First tune in to The New You. Writer Allison Firestone scoured the East Bay for great ideas for ahead-to-toe and a mind-over-matter makeover.

Make your new year's resolutions count in 2008 by opting to live a greener life. Writer Snigdha Sen packed her story with fun, interesting and doable ways to help you go from living a life of conspicuous consumption to living a life of conspicuous conservation.

Learn how the Chinese community celebrates their new year, in this Year Of The Rat, and share in the festivities and food feasts.

Laila Weir's Getaway story on Chile will have you planning your next vacation to the fascinating Atacama Desert and the enchanting islands of Chiloe.

Share Callie Preston's new column, Hecka Cool, with your kids. She scouts the region for the coolest things for Tri Valley teens.

Be sure to check out our new wine writer, Sean Andrade, a seasoned Walnut Creek-based sommelier who was one of Tri Valley Magazine's judges for our annual Livermore Valley wine competition. Heed his advice on storing all that great wine you got for gifts this year.

Let us know how you like these changes and please share your story ideas and travelogues with us. We also want to do more this year to develop community participation on our Tri Valley Magazine web site. It's a perfect place for you to swap stories, recipes, club news, new columns, and more. We're open to ideas. Write me at Marcia@trivalleymagazine.com

Here's to a happy, healthy and adventuresome 2008!

Marcia Parker