By: Brian Genest – Feb. 2019 Here we go in Dracut, again. Town Manager Jim Duggan is getting a pay raise, again. Homeowners are getting higher property taxes, again. “Economic development” is what the politicians in town call it. It’s a very interesting formula: the money comes in and trickles up to Jim Duggan and […]
Last month, hero veteran John Ratka of Veterans Northeast Outreach Center in Haverhill unexpectedly passed away. Ratka was a member of The Valley Patriot family and received the 2016, Valley Patriot Hero Veteran Award for all the work he has done to help homeless veterans, and provide services for veterans in need. Ratka was a […]
By: Dj Deeb – January , 2019 At its December Business Meeting, members of the Methuen School Committee voted unanimously to adopt a $100 student parking fee effective during the 2019-2020 school year. Unfortunately, I was one of those votes and after analyzing the issue further I regret my decision. I have placed a Motion […]
By: Brian Denest – Dec. 2018 What a year it’s been in Dracut! Here’s a look back at 2018 with some heart-felt holiday wishes for the coming year… For Dracut voters, I wish town elections would focus on the important issues. Our town keeps living up to its naughty reputation for the putrid […]
By D.J. Deeb – Nov. 2018 Methuen City Councilor Steve Saba has shown true leadership in dealing with the outrageous Methuen Police Superior Contracts these last few months. In leading the charge, along with fellow City Councilor Jim McCarty, Councilor Saba proposed a reorganization that would have eliminated the Captain positions and maintained a necessary […]
By: Brian Genest – Nov. 2018 Ready or not, here comes the weed. A company that wants to run a recreational marijuana dispensary in Dracut unveiled its plan at a community outreach meeting in town last month. GreenStar Herbals is expected to open the business on Pleasant Street, if granted a special permit by the […]
ColuMBIA GAS, CHANGING EDUCATION FUNDING ARE TOP PRIORITIES By: Tom Duggan, November, 2018 North Andover native Christina Minicucci – a Democrat – defeated Republican Ryan Losco earlier this month to replace outgoing State Rep. Diana DiZoglio representing Methuen, North Andover, Haverhill, and Lawrence. We caught up to Minicucci the day after the election to find […]
“If Dan Rivera isn’t interested in feeding the homeless in Lawrence or helping them make their lives better, that’s fine. I just wish he would stop getting in the way of people who are willing to do his job for him at no cost.” ~ Valley Patriot Publisher Tom Duggan Nov. 28 ,2018 Nearly […]
Despite Proof That Photos of Garbage and Needles Were Not from TMF, Rivera Doubles Down For the past 6 months a volunteer group of teens and young people from Lawrence called “The Movement Family” (TMF) have been serving a family style dinner to the homeless at the Buckley Garage on Common Street. The group, run by […]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHLT_0HUMnw&feature=youtu.be&h=280&w=380] By: Tom Duggan – Nov. 15, 2018 North Andover resident Rachel Moffat says she was “horrified” last month to find that workers for Columbia Gas wrote an ethnic slur (the “N” word) on one of the pipes installed in her basement. “I noticed it on October 20th” she told the Valley Patriot in an […]
The rock band Prospect Hill’s drummer and producer, Mark Roberge has announced today that the band will be performing at The Valley Patriot’s 15th Anniversary BASH Scholarship and Award Night on April 5, 2019 at the Firefighters Relief In on Market St. in Lawrence. “Prospect Hill is excited to perform at the Valley Patriot’s 15th […]
By: Tom Duggan – Oct. 21, 2018 Just days after Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera ordered Dorchester Gas Contractor Feeney Brothers out of his city for their role in the gas explosions on September 13th, Valley Patriot news spotters sent us these photos of Feeney Brothers on Loring Street in Lawrence doing gas work Sunday. Within […]
By: Tom Duggan – Oct. 20, 2018 RIVERA THROWS FEENEY OUT OF LAWRENCE Despite denying responsibility for the gas explosions in the Greater Lawrence area on September 13th, and an NTSB preliminary report saying that sub-contractor Feeney Brothers may not have been responsible, Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera has thrown Feeney Brothers out of Lawrence during […]
The City of Methuen is in a serious crisis. Not just a funding crisis but a management crisis, a leadership crisis and most frightening a structural crisis as a municipality.First, we had the previous city council which was so corrupt and incompetent that it will take a decade or more to rectify the financial and […]
VALLEY PATRIOT PUBLISHER TO EMCEE RUSSO EVENT PROMISES HE WON’T BE FUNNY The Great Dave Russo will be appearing in Lawrence at Salvatore’s Restaurant on September 21st, 354 Merrimack St. – Lawrence, MA. [617-981-0984]. The event is being promoted by CPF Productions. The Valley Patriot caught up with Dave Russo recently and asked him about […]