By: Tom Duggan – 6-12-16 There is a war brewing in Methuen over Mayor Zanni’s proposed city budget, which School Committeeman Nick DiZoglio says “shortchanges our students” and “is a disgrace in a community like Methuen.” While Mayor Zanni proposes an increase in the school budget, not a decrease, DiZoglio called the budget measure a “cut” for the […]
June 3, 2016 Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed a public records reform bill Friday, after a joint conference committee of the Massachusetts legislature negotiated and reached a final deal on final language of the bill. For the first time in the state’s history, members of the public and the press will be able to hold […]
By: Tom Duggan – May, 2016 The cozy relationship between The Eagle-Tribune (which is headquartered in Alabama) and town officials in Salem, NH has come to an abrupt end this month, with the Board of Selectmen banning an Eagle Tribune reporter from public meetings in town and raising serious doubts about the credibility of […]
By: Tom Duggan – May, 2016 14th Essex District State Representative Diana DiZoglio will have a challenger for the Democratic Party’s primary in September. She is North Andover attorney Phyllis Jones, who says that she is “disappointed” in the incumbent’s lack of transparency and refusal to support gay marriage and “transgender rights”. Originally from New […]
By: Tom Duggan – May 25, 2016 The Valley Patriot has learned that Andover High School has changed their longstanding policy and tradition of crowning a king and queen of the prom, replacing them with what they are now calling the “prom court”. The 2016 graduating class at Andover High had their prom two weeks ago, […]
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H4333 5-23-16 On Monday, a joint conference committee of the Massachusetts legislature negotiated and reached a final deal on a new public records reform bill for the first time in 40 years. CHANGES TO THE PUBLIC RECORDS LAW If signed by Governor Baker, the new law, (Final BillH4333) , would allow judges to award legal costs and attorney […]
By: Tom Duggan – 5-15-16 LAWRENCE – The gymnasium of the old high school on Haverhill St. was filled to capacity Sunday afternoon as Dominican citizens who live in the City of Lawrence, Massachusetts turned out in large numbers to vote for the next Dominican President. Dominican citizens who have dual citizenship with the […]
By: Tom Duggan, May 3, 2016|820pm The Lawrence City Council refused to tear down a crumbling building owned by one of their own councilors by refusing to take the measure up as an emergency. The roof of the building has collapsed and the cinder blocks at the top of the building and are […]
Each year The Valley Patriot gives awards in three categories to people who volunteer, contribute, or pitch in during the many special projects and charities the newspaper is involved with throughout the year. The three categories of awards are: The Valley Patriot Goodwill Ambassador Award, The Valley Patriot President’s Award, and The Valley Patriot Editor’s […]
The Valley Patriot held our annual BASH last month, at the Relief’s In in Lawrence and granted four local veterans with The Valley Patriot Hero Veterans Award. Because honoring veterans is so much a part of what we do at The Valley Patriot, each year we honor local veterans who themselves honor our hero […]
Methuen State Representative Diana DiZoglio and Cambridge Doctor Bharani Padmanabhan were both bestowed one of the highest honors by The Valley Patriot newspaper last month, when they were each given the newspaper’s First Amendment Award. Each year, The Valley Patriot’s 1st Amendment award is given to two individuals who show with their actions that […]
By: Jeff Katz – April, 2016 I’m proud to say that Charlie Baker is my governor and my neighbor. I served with him as fellow elected members of Swampscott Town Meeting and on the Swampscott Republican Town Committee. I don’t think I’ve ever met an elected official so focused on true public service. An exceptional […]
For the second year in a row, The Valley Patriot awarded a scholarship to a student graduating from the Greater Lawrence Technical School in Andover. The winners are researched, interviewed and chosen by Greater Lawrence Technical School Committeeman Jessica Finocchiaro. “I’m proud to say this is the 2nd annual scholarship from The Valley Patriot […]
Famous weatherman Al Kaprielian, MTV’s Brittany Baldi, and Hollywood star Steve Blackwood greeted three Market Basket employees at The Valley Patriot’s 12th Anniversary BASH, as the newspaper, their sponsors, and advertisers gave each of the three employees a $400 scholarship. The scholarship was started last year as the newspaper’s way of thanking the Market Basket employees […]
The Valley Patriot newspaper granted two, $600 scholarships at the 12th Anniversary BASH last month thanks to the sponsors and advertisers of the paper. Valley Patriot publisher Tom Duggan told the crowd that originally the scholarship award was $400, “but thanks to our platinum sponsors Kevin Leach, Joe Zingales of Team Zingales-Remax and Mike […]