Friday, January 25, 2013
A Patch blogger's post about not helping her children on the slide is being debated across the country.
A Patch blog from Alameda, Calif., called “Please Don’t Help My Kids” has struck a nerve with readers across the country. Posted in September, the blog has taken off over the past few weeks as it has found a second life through social media sharing. The blog has 124,000 Facebook recommendations and 833 people have tweeted the blog. The blog is an open letter to other parents at the playground. The blogger Kate Bassford Baker’s basic request is for parents to not help her daughters on the slide. She wrote that she wants her daughters to do things and learn things on their own. Learning to walk up the slide’s ladder is the first step to learning new things and overcoming obstacles, she wrote. “Because, as they grow up, the ladders will only …
Monday, December 17, 2012
The following was submitted by Suzanne Austin.
- OPINION
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Monday, December 17, 2012
I'd like to thank the North Andover school system administrators for their efforts over the weekend to inform parents about the response to the tragedy in Connecticut. I've received multiple emails and informational phone messages. The emails included helpful links on how to speak to your child. I have a daughter and two step-sons who attend school in a different district. I have received not one word from the other district. I'd also like to thank each and every teacher, administrator, and support staff who work so hard every day to educate our children. Extra prayers to them all today. Sincerely, Suzanne Austin
Sunday, November 4, 2012
The following was submitted by Bryan Hanssen.
- OPINION
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Sunday, November 4, 2012
When residents submit letters to the editor, it is to be expected that the letters will be full of opinions and feelings. Regardless, it is imperative that letter-writers try to keep their submissions honest, as their letters surely shape the public debate. It is with these sentiments in mind that I feel obliged to write a response to a letter submitted by CJ Gangi. Mr. Gangi's letter was recently published and initially appeared to speak positively of State Representative Jim Lyons. However, after the first paragraph, CJ Gangi goes into attack mode by demonizing Lyons' opponent, Barbara L'Italien. Mr. Gangi specifically targets Ms. L'Italien for accepting a job with the Treasurer's Office - which he labels "patronage". That CJ Gangi is…
The following was submitted by Debbie Papalia.
- OPINION
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Sunday, November 4, 2012
To the Editor: There is a side to State Representative Jim Lyons that I would like all people to consider. When it comes to the lost and vulnerable Jim Lyons is there not looking to see which side of the aisle he should be on. He just forges ahead and is always asking the question how can I can a difference for the underdogs whether they be rescue dogs or small business owners he's all about saving -- saving dogs, saving jobs, and ultimately saving money for the tax payers. Just recently Jim saved a dog's life by adopting a rescue dog from One Tail at a Time Adoption Agency. Roxy the dog, Jim's recent underdog mission, was slatted for an unfortunate death but Jim was there at the right time and the right place. Election day is …
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
The following was submitted by Dan Lanen.
- OPINION
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Wednesday, October 31, 2012
To the Editor: Please join me in voting for Jim Lyons for state representative in the 18th Essex District. Jim Lyons has kept his promise of being a watchdog for the taxpayer. Representative Lyons has fought the status quo of political patronage and wasteful spending. Jim has battled the governor for accountability and exposed millions of dollars in fraud. I have worked with Jim Lyons in a professional capacity as a selectman and watched while he fought to increase local aid. While others told Rep. Lyons there were huge projected deficits at the state level, Lyons replied that waste could be cut and local aid could be increased. There was much resistance to his proposals to reign in state spending and fully fund local aid and Chapter 70 …
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
The following was submitted by Judy and Tom Norton.
- OPINION
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Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Dear Editor: Our representative, Jim Lyons, has delivered on his promise to advocate for local aid. Thanks to Jim’s hard work, we have seen the local aid fund increase by 7%. Prior to Jim’s election in 2010, the Beacon Hill powerbrokers had been slashing the local aid budget in order to fund their political priorities, such as patronage hiring and bailouts for Lawrence City Hall. Jim Lyons is a strong voice for local aid funding because Jim understands that our most important services are provided through our local communities, not through the bloated Beacon Hill bureaucracy. When we experience a health or safety emergency, we depend on our fire and police departments. When we are concerned about traffic or roads, we call our local …
Monday, October 29, 2012
The following was submitted by CJ Gangi.
- OPINION
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Monday, October 29, 2012
To the Editor: Jim Lyons is just the kind of person we need representing our Merrimack Valley district. Jim represents change and reform in state government. Jim has worked diligently to increase our Local Aid and he has fought against the reckless spending of our hard-earned tax dollars. Jim is fearless when standing up for the taxpayers, small business owners, and struggling working families of the 18th Essex District. That's why the big city Democrat power-brokers are frantically spending so much money to hurt Jim Lyons and his advocacy for Local Aid and responsible budgets. These power-brokers will do anything to defeat Jim and then bring back one of their own - Democrat insider Barbara L'Italien. L'Italien followed along with …
Thursday, October 25, 2012
The following was submitted by Barry Y. Weiner.
- OPINION
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Thursday, October 25, 2012
I first met John Tierney in 1995 when he asked if I would consider helping him in his run for Congress. I agreed and have chaired the finance committee for his successful campaigns since then. Over this time, I’ve consistently found John to be a bright, hardworking, honest fellow, and a passionate and effective representative for our District. Despite the power and glitter of the position, he’s also never changed, remaining the same down to earth guy from a modest, middleclass family. Given what I know about John it pains me to see him attacked, and so unfairly and savagely in this campaign. I say “unfair” because the assertion that John knew of the crimes of his brothers in law and his wife’s “willful blindness” is just not true. If there…
The following was submitted by Rita Gardner.
- OPINION
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Thursday, October 25, 2012
For the past thirty years I have worked with children and adults with autism and related disorders, so I am well aware of the challenges they and their families face. Autism affects more than 1 in every 88 children, 1 in 54 boys in Massachusetts, and sometimes it can be difficult for parents to detect until their child enters school. That's why I'm glad the autism community has an advocate as strong as Barbara L'Italien. Before L'Italien was in office, many insurance companies did not offer to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism. Families were stuck with huge bills for diagnostic visits, behavioral therapy and other vital care services for family members with autism. Often only those families who could afford to pay could obtain…
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
The following was submitted by Thyra Sherman.
- OPINION
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Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Editor: A lot of times we hear from candidates who want to "increase local aid.” In our local race for State Representative, Jim Lyons' actions on Beacon Hill don't back up the claims he makes to his constituents back home. Last week Mr. Lyons and his opponent, Barbara L'Italien, met for a debate at Memorial Hall Library. Several times during their exchange, Mr. Lyons made the claim that he supports increasing local aid. However, as Ms. L'Italien pointed out multiple times, Lyons’ record does not support this claim. As our State Representative for the past two years, Lyons was the only State Representative - Democrat or Republican - to vote against a state budget that actually increased local aid to our cities and towns. As Ms. L'Italien …
Momma Bear
4:17 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Well said Travis..... more ›