VALLEY PATRIOT EXCLUSIVE March, 2010 According to a report last month by The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, the Obama Administration is blocking an arms deal with Israel. The report states that “Israel’s request for six AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters was blocked by the Obama Administration in June …” Meanwhile, Massachusetts Congresswoman […]
Playing the race card in 2010
Is it time for City Councilor Grisel Silva to resign? By: Robert O’Koniewski, Esq., – March, 2010 Just how far Lawrence can sink has yet to be seen. The recent events surrounding Mayor Lantigua’s insistence on keeping, and then resigning from, his State Representative job certainly has enabled us to plunge to the […]
Dracut elections are stirring interest and controversy
By: D.J. Deeb – March, 2010 Several candidates have taken out papers to run in the upcoming Dracut Town Elections scheduled for Monday, May 3rd. The positions that are drawing the most interest as of this writing are Selectmen, School Committee, and Housing Authority. All three are likely to stimulate interest among Dracut voters […]
‘Heroes always … celebrating an anniversary’
GEORGETOWN TODAY By: Lonnie Brennan – March, 2010 Over the past years I’ve had the privilege to contribute a few words and reflect on a few thoughts regarding our fine communities; some positive observations, some less than desirable. Nothing has been more of an honor than meeting and listening to the many Valley Patriot Heroes […]
A Cause For Celebration… And a Somber Remembrance
Valley Patriot Editorial – March, 2010 This month, The Valley Patriot celebrates the 6th anniversary since our very first edition, published back in March of 2004. Since then, we have published 76 editions and close to a million individual newspapers. We never could’ve imagined back then that our 25 locations would grow to more […]
Suffolk University Poll: Give the People what they WANT?
Valley Patriot Editorial – March, 2010 Suffolk University conducted a statewide survey of 500 Massachusetts registered voters during February 21-24, 2010. The voters were asked to comment on two potential ballot questions that may appear on the fall ballot. One of the questions is whether or not to roll back the sales tax from […]
Councilor Criticizes Lantigua for Racist Policy
Lawrence Councilor LaPlante says mayor wrong for only putting city job postings in Spanish Language newspapers By: Tom Duggan, February 2, 2010 Lawrence City Councilor Marc LaPlante took Mayor Willie Lantigua to task Wednesday night for his policy of only posting city jobs in Spanish Language weekly newspapers and not “the daily paper of record. Since […]
Methuen’s Residency Enforcement Policy
By: Ken Willette – February, 2010 The Methuen School Committee votes every year at a public meeting against offering a school choice program within the district. Therefore, it is critically important to review and strengthen the current district policy relative to investigating, identifying and removing any out-of-district student not presently authorized to attend our […]
Lawrence Exchange Club Honors Fire, Police, EMT’s
Lawrence, Andover North Andover Heroes Honored By: Tom Duggan – Febrary, 2010 The Lawrence Exchange Club held their annual Police, Firefighter and EMT of the year awards last night honoring first responders in the valley. Police and Fire Chiefs from Lawrence, Andover and North Andover were allowed to present each honoree with a plaque and explain to […]
Is it Time for a Fiscal Control Board in Lawrence?
Lantigua Incompetence Shows State Should Step in and Take Over By: Bob O’Koniewski – February, 2010 Is it time for Lawrence to have a Finance Control Board? That is the current issue up for debate in our community and at the State House. Just before the clock struck the start of the New Year, Governor […]
Sweeney Pens Letter to Ethics Commission
February 4rth, 2010 State Ethics Commission Mr. Scott Cole 1 Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108 Dear Mr. Cole: I am filing a formal complaint against William Lantigua, Mayor of the City of Lawrence and State Representative for the Sixteenth Essex District – City of Lawrence. I firmly believe that Mayor/State Representative William Lantigua has violated […]
One Happy Republican
PAYING ATTENTION! WITH TOM DUGGAN By: Tom Duggan – February, 2010 Well, it’s been a while since I last wrote a column under this title, but maybe it was worth the wait. Last month’s special election here in Massachusetts was electrifying. But not just here in Massachusetts, all over the country people were energized and […]
Brown Gets it! Taxpayers money is not for protecting terrorists!
Valley Patriot Editorial February, 2010 When it comes to our national security, U.S. Senator Scott Brown gets it. He understands who the enemy is and how to deal with them. During his acceptance speech after winning the U.S. Senate race he said that our tax dollars need to be spent on the military to […]
Congress Struggles to Create Jobs … Right!
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX By: Dr. Charles Ormsby – February, 2010 It always amazes me how our Congress seemingly struggles to accomplish something as simple as “creating jobs.” Actually there is no need to create jobs. There are many more jobs than people. For example, just walk around your house. Are there no jobs to […]
Getting ready for future challenges
By: Joe Mendonca – February, 2010 The City Manager has begun to reorganize city government. The first change was to replace the Building Commissioner as the beginning of restoring integrity to the City’s Inspectional Services. The Manager appointed Rosemary Cashman (former Tyngsboro Town Administrator) as Interim Building Commissioner while a search is conducted for […]