Cartoon of the Week: GO GREEN! GO WHITE!

The News-Herald - December 27

What more is there to say? Spartans Will.
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Week: I'm Dreaming of a Warm Christmas

The News-Herald - December 23

It's Christmas and here in metro Detroit, spring is in the air! If Irving Berlin were still with us, he could update the lyrics of his Christmas classic, "I'm dreaming of a warm Christmas ..." for 2015.
I penned this cartoon for my Downriver readers, but the message is meant for everyone I know - Merry Christmas to all!
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Week: Feeling the Holiday Spirit

The News-Herald - December 16

Ah - the holiday spirit is in the air; and it's so thick, you can cut it with a knife. Christmas is coming and to paraphrase the Grinch, "... It'll come without snow, it'll come without slush, it'll come without shoveling, salting and such!" Are you feeling it?
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Week: Fill the Truck, Fill Some Hearts

The News-Herald - December 2

Downriver residents responded in inspiring fashion to the plea by The News-Herald staff to "Fill the Truck" for the Salvation Army with toys, food, clothing and personal care items for those among us who would otherwise go without this holiday season. We did, indeed, fill the truck on Saturday, December 12; and shortly all those generous donations will fill many hearts Downriver.
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Week: I've Got Plenty to be Thankful For

The News-Herald - November 25

As Bing Crosby sang in "Holiday Inn" (my all-time favorite Christmas film), "My needs are small, I buy them all at the five and ten cent store. Oh, I've got plenty to be thankful for." Every year, for nearly 30 years, I've been thankful that I have the privilege to write and draw editorial cartoons for The News-Herald, in Downriver metro Detroit, where I spent the first 12 years of my life and built the foundational relationships that have lasted a lifetime. Additionally, every year I pen a cartoon on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving that highlights some of the topics that I'm thankful made news - and inspired cartoons - throughout the year. Here's the 2015 edition, I hope it stirs some happy memories!
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Week: Santa's Work is Done in Detroit!

Crain's Detroit Business - November 23

If Detroiters were making a collective holiday wish list, what might be on it? Cheap gas, a brisk real estate market, a strong year for the Detroit 3 automakers - those are all items that would probably be on anyone's list. You're welcome, Detroit - Santa's work is done here, and it isn't even Thanksgiving!
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Week: Remembrance Day

The News-Herald, November 11

For all the veterans among all our friends and families, thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Every generation has heroes who keep the rest of their generation safe and free; and every generation owes them a debt.

I hold in my heart my uncle, Technical Corporal Vitaut J. Voselius, an immigrant from Lithuania who dreamed of U.S. citizenship. His wish was granted, immediately after he was drafted and sworn into the U.S. Army in December 1941. After fighting through North Africa and Italy, he returned home - "it is really home now," as he would remind us. He saw his citizenship as an honor, and he always believed it an equal honor that he was called upon to defend his new home.
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Week: Play Ball! For Real

The News-Herald - August 23

There's relief for metro Detroiters from the heartbreak of the Tigers' season. Taylor, Mich., is the annual host of the Junior League World Series and the finals are Sunday, August 23. Finally - some meaningful baseball in our area, in August!
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Week: Tigers Math

Crain's Detroit Business - August 10

I'll always love baseball, especially Tigers baseball, but it's difficult to watch this season conclude. It's as it every game, every inning, is a step toward concession. Here we are in August, already looking to next season. I'm ready for the hot stove league!
That's the Point!

Off the Drawing Board: These are two other roughs I shared with my editor at Crain's Detroit Business for this week. After consideration and discussion, we concluded that Dave Dombrowski's departure was part of a bigger story overall, including the sell-off of players; leading to - most probably - a zero-sum in playoff dollars for the 2015 season.

 

Cartoon of the Week: Pure Something ...

Crain's Detroit Business - May 18

Pure Michigan, Pure Snyder ... imagine Tim Allen providing a voice-over, you get the idea.
That's the Point!

Off the Drawing Board: My original concept for this cartoon was a little bit rougher on Governor Snyder (rough road pun intended).

Cartoon of the Week: '... Their last full measure'

The News-Herald - May 24

" ... It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -  that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."       
- Abraham Lincoln, June 1, 1865


Every generation has had its guardians. This appeared in The News-Herald, but it is for all those who gave "their last full measure" everywhere, for all of us. 
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Week: Weather or Not ...

The News-Herald, May 17

When I was growing up, weather reporting was simple and straightforward in the springtime - it was going to be sunny, it was going to rain, maybe a combination of both; and maybe, once in a while, watch out for a possible tornado. Now, weather reporting is year 'round high drama with clever, exciting names for the forecasting centers and seasonal themes to make the drama even more timely. Hold on to your seats, it's time for a forecast, "weather" you're ready or not ...
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Week: A Hot Start for the Tigers, But ...

The News-Herald - April 8

The Tigers are off to a hot start in 2015 - they're 3-0, they've scored 15 runs and given up only 1 - that's about as positive a start as it gets, not counting 35-5. But, it's a long season and with Justin Verlander starting it on the disabled list for the first time in his career, and Joe Nathan making just a brief (dramatic) appearance on the mound in the home opener before joining JV on the DL, we have to hope the starting rotation stays strong until JV's return and the bullpen delivers when it's tested for real. "Play ball," Detroit!
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Week: The Downtown Real Estate Game Gets Serious Again

Crain's Detroit Business - March 9

The Downtown Detroit real estate game is making a come-back. For a long time, it seemed to be forgotten, but now everybody's interested in rolling the dice and taking a turn.
That's the Point!

Off the Drawing Board: My original concept for this idea featured  more traditional approach of player sitting around a table, playing a board game. As I developed the full-size rough, I thought the composition was more dynamic with the players actually standing on the board, playing the game. My editor, Jennette Smith, suggested mentioning more real estate to broaden the concept.


Way Off the Drawing Board: Another concept I thought had potential for this week's Crain's Detroit Business is the new Detroit Parking System. I still like it, and I'm betting the topic will be in the news again ...

Cartoon of the Week: A Hole Different Problem

The News-Herald - March 1

I drew this cartoon for my readers Downriver, but it applies throughout the metro Detroit area - once we've shoveled all the snow, once the sub-zero temperatures have passed, don't be so quick to breath a sigh of relief. There's a "hole" different problem facing us as the snow melts!
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Week: P-P-Play B-B-Ball!

The News-Herald - February 18

As you stare out your windows and windshields at the frozen tundra around you; as you glance at the thermometer on your back porch or your car's instrument panel and your mood plunges lower than the temperature displayed, take heart! Somewhere, very soon, somebody will be calling out, "Play ball!"
That's the Point!

Cartoon of the Week: Rough Road Ahead

Crain's Detroit Business - January 26

There's an old saying, "Nothing is certain except death and taxes." In Michigan, you can add "... and bad roads." Michigan's road funding package, in the form of a proposed constitutional amendment, will go to a statewide ballot in May, when the voters will decide the issue. Something tells me that between the winter weather, and the campaigning by those in favor of and opposed to the proposal, we have a few months of rough road ahead!
That's the Point!

Off the Drawing Board: A couple of other ideas I proposed to my editors at Crain's Detroit Business for this week's edition also had motoring themes.