NECC TO START 2 FREE SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAMS Two, free, grant-funded educational programs designed to train unemployed and under-employed individuals in high-demand manufacturing positions, will be offered through Northern Essex Community College’s Center for Corporate and Community Education beginning in May. Individuals who have graduated from high school or have a high school equivalency, are […]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PMYYGTQUjE&t=77s&H=280&w=380] Jessica Finnocchiaro of the Greater Lawrence Technical School in Andover has been working with The Valley Patriot BASH committee for the past three years. Finnocchiaro interviews students who apply for a Valley Patriot scholarships, researches their backgrounds, and personally chooses the winner each year. Finnocchiaro took the microphone at the Valley Patriot BASH and […]
By: DJ Deeb – April, 2017 There have been many noteworthy stories about the City of Methuen this past month. New contracts have been approved by city officials, the Marijuana dispensaries are on hold, a 40-B housing project is being discussed, preliminary budget planning is taking place, and the school committee voted against televising workshop […]
LAWRENCE UNDER SIEGE By: Tom Duggan – 4-30-17 HERE COME THE FEDS After a significant spike in violent crimes over the last six months, Lawrence Police Chief James Fitzpatrick has called in some heavy reinforcements to take back the streets and protect the nearly 90,000 people living in his city. Lawrence is the poorest community […]
Defendants in Discrimination Case Say They May Be Filing a Defamation Suit Against Fellow Officer By: Tom Duggan – 4-26-17 The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) has ruled in favor of Lawrence Police in a discrimination suit filed by embattled Lawrence Police Officer William Green. Green accused the Lawrence Police Department, and in particular Superior […]
VALLLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL April 2017 A few months ago The Valley Patriot began to investigate the goings on at the Boxford police station. Rumors about a department out of control because of a police chief who is “mailing it in” motivated us to start requesting documents. Instead of cooperating with the press and being […]
By: Tom Duggan – Feb. 2017 Lawrence Police Officer Frank Daly says he always wondered about his family legend about his Great Grandfather Jeremiah O’Connor dying in the line of duty while serving as a Lawrence Police Officer in the 1950s. Until last week, the official records show only two Lawrence police officers have died […]
By: Dr. Bahrani Padmanabhan – Feb. 17 Recently in response to an Executive Order from President Trump which sought to delay by 3 months the entry of citizens from 7 countries singled out by President Obama, the Massachusetts Medical Society issued an opposing press release and all but joined with Mass. Attorney General Maura Healey […]
By: Linda Dean Campbell – Feb. 2017 Methuen has made some significant strides in recent years leveraging State investment in projects to renovate the High School, build the Methuen Rail Trail, and improve infrastructure as with the replacement project for the Rotary. It is very gratifying and exciting to be working with our city leaders […]
By: Jeff Katz – Feb. 2017 As a kid growing up in Philadelphia, I was only vaguely aware of these creatures called Republicans. They were all rich country clubbing WASPS who would never have a clue how to get to my neighborhood. These Republican folks we heard tale of were completely removed from any connection […]
Fans of Salvatore’s Italian cuisine in Lawrence, now have the option of dinner and a show. “Days of Our Lives” television star and national recording artist Steve Blackwood swings jazz standards and bluesy originals every other Thursday evening from 6-9 p.m., evoking the spirits of Gershwin, Sinatra and many more. Michael Agricola, Owner/Operator of Salvatore’s […]
By: Kathy Runge – Feb. 2017 First, I would like to thank Mayor Rivera and Governor Baker for protecting us from the snow. Snow is easy. Snow doesn’t vote. Let’s protect the people from the evil snow! Mayor Rivera is proposing a gun buyback program. It’s scheduled to go before the council at the first […]
By: Forest Rain – Feb. 2017 Can you imagine living in exile? Knowing that, although you have lived all your life in one place, as have your parents and maybe even grandparents, you belong to a different land? The Jewish people lived in exile for centuries. Their religion and traditions did not allow them to […]
By Cindy Annis – Feb. 2017 Welcome back to our next installment! Eugene Drake Dixon is one, of only a handful of artists to chart in Doo-Wop, Rhythm & Blues, Soul, & Disco eras of music! There seems to be very little on his childhood, but let’s see what we can find. Come on!! Gene […]
By: D.J. Deeb – Feb. 2017 There has been much discussion on social media regarding residency requirements for students attending Methuen schools. Unfortunately, most of the information appearing on these social media outlets is not true. Methuen Public Schools works on a regular basis to ensure that all of the students attending the schools are […]