The Firefighter’s Relief’s In at 1 Market Street in Lawrence is celebrating yet another anniversary and as one of their biggest cheerleaders I couldn’t be more thrilled. Next month we will be highlighting some of the great things the Lawrence Firefighters Relief does in the community. There’s a reason we prefer to have our annual […]
By: Tom Duggan – Nov, 2017 Normally this space is reserved for paying tribute to living veterans who have gone off and served our country and then come back to help other veterans. Last month, however, when the Valley Patriot learned a member of the Valley Patriot family, Ray Wilson had passed away, we also […]
By: Tom Duggan, Jr. – Dec. 1, 2017 Earlier this year The Valley Patriot learned about Lawrence Police Officer Jeremaiah O’Connor had died in the line of duty back in the 1950’s but his sacrifice was never recognized. Officer O’Connor has since been declared a line of duty death and his family given the “last […]
When hero Lawrence firefighters Juan “Manny”Gonzalez first heard about the hurricane devastation on the island of Puerto Rico, he said he knew he had to do something. “Many of us here in Lawrence have friends and family in Puerto Rico including me. The death and destruction there is just so heartbreaking. Some people […]
By: Dani Langevin – August, 2017 In June of 2010, in the second column I had ever written for the Valley Patriot, I wrote about what “Don’t ask, don’t tell” cost the military. It read, “It is estimated that there are almost 70,000 homosexuals serving in every branch of the military. Since 1993, over 13,500 […]
A few months ago the governor of New Hampshire called out the City of Lawrence as the source of their “drug crisis” and “opioid epidemic”. He painted a picture of NH as a drug infested den with heroin and fentanyl pouring in from neighboring Lawrence, killing people “at a record rate”. It was an accurate […]
$1,600 from BASH Proceeds Donated to Veterans for Wheelchairs and Groceries Each year The Valley Patriot holds a charity BASH on the anniversary of the newspaper’s birth. “I’m so privileged and honored to be here. I’m so privileged and honored to support this BASH. And I will continue to support this BASH every year,” […]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV-JcHni_8E&t=61s&w=380&H=280] It’s amazing what the Valley Patriot has done with this annual BASH scholarship program,” said Chris Eldredge of the Lawrence High School Alumni Association. Each year The Valley Patriot throws an Anniversary BASH where awards are given to cops, firefighters, veterans, and those who fight for the 1st Amendment. The annual BASH also raises […]
2017 is the first year The Valley Patriot BASH has partnered with the men and women of the Methuen Police Department for a scholarship presentation in the amount of $1,000 each to two students. David Gardner, Methuen Police Patrolman’s Union president took the microphone to honor their two scholarship recipients for the evening. Gardner was […]
[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 […]
Each year The Valley Patriot holds its annual charity BASH. This year seven students attending the BASH walked away with $1,000 in scholarship money for college. “Six years ago The Valley Patriot was able to raise enough money from the raffle at this event to donate one scholarship for $100 to one Lawrence High School […]
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN Valley Patriot publisher Tom Duggan appeared on WMEX with State Rep. Geoff Diehl who recently attended The Valley Patriot’s 13th Anniversary BASH and wanted to talk about the event as well as the Valley Patriot’s new book Heroes in Our Midst. Tom and Geoff also discussed media bias and pathetic nature […]
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 […]
Doctor’s Express has officially changed its name to AFC Urgent Care. AFC Urgent Care can be found locally at 280R Merrimack St. in Methuen and 129 Turnpike St. in North Andover. Sarah Lemerise, spokesman for the medical franchise, says that the name is the only change their patients will see. Why the name change? […]
By: Dani Langevin – Sept. 2016 Last month, Tom Duggan posted a comment asking people if they supported merit pay for teachers and the claws came out. I’ve been an educator for my entire adult life and I have never come face to face with anyone who expressed disdain for my field. I know few […]