By: John MacDonald – August, 2016 On Wednesday, July 20th I was honored that my friend, Valley Patriot publisher, Tom Duggan, asked me to speak at the Pro Police Rally at Methuen High School. Tom had mentioned my involvement with Veterans Assisting Veterans (VAV), which is a 501 C3 nonprofit, 100% volunteer organization that helps […]
By: John MacDonald – July, 2016 The reality of UMass Lowell and its significant impact on the City of Lowell has hit hard lately. UMass Lowell recently purchased Perkins Park Residences and Lofts for a reported $61.5 million dollars , a purchase that has infuriated much of the residents in Lowell, the City of Lowell […]
By: John MacDonald – June, 2016 Veterans Assisting Veterans (VAV) has decided that the welcome home for our Vietnam Veterans is long overdue. On Saturday, September 17, 2016, VAV has organized a concert in honor of our Vietnam Veterans to be held at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. The VAV board of directors decided that there […]
By: John MacDonald – April, 2016 For generations Lowell, Massachusetts has been a city in America that is known to willingly accept immigrants from around the world. Immigrants built the city, lived here and often became successful. Legal immigrants made huge positive contributions as they assimilated to the city and the United States of […]
By: Amy Berard – March, 2016 According to the most recent data available from the Massachusetts Department of Education, teacher retention rates vary from one Merrimack Valley district to the next. Methuen boasts a teacher retention rate of 93.3%. However, their principal retention rate is 50%. 96.6% of educators and 97.7% of administrators in Methuen […]
By: John MacDonald – March, 2016 By the time this article is published, Super Tuesday, March 1st will be over. Not only will we know who the Commonwealth of Massachusetts selected as their choice for both the Democrat and Republican nomination for President of these United States, but we will know who Republicans selected as […]
By: John Macdonald – Jan. 2016 It’s an odd thing when the American entertainment industry blends popular couples by binding their names together. An example would be Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie that got the name “Bradgelina” or when Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez cursed tabloid covers with the name “Bennifer”. However, let’s not forget […]
By: John MacDonald – Dec. 2015 The question of whether or not Donald Trump will prevail as the Republican nominee for president or has a chance to run for president and win is extremely disturbing to the establishment in both parties. Trump has been bombastic, controversial, knee jerk, overly sensitive and unscripted. Everything a traditional […]
By: John MacDonald – November 2015 The results of the Lowell City Council and Lowell School Committee elections are in. A message that was loud and clear … don’t mess with a local guy. When all things are equal, you put personal feelings aside and support the local guy. The ghost of Jay Lang hung […]
Last month, The Valley Patriot broke three exclusive stories on-line concerning cover-up situations in the Methuen and Lowell Public School systems. First: Lowell High School Headmaster Brian Martin and his administrative staff tried to cover up the fact that Lowell School Committeeman Steve Gendron’s son, Chris, was engaged in racist behavior at school. Gendron’s son […]
By: John MacDonald – October, 2015 The September 28th Lowell City Council preliminary election brought excitement and interested voters to the polls in droves! Street corners and coffee shops were abuzz with conversation about the highly anticipated and important municipal election. The people of Lowell realized the direct impact of the people they voted for […]
School Committee Member’s Son Accused of Getting Special Treatment SEE VIDEO OF Nkimbeng SPEECH By: Tom Duggan, October 10, 2015 Black Lowell High School student Anye Nkimbeng was called a “nigger” in text messages by one of the losing candidates in the senior class presidential election, Tuesday, September 29th. Nkimbeng won the election. The text was […]
BOSTON—A Lowell man was arrested yesterday on bank fraud charges in connection with his theft of more than $440,000 from the Spain-based seafood and fish distributor for which he served as the United States representative. Jorge Manuel Silva, 58, was indicted on 23 counts of bank fraud. He was released on conditions during his initial […]
By: John MacDonald – August, 2015 Little did anyone suspect that the vote to hire a new Superintendent of Schools in Lowell would have such a profound effect on this year’s City Council race? Several months ago the match was lit, on what has become political dynamite. A divided Lowell School Committee had a choice […]