July, 2024 Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio has been on a personal mission since her days as a legislative aide on Beacon Hill back in 2011. That mission is to hold lawmakers accountable for the money they spend, the backroom deals they make, and the secrets they keep from the voters they are supposed to […]
Last month, at The Valley Patriot’s 20th Anniversary BASH, not only did the newspaper give out $58,000 in scholarship money to local students but several people were honored for their work in the community with recognitions and awards. THE JOHN RATKA HERO VETERANS AWARD Because honoring Veterans is so much a part of what we […]
By: State Rep. Francisco Paulino – 04-24 This month I wanted to take the space that Valley Patriot publisher Tom Duggan affords to me to write a column about my works and accomplishments in the community and dedicated it to him. On March 22nd, I was honored to attend The Valley Patriot’s 20th Anniversary […]
2024 Every year The Valley Patriot celebrates our anniversary with an annual Charity BASH Scholarship and Award night. This year, the Valley Patriot celebrates our 20th Anniversary at the Firefighters Relief’s In, (1 Market St. in Lawrence) on Friday, March 22nd at 7pm. You can get tickets by contacting The Valley Patriot or by Clicking […]
By: Lenny Mirra – Feb. 2024 For a party that claims to be so concerned about protecting democracy Democrats are working awfully hard to make sure you don’t get a chance to vote for the “wrong” candidates. It’s not enough that the party worked diligently to discard legal ballots and make sure they never get […]
Jan, 20204 WILL CASTRO BE PERMANENT? Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena is expected to send down William Castro’s name to the city council for approval to be the permanent Lawrence Police Chief. Castro is currently the Acting Police Chief after former Chief Roy Vasque was pushed out over politics. Castro was appointed as DePena’s Chief of […]
By: Santiago Reyes Cruz, Jr. Fresh out of the hospital from a life-threatening illness, Valley Patriot publisher Tom Duggan was presented with one of the most prestigious awards in the Merrimack Valley last month, the Greater Lawrence Psychological Center’s Overcoming Obstacles Award Most people may know that Tom is a homeless advocate; he feeds them, […]
State Rep. Estela Reyes 7/23 I want to start off this month by wishing the absolute best to all of the hardworking high school and college graduates in Lawrence and Methuen who received their diplomas this June. I am so inspired when I see the accomplishments of our young people and hear the excitement in […]
5-23 METHUEN – Just a week after Don Smeriglio announced that he was selling Borrelli’s Deli to the Tomacchio family, both Smeriglio and the Tomacchio’s appeared on the Paying Attention Podcast to talk about the turnover. We asked Don how he got into the business. Here’s what he said. “I purchased the original Borrelli’s in […]
Former Lawrence State Representative Marcos Devers was honored at The Valley Patriot’s 19th Anniversary BASH last week, receiving The Valley Patriot’s Lifetime Achievement Award. “If Marcos was getting this award because he’s my friend,” publisher Tom Duggan said, “he would have gotten it long ago. Marcos gets this award tonight because he absolutely deserves it!” […]
In 2010 we started the Lawrence High Scholarship at our annual BASH and gave $100 to graduating senior Devante Jones. But in 2018, 84 year old Korean War vet Eugene Smith approached us with a $1,400 check asking if we could repurpose the scholarship for a member of the Lawrence High JrROTC. Of course, […]
This year’s Greater Lawrence Tech Scholarship winner Arielle Cavarretta of Methuen received a check for $6,125 from Valley Patriot readers at our annual BASH. Cavarretta was chosen for this scholarship by Methuen City Councilor Jessica Finocchiaro Arielle Cavarretta is a 12th grade student in the Engineering program at Greater Lawrence Technical School. Arielle has excelled […]
With seven students on our Valley Patriot BASH! scholarship program, our Greater Lawrence Tech. scholarship recipient Arielle Cavarretta had already been chosen when Cheylynn Marmol submitted her scholarship application late. Since her mother, Jackie Marmol has been so incredibly helpful getting us donations for our BASH every year it was hard to say no when […]
This scholarship at our annual BASH was started last year by Dave Garofalo of the Studio 21 Podcast Cafe in Salem, N.H. for a student going into media or communications. Because we did not have a Methuen High School student on our scholarship program Tom Duggan got permission from Dave to designate this scholarship […]
By: State Senator Pavel Payano – 01-23 I am honored to have the opportunity to represent the communities of Lawrence, Methuen, and Haverhill as the State Senator for the First Essex District. In the Senate Chamber, I am in seat number 13- the seat my predecessor, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, held. Diana was a fierce […]