilty (D-Walpole), Joan Lovely (D-Salem), Richard Ross (R-Wrentham), and Don Humason (R-Westfield), recently filed legislation to require juveniles convicted of first-degree murder to serve a minimum of 35 years before becoming eligible for […]
MADE IN THE USA? FIRE HYDRANTS … REALLY? If you told me when we started this newspaper ten years ago that I would be writing a column about fire hydrants someday, I couldn’t even imagine a scenario where I would want to do such a thing. But, when I learned last summer that local taxpayers […]
By: Tracey Zysk, Doggie Columnist – February, 2014 Snow, sleet, showers are all part of a typical New England winter. These conditions can be cold, frigid, and in some cases just downright freezing. However, even in these winter months, maintaining your pet’s grooming routine is very important. Some of the areas that need to be part […]
By: Peter Larocque – February 2014 You probably have heard of some movies titles like, “The Return of Batman” or “Superman Returns”, well just like these, State Senator Barry Finegold has returned! You may be asking where he went. I do not know the answer to that but what I do know is that for […]
By: Christine Morabito – February 2014 I’m not judging you. I’m sure you would never knowingly celebrate a violent, bloodthirsty hit-man for the brutal communist dictator, Fidel Castro. What we should have learned from Hitler, Stalin, Mao and their ilk, is that tyrants are good at marketing. In order to sell their snake oil, it […]
PAYING ATTENTION EXTRA Demers Family is Looking for Help from Valley Patriot Readers By: Tom Duggan – February, 2014 I’ve known Mike Demers since we were in high school together at the Greater Lawrence Vocational School.And though we haven’t seen each other much in the last 30 years, when Mikey called me last month asking […]
By: Ana Debernardo – February 2014 I’ve just returned home after spending four days in Washington, D.C., at the March for Life. About 80 kids from my school, and a dozen chaperones, take two buses every year. This year was my second consecutive year attending (as I am a sophomore). Both years, I was inspired […]
February 15, 2014 (Audio of on air interview) Former Methuen mayoral candidate Al DiNuccio announced today on the Paying Attention Radio Program on 980WCAP in Lowell that he is throwing his hat into the ring for state representative in the 15th Essex District against incumbent Linda Dean Campbell (D), Methuen. Campbell is seeking her fifth […]