Somerville is home to many interesting and accomplished comic artists. Today’s posting features the art of Tim Finn and Raul Gonzalez.
(Part 5 of a multipart article on comic art in Somerville, first published in Somerville Scout, Fall 2010.)

Somerville is home to many interesting and accomplished comic artists. Today’s posting features the art of Pat Davidson and B. Douglas De Rocher.
(Part 4 of a multipart article on comic art in Somerville, first published in Somerville Scout, Fall 2010.)

As someone who does not own a car, I am already accustomed to the life of a pedestrian living around the edges of a world designed for cars. But I was completely unprepared for how dramatically marginalized I would feel trying to navigate the streets by wheelchair.

Somerville is home to many interesting and accomplished comic artists. Today’s posting features the art of Jef Czekaj.
(Part 3 of a multipart article on comic art in Somerville, first published in Somerville Scout, Fall 2010.)

There’s an average of 17,000 people living within each square mile of Somerville. When I hear this fact, I ask myself: How could I ever be lonely with so many potential relationships available in such close proximity? In this density and diversity, how could I ever not find what I need?

Learn about four major sources for buying and borrowing comics in our city: Comicazi, Hub Comics, Papercut Zine Library, and Somerville Public Library. These same venues also make important contributions to the creation of comic art and a comics community in Somerville.
(Part 2 of a multipart article on comic art in Somerville, first published in Somerville Scout, Fall 2010.)

If you are fortunate enough to live in Somerville, you are well situated for an intimate view into the world of comic art. And as you peer into this world, you may even find some of your daily realities staring back at you: Somerville itself is woven into a number of these cartoon narratives. (Part 1 of a multipart article on comic art in Somerville, first published in Somerville Scout, Fall 2010.)

The first line of the recently crafted Somerville Vision Statement includes a sentence about valuing the diversity of our people, cultures, housing, and economy. Since “diversity” is so prominently represented in our vision for our community, I’ve been thinking about this word and what it means.

Why do we have such deep and passionate opinions about our roadways? What is it about our transportation experiences that brings out so much frustration and unhappiness?

What do you think about using over 40,000 acres of farm land, 20-24 inches of rain/irrigation water, and countless barrels of fuel to plant, cultivate, harvest, and ship a fruit that is primarily purchased for the purpose of being decorated, displayed in the front yard until it’s smashed in the street or overcome with rot and mold, and then thrown unceremoniously in the trash?

Last week I was riding through Union Square with my daughter on the back of our tandem bicycle. As I pulled up to stop at the red light, a woman rolled down the window on her mini-van/SUV and screamed at us: “Do NOT ride on this road with that kid!” Her tone and facial expression overflowed with anger and hostility as she whipped around the corner staring daggers.…

Are you making efforts to trim your budget? Your waistline? Your cholesterol count? If so, you may be getting more intimate with the aisle in the supermarket where one finds neatly stacked bags of beautifully colored dried beans and legumes.

If you’re a fan of small independent businesses such as Ricky’s Flower Market and the Reliable Market in Union Square — and even if you’re not — you should take a closer look at the city’s proposal for District Improvement Financing that was unveiled on September 15.

After 37 years of serving youth in Somerville, there’s now a large FOR SALE sign on the former Somerville Boys & Girls Club at 181 Washington Street. Why did this happen?