Frankly, we are very fond of newsprint at the Community Newspapers. It has served us and our advertisers quite well and it continues to do so. But we were frustrated at not being able to meet the needs of some prospective advertisers, and these prospective advertisers told us they were frustrated, too. They loved our papers and our demographics; they wanted their ads seen by our readers. They just didn't want their ads on newsprint.

We began thinking about how we might create a product we could incorporate into the Community Newspapers family—an elegant and sophisticated cousin who might drop in once a month.

Early on, the name Image surfaced as appropriate for a publication created specifically to give prospective advertisers an alternative space—a colorful, slick, oversized space—befitting the image they wanted to maintain. Our old friend Rick Tharp of Tharp Did It in Los Gatos created the logo as he has done for most of our papers.

For a long time, we thought of Image only as an advertising piece. A big, beautiful, glossy insert. In fact, Tharp designed the logo and the cover with a full-page ad in mind, the logo picking up a color from the ad.

That's why, when we began thinking we ought to add editorial to the package, the cover remained as originally envisioned—as an ad, color-coordinated with our Image logo. That's why you'll find that when we talk about the features and photographs, we say "inside" Image.

Today's issue of Image gives a taste of what readers can expect editorially as Image begins to grow. Certainly, we'll cover the social scene, and we'll take special care to show readers what the best dressed are wearing to cultural and social events.

Mary Gottschalk, who seems to know the best places to find a $10,000 ring, a nifty shoe clip or a dirt-cheap strictly-for-fun necklace, will take readers on monthly shopping excursions.

We'll tip our hats to the people who spend countless hours raising money for cultural and charitable causes, and that will lead to profiles on some of the most dedicated, fun-loving people in the valley—people like Helen Owen, chairwoman of the Golden Circle Theatre Party, featured in this week's issue.

We'll also look at what's going on in the world of interior design and take a peak inside some of the valley's most elegant homes.

As a community service, we plan to post an annual calendar online to help readers plan their activities for the year and to help cultural and community groups get out the word about their events and programs. We expect to have the Image Cultural and Charitable Events Calendar online within several weeks, and when we do, we'll announce it in our papers.

Between the calendar, our expanded coverage of social, cultural and charitable events—not to mention excursions into fashion, style and design, we can add to the coverage we offer weekly in Steppin' Out—without decreasing the local coverage that is the mission of our community newspapers. Steppin' Out will continue to publish weekly.

As Image evolves, we don't plan to limit ourselves or set boundaries. We are having great fun with Image. And I would be less than truthful if I didn't admit that those of us who've been working on it have been hovering over the new arrival like new parents, telling each other how beautiful it is. We think you'll agree.