July, 2021 The Valley Patriot has put yet another libel lawsuit behind us. The most recent suit, brought by a former Methuen Mayor alleging defamation and libel, never made it to trial. Last month, it was settled out of court to the satisfaction of both parties. We tend to get sued a lot here at […]
By: Eric Spagnoli- June, 2021 While crime has increased across the country in the last year – particularly violent crime – The Valley Patriot has found that almost all categories of crime have decreased in the Merrimack Valley over the last two years. Last month we reported that almost all categories of crime decreased […]
How Rich People of Privilege Set Up a Hero Marine From Lawrence By: Tom Duggan – June, 2021 Veterans and politicians in Massachusetts are demanding answers and an apology for Purple Heart recipient Francisco Urena, the former Secretary of Veterans Services for the Commonwealth, after a legislative report and a Boston Globe expose proved he […]
By: Joyce & Gracemarie Tomaselli March, 2021 An Act to strengthen rules governing attorney conduct; penalties for misconduct. SD.2236 Presented by Senator Diana DiZoglio (By Request) We, Joyce Tomaselli and Gracemarie Tomaselli, know and have great respect for the many honest attorneys who take their oath seriously as “Officers of the Court”. We filed our […]
3-26-21 Methuen Mayor Neil Perry said on Friday that he is grateful for the broad support Methuen has received from congress and the local delegation that resulted in Governor Charlie Baker’s announcement this morning that an additional 100 million dollars in aid will be distributed between Methuen, Everett, Chelsea, and Randolph. While these four cities were […]
Bill would compel insurance companies to honor business interruption insurance claims filed during the pandemic Boston – Working with local advocacy groups, State Senator Diana DiZoglio (First Essex) and State Representative Dylan Fernandes (Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket) filed legislation in both the Senate and the House last week that would provide another much-needed lifeline to small […]
METHUEN REPORT CARDS With a new mayor and city council in Methuen taking the reins of power in January, The Valley Patriot has been keeping track of who is serving the people of Methuen and who is there to serve themselves. Below is our objective evaluation of each councilors for 2020. Our editors, staff and […]
1/11/21 Methuen Police Chief Joe Solomon has notified Mayor Perry this morning that he has put in for his retirement papers after 35 years on the police department, and 18 years as police chief. Sources close to Solomon said that he made the decision after watching Mayor Perry on the Paying Attention! Podcast last Thursday. […]
METHUEN COUNCIL CENSORS THE MAYOR Methuen City Council President Jim McCarty may like to crow about “following the law” and “respecting the city charter” but McCarty has been stifling the mayor at city council meetings and if the mayor is not going to call him out for it, then I guess I will. According to […]
November, 2020 By the time you read this article, the presidential election will be finished, hopefully. Regardless of who you supported, and whether that candidate won or not, here’s hoping we can learn to dialogue respectfully about our issues, and work towards improving our city, state and even our country. Know that if you are […]
Sources revealed today that the Methuen City Clerk has tested positive for the Coronavirus and possibly exposed others in city hall, including the city’s entire legal office and possibly the mayor. Officials at Human Resources were notified of the positive test and that the employee is currently quarantined. City Attorney Rick D’Agostino sent a letter to the City […]
Help The Valley Patriot Stay in Business Your Donation of ANY Amount helps From Criminal Conspiracy to Smoking Cigars Since we started the Valley Patriot 16 years ago, I’ve been hearing the same stories, accusations, lame excuses, and dire predictions about Methuen Police Chief Joe Solomon. For years, I have been told by politicians that Solomon […]
CITY COUNCIL GRANDSTANDS PRETENDING TO BE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE Last month the Methuen City Council finally approved Mayor Perry’s first budget as the CEO of the city. Councilors discussed and debated the budget Perry submitted, spending hours on items like a $1.00 line item, cutting pennies from some city departments and then patting themselves on the […]
August 11, 2020 Each year The Valley Patriot newspaper holds a charity BASH Scholarship and Award Night in the third week of March. This year’s BASH was cancelled less than a week before the event but the BASH committee decided to hold an event at the podcast studio (Studio21 Podcast Cafe) for all the […]
By: Don Jarvis – July, 2020 What started a few weeks ago has led to a wonderful community event serving meals directly to the homes of our veterans. Recently I was in touch with Sarah Sweeney from Military Friends Foundation who offered me a $1,000 COVID 19 Military Relief Fund grant to go towards immediately […]