A Stand-up Guy, The Boston Globe, January 10, 2010 (watch his Letterman performance)
Eddie Brill on Letterman Yesterday
The Best Laugh of My Week: Thanks Eddie
Read my Sunday Globe interview with Eddie.
A Flap or Two Before Green was Cool
Newsday, published June 9, 2008.
By Joyce Pellino Crane
Just out of camera shot was the carousel clothesline I wrote about in this humorous Newsday essay. To my right: Dad, Mom, my sister, and brother (front).
The shouting matches started shortly after my family moved into the Dutch Colonial house across from the town’s public high school.
Mrs. Gibson, a widowed socialite with a butler, a poodle, and a two-toned Cadillac, had never expected to see a family of Italians next door.
But there she was in her twilight years battling the reality of a changing society. The tony New York suburb, known for its debutantes and coming out parties (this was an era when coming out wasn’t followed by “of the closet”) was being infiltrated by the nouveau riche with last names ending in vowels. Mrs. Gibson wasn’t ready for it.
They arrived with screechy station wagons, smudge-faced kids, and religious statues on the front lawn.
She upbraided. My mother retorted. The words got nasty.
Sphere: Related ContentCalmness in Our Lives
This arrived in my inbox yesterday (with a different photo). The unknown author gave me the best laugh of my week!
Tranquility
“I am passing this on to you because it definitely works, and we could all use a little more calmness in our lives.
By following simple advice heard on the Dr. Phil show, you too can find inner peace.
Dr Phil proclaimed, “The way to achieve
inner peace is to finish all the things you have started and have never finished.”
So, I looked around my house to see all the things I started and hadn’t finished, and before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of White Zinfandel, a bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream, a package of Oreos, the remainder of my old Prozac prescription, the rest of the cheesecake, some Doritos, and a box of chocolates.
You have no idea how freaking good I feel right now.
Pass this on to those whom you think might be in need of inner peace.
Happy New Year!”
Westford Man Charged with First Degree Murder in Wife’s Shooting
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MIDDLESEX DISTRICT ATTORNEY
15 COMMONWEALTH AVE WOBURN MA 01801
For Immediate Release Contact: Jessica Venezia
781-897-8325
Charges Upgraded In Connection With Saturday’s Shooting In Westford
Westford Man Now Charged With Murder Of Wife
WOBURN– Charges have been upgraded in connection with a shooting that occurred Saturday night in Westford, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.
Frederick Leduc, 45, of Westford, was arrested yesterday and charged with armed assault with intent to murder, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal discharge of a firearm, and illegal possession of ammunition in connection with the shooting of his wife, Karen Leduc, 43, of Westford. The victim, Karen Leduc, who was in critical condition since the incident, has now died and the intent to murder charges against Frederick Leduc have been upgraded to first degree murder.
Frederick Leduc remains hospitalized and a bedside arraignment on these charges will occur today at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston at 2pm.
According to authorities, at approximately 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening, Westford Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office responded to reports of a shooting at 48 Forge Village Road in Westford. Upon arrival, authorities located a male, the defendant, and a female, the victim, evidencing obvious gun shot wounds.
The defendant was life-flighted to Massachusetts General Hospital. The female victim, identified as Karen Leduc, 43, was life-flighted to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester and has now died.
Westford Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office conducted an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the shooting. It is alleged that the defendant purposefully shot the victim, and then intentionally shot himself after an argument.
The investigation remains ongoing.
These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The Assistant District Attorney assigned to the case is Suzanne Kontz. The Victim Witness Advocate is Dora Quiroz.
Charges Filed In Connection With Saturday’s Shooting In Westford
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MIDDLESEX DISTRICT ATTORNEY
15 COMMONWEALTH AVE WOBURN MA 01801
For Immediate Release Contact: Jessica Venezia
January 11, 2010 781-897-8325
WOBURN– Charges have been filed in connection with a shooting that occurred Saturday night in Westford, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.
Frederick Luduc, 45, of 48 Forge Village Road in Westford, has been arrested and charged with armed assault to murder, illegal possession of a firearm, and illegal possession of ammunition. Luduc remains hospitalized and an arraignment on these charges has not yet been scheduled.
According to authorities, at approximately 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening, Westford Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office responded to reports of a shooting at 48 Forge Village Road in Westford. Upon arrival, authorities located a male, the defendant, and a female, the victim, evidencing obvious gun shot wounds.
“This is a troubling case where we allege that Frederick Luduc shot the victim, who remains in very critical condition,” District Attorney Leone said. “We continue to develop the facts of the investigation and additional details will be released at the time of the defendant’s arraignment.”
The defendant was life-flighted to Massachusetts General Hospital where he remains in stable condition. The female victim, identified as Karen Luduc, 43, was life-flighted to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester and remains in critical condition.
Westford Police and State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office conducted an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the shooting. It is alleged that the defendant shot the victim and then shot himself.
The investigation remains ongoing.
The Assistant District Attorney assigned to the case is Suzanne Kontz. The Victim Witness Advocate is Dora Quiroz.
FEW DETAILS RELEASED IN WESTFORD DOUBLE SHOOTING, The Boston Globe, January 11, 2010
WESTFORD – Authorities investigating a Saturday night double-shooting declined to give details about the incident yesterday but assured residents of this pastoral community that the crime in a wooded neighborhood near the high school was not random.
TWO PEOPLE HURT IN WESTFORD SHOOTING, The Boston Globe, January 10, 2010
WESTFORD – Two people were shot in a home in this quiet suburb northwest of Boston yesterday, authorities said.
Westford authorities responded around 7:30 p.m. to a Forge Village Road address, where they found an adult man and an adult woman shot.
Sphere: Related ContentHiring Outlook, Cautiously Optimistic
CONTACT: Juan Carlos Cruz
Manpower Inc.
(414) 906-6253
meos@na.manpower.com
Employers Plan to Increase Staff Levels in First Quarter, According to the Manpower Quarterly Outlook Survey
A Positive Bounce in Hiring Expected, Record Number Expect No Change
MILWAUKEE (December 8, 2009) – U.S. employers anticipate a moderate increase in their hiring plans for Quarter 1 2010, according to the seasonally adjusted results of the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, conducted quarterly by Manpower Inc.
“There is still a lot of ground to make up in the labor market, but the overall increase in hiring intentions is clearly a positive,” said Manpower Inc. Chairman and CEO Jeff Joerres. “The first quarter is a seasonally slow hiring quarter. To see an increase over the fourth quarter is unusual and seems to indicate increased confidence levels from employers.”
Of the more than 28,000 employers surveyed, 12% percent anticipate an increase in staff levels in their Quarter 1 2010 hiring plans, while 12% expect a decrease in payrolls, resulting in a Net Employment Outlook of 0%. When seasonally adjusted, the Net Employment Outlook becomes +6%. Seventy-three percent of employers expect no change in their hiring plans, the highest in the survey’s history. The final 3% of employers indicate they are undecided about their hiring intentions.
“The data points to encouraging news. A record number of employers plan to keep staff levels stable, which is good for the employed, and an overall positive Outlook means expanding opportunities for job seekers,” said Jonas Prising, Manpower president of the Americas. “Employer uncertainty around hiring is shifting from whether to consider adding staff, to when – and at what rate – to make the investment.”
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Q1 2010/page
The national survey data shows employers in Mining, Durable Goods Manufacturing, Information and Government expect hiring to moderately increase in Quarter 1 2010, while slight increases are expected among employers in Nondurable Goods Manufacturing, Transportation & Utilities, Professional & Business Services, Education & Health Services, Leisure & Hospitality and Other Services. Employers in two industry sectors, Construction and Wholesale & Retail Trade, anticipate a slight decrease in hiring levels. Financial Activities employers intend to maintain relatively stable staff levels.
When compared to a year ago, employers in the West are the most confident, but all of the survey regions have weaker year-over-year employment outlooks. Using the seasonally adjusted data, all regions anticipate moderate quarter-over-quarter increases in staff levels, with employer confidence highest in the South and Midwest.
Employment services company Manpower Inc. releases the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey quarterly to measure employers’ intentions to increase or decrease the number of employees in their workforce during the next quarter. It is the only forward-looking survey of its kind, unparalleled in size, scope, longevity and area of focus.
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey’s United States results are based on interviews with more than 28,000 employers located within 200 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), as defined by the federal government, and one MSA in Puerto Rico. The mix of U.S. industries within the survey follows the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Supersectors and is structured to be representative of the U.S. economy. The national survey carries a margin of error of +/- .49%.
The complete results and visuals from the U.S. national Manpower Employment Outlook Survey are available for download at http://www.us.manpower.com/meos, where you will also find the survey results for the 201 MSAs.
Sphere: Related ContentRED, RIPE TOMATOES AND A LIFE LESSON, Boston Globe, September 14, 2009
Retired teacher Greg Wadleigh holds today's Boston Globe Op-Ed page, where he was the subject of an essay.
GREG WADLEIGH’S tomato crop is ripe for picking. Red balls, plump with pulp, hang from arching vines.
I’ve been waiting weeks for the harvest so I can get a closer view of Wadleigh commanding nature from the seat of his disability scooter. Wadleigh has multiple sclerosis and can’t crawl around in the dirt any longer. But the retired music teacher has figured out another way to grow things. He fills 5-gallon pails with soil in his front yard and zips from container to container, planting seeds and tending the plants. A composting drum sits in one corner of the yard, and a shed separates the flower garden from the vegetables.
