Archive for the ‘Columns & Essays’ Category

A Word, Please?

03Jan13

Eliminating a few dozen words from the lexicon will make for a better 2013 It’s the New Year, time for all those obligatory and oh-so-hilarious “Best” and “Worst” lists for the previous year along with predictions for the coming year. I’m taking a different approach. Since nothing good happened in 2012, I’m off the hook […]


When I speak of “end of year observances” I’m not attempting to concoct a new euphemism for “the holidays,” although, now that it’s come up, it seems as good a place as any to begin. I won’t talk about any “War on Christmas,” which is probably about as worthy of serious consideration as the “War […]


My coffee maker, a Cuisinart, died yesterday. It would have been 11 years old next month. The immediate cause of death was listed as complications from a massive water hemmorhage suffered Wednesday morning. Cuisinart was received as a gift in December of 2001. It performed yeoman’s work, missing few days in a decade-long long career […]


For those watching the election returns at Richard Tisei’s election-night party at the Peabody Marriott or with Scott Brown at Boston’s Park Plaza, the message was clear: moderate candidates are not welcome in Massachusetts, at least not if you have an “R” next to your name. Tuesday’s election was a victory for those who believe […]


Call me a homer. Call me provincial. You can even call me a Republican if it makes you happy and you don’t care much about accuracy. But on Tuesday, Nov. 6, I’ll be voting for the two moderate candidates from Wakefield, Massachusetts: Scott Brown and Richard Tisei, over their extremely partisan opponents. Tisei lives in […]


I admit that I am powerless over the Internet. There, I’ve said it. They say that admitting you have a problem is the first step toward recovery. I wish it were that easy. I thank my higher power that I don’t have a smartphone. I’d be one of those people at social events with my […]


Things are looking up for two of Wakefield’s most favored political sons, Scott Brown and Richard Tisei. Brown had a good debate Monday night at UMass Lowell. They’ll never admit it, but you could tell that the Elizabeth Warren people thought she lost because they were complaining bitterly about moderator David Gregory. The side that […]


When the Board of Selectmen last week moved to use zoning to nip in the bud any chance of a medical marijuana dispensary opening in Wakefield Massachusetts, they were not alone. Many Massachusetts cities and towns have put in motion measures to stem the possibility of a pot store opening in their communities. This widespread […]


“Why are there no moderate Republicans?” That’s the lament we hear with increasing frequency from some quarters as the fall election season heats up. Meanwhile, many of the same people who decry this supposed lack of moderation are working overtime to paint a couple of true moderates as “extreme.” Last year, Congressional Quarterly ranked Scott […]


After the burning intensity of their last two shows – 9 Circles and Master Harold… and the Boys – for its summer season finale, Gloucester Stage Company sends us off into the cool autumn with a comedy. Set in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, Beth Henley’s Crimes of the Heart is a slice of Southern life, and its […]