John
My writing "career" began when I was fifteen, writing concert and record reviews for my hometown weekly newspaper. In college I wrote for the "establishment" campus rag, then started a writers' journal with a friend. I write many different kinds of material, from journalism to commentary to fiction. I'm gradually collecting samples and posting them here, as I locate copies or obtain publishers' permissions. The most recent material is at the top.


If you'd like to comment on any of the work posted below, or would like to discuss a writing project with me, please email me!


My newest writing diversion is a blog.

My most recent published work has been for the Haddam Bulletin, a monthly publication for the citizens of Haddam, Connecticut, where I live.

  • August, 2008: Many questions to be answered to properly manage waste
  • March, 2008: Look for my interview with noted futurist Ken Gronbach in Green Builder Magazine.
  • August, 2007: ENERGY Makes Haddam Go Around
  • July, 2007: Haddam's Plan of Conservation and Development: Ready for Prime Time?
  • June, 2007: Will Haddam Go Green?



  • Middletown Press logo

    My weekly column Return to Middletown appeared Tuesdays in central Connecticut's Middletown Press on the Commentary page just below the editorial cartoon from October of 1998 through May of 1999.

    The articles listed below are posted as they were submitted for publication. They may have appeared slightly differently in print.

    Alert readers will note a distinctly New Urbanist attitude in many of these columns...

  • Tuesday, October 13, 1998: Returning to Middletown with a fresh perspective
  • Tuesday, October 20, 1998: Middletown has some great trees
  • Tuesday, October 27, 1998: Looking for 2 rms, riv vu in Mdltn
  • Tuesday, November 3, 1998: Hard to find your way around by the numbers
  • Tuesday, November 10, 1998: Distance Learning: a bit off the mark?
  • Tuesday, November 17, 1998: Middletown on the way, or destination?
  • Tuesday, November 24, 1998: It's true: Home = food
  • Tuesday, December 1, 1998: We need to be careful about Middletown's growth
  • Tuesday, December 8, 1998: New traffic lights signal big problem
  • Tuesday, December 15, 1998: Year-end thoughts on Middletown's past and future
  • Tuesday, December 22, 1998: Just one wish for the holidays
  • Tuesday, December 29, 1998: The inevitable Middletown wish list

  • Tuesday, January 5, 1999: Because Main Street Defines Middletown
  • Tuesday, January 12, 1999: This window needs cleaning
  • Tuesday, January 19, 1999: Buying open space benefits us all
  • Tuesday, January 26, 1999: Avoid a road too traveled
  • Tuesday, February 2, 1999: On neighborhoods, kids and prison-schools
  • Tuesday, February 9, 1999: Middletown's Phoenix rises reborn
  • Tuesday, February 16, 1999: Still waiting for crosswalk correction
  • Tuesday, February 23, 1999: Moving beyond the memories
  • Tuesday, March 2, 1999: Cars and communities: a marriage going bad?
  • Tuesday, March 9, 1999: Bring back exclusive use crosswalks now!
  • Tuesday, March 23, 1999: It's time for Middletown to say 'yes' to rail
  • Tuesday, March 30, 1999: Growing up, eating out under the bridge
  • Tuesday, April 6, 1999: Easter lessons in Kosovo, Tibet and Middletown
  • Tuesday, April 13, 1999: DOT: a wolf in sheep's clothing
  • Tuesday, April 27, 1999: April showers' stumps, fast-track flowers
  • Tuesday, May 11, 1999: Well, duhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
  • Tuesday, May 25, 1999: Happy trails, Middletown


    I also wrote a few feature stories for the Press, including the following:

  • Monday, November 2, 1998: Klekolo owner opens second coffee shop in Main Street Market space
  • Thursday, November 12, 1998: Step Inside This House superb warmup for local Lovett concert
  • Thursday, November 19, 1998: Lovett teaches Texas history at Mohegan Sun Casino
  • Thursday, November 19, 1998: Halley Came To Jackson, Carpenter comes to UCONN
  • Thursday, November 26, 1998: Mary Chapin Carpenter visits UConn




    As Executive Director of the Macintosh Consultants Network from 1995 through 1997, I produced and managed the MCN's educational conferences. This required that I work with a number of travel industry suppliers and executives. I wrote the following two articles for CONVENE, a leading monthly travel journal.

  • High Tech Conversation: CONVENE Interviews John Friedlander
    In which I predict the future importance of the internet to the travel industry...

  • The Meeting Professional's Web Site Sampler




    While serving as Executive Director of the Macintosh Consultants Network, I wrote this article for computer consultants looking for ways to expand their client list. The article was published in Tony Lindsey's online newsletter Mac*Chat in issue #084 on August 3, 1995. At the time, the newsletter had around 70,000 subscribers around the world.

    The article was later reprinted with permission in the September/October issue of the Chico Area Software Developer's Alliance newsletter.

  • Tips for consultants: How to get clients