editorial
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The Compelling Art of Denis Kitchen

by Editor

Tea Krulos interviews cartoonist Denis Kitchen

“Why don’t you publish comics by women?” they said sternly. “There aren’t very many good women cartoonists,” I stupidly responded. They inched their chairs toward me again. “I’ll look harder,” I promised. The intimidation continued. Finally, one of them, I believe it was Jennie Orvino Sorcic, a local poet with prominent breasts, produced a copy of Mom’s Homemade Comics. “Why do you draw women with large breasts?” she demanded. I wanted to say with a smirk, “I draw what I see,” but was scared shitless and instead apologized for the error of my ways.

Posted inEditorials

A Place for You

by Editor

One year ago we published the first issue of the Riverwest Currents. It had 12 pages, some black and white photos, and a group of folks dedicated to the vision of a paper focused on our community. Our cover story was on the Reservoir on North Avenue. I have lost count of how many people were surprised by the fact that the hill they were so familiar with for so many years was filled with water. Likewise, it is gratifying that so many are so interested in the characters that fill our homes and businesses. Their inner stories comprise a vital ingredient of our mission. Our niche is in and around our neighborhoods. Our audience is the 12-year-old and the 20-, 30-, 40-, 50-, 60-, 70-, 80-, and up-year-old black, white, and brown people who live, work, and play here. We are not “glam” and we are not “square” either. There is a place for you here in our neighborhood and in our paper.

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City Block Grant Funding Cuts Hit Home For YMCA CDC-Riverwest

by Editor

by Sonya Jongsma Knauss

More than $1 million in cuts to community organizing by the City is taking its toll in many neighborhoods, and Riverwest is no exception. Community organizing and neighborhood planning activities will take a hit when the YMCA CommunityDevelopment Corporation at 604 E. Center St. closes its doors on Dec. 31, 2002. The office, which the YMCA opened a little over a year ago and which represents a $37,000 buildout investment on the part of the Y, has been used for many neighborhood gatherings.

“There was a certain level of trust we put in the Y when we originally decided to ask them to administer the grant. We felt they would commit to the neighborhood and bring resources into it. . . I expected the Y to do more work to find funding. To me it’s an institutional question: is the Y devoted to the CDC model or not?” -Alderman D’Amato

Posted inFurther Down Stream

October 2002

by Editor

This month’s news briefs: the free life, block grant funding cuts, recent violence, Capitol Drive changes, new Currents intern, DPI wins grant, new Bremen St. block club, Adult Enrichment cooking classes at Riverside, and Sustainable Living.