Enough is enough – over the past few years, there has been talk here and there in this office about changing the web site from a weblog-based format to a more enriched, user friendly and functional environment.

One of the reasons we held off for so long is because we have spent a vast amount of time, energy and most importantly – money – fostering the creative end of the newspaper and not focusing so much on the day to day rigors of operating it as a business. Another reason we held off was because we didn’t quite know how the online readership would take a new environment – we want to keep the people we have, attract newcomers and bridge the gap that exists with most community newspapers between their print and online audiences.

Take all that then stir in a wonderful dash of crazy in the form of recent finger pointing from a certain segment of the local political arena that we as a newspaper are attempting to divide the community and not bring it together – and we have had enough.

No, we aren’t giving in on the belief that we should encourage free speech. No, we aren’t giving up our life-long devotion to the community we have lived in since we were born. No, we aren’t giving up the notion that some members (not all) of the PDS act in a very derisive and opprobrious manner behind the scenes. No, we aren’t closing up tomorrow and tucking our tails between our legs. Why should we?

We report the news, without bias and yes we have an opinion or two about some things that affect us as much as anyone else. We grew up here, still live here and have invested much of our lives into this community. We don’t ask for special treatment and we certainly don’t think we are better than anyone else. Why should we?

So come one, come all – to the new Somerville News Web site in about three weeks. Elitists, Pod People and regular folk alike are all welcome – share in our community together with us today, tomorrow and in the future.