America seems to be infatuated with makeovers. We follow the television shows as houses and people are given a whole new look. Most of the shows end with the viewers in awe over the change. I am not quite sure why we like seeing this so much since most Americans are routine freaks. To some, the deeper the rut the happier we are.

There is also the more practical approach when you do a little remodeling to include updating some areas, keeping the best of the old while sprinkling in a few new ideas. That’s the approach we have taken here at The Times. For the past week you might have noticed half-page ads every day since last Sunday and posters on the front of our paper racks giving our readers a little pre- notice that something new is coming.

Tomorrow is the big day, Monday, June 15. Our totally revamped newspaper will make its debut. We have spent several weeks in this process. Our primary goal was to present the VDT in a way to make its pages easier for the reader. You will NOT see a change in the size of the type in our stories. You will notice that your eye will be able to follow the words in the stories more easily.

For those readers who have called about having color ink blotches on one of two of funeral notices in the area where the newspaper folds, this has been fixed by moving the funeral – death notice page two pages over to page 5A. Here you will also find the notices to be squared-off over two columns. This will help readers who want to cut out a notice for family and friends to keep.

Another change to help the readers will be two new features “The Numbers” and “Quick Facts.” You will see these added to stories both in main news and sports where the editors will pull from the story pertinent information for a quick read about the story’s contents.

The type used for our headlines is changing. Each story’s headline is now centered over the story. A few weeks ago we began setting our story type in ‘ragged right.’ This means the columns of type in a story are no longer straight on the left and right. The column is now only straight on the left. The right side is ragged. This should be easier to read.

Of all the changes you will see tomorrow remember they are only skin deep. Our heart and soul is the same as always. A banner on our wall in the editorial department reminds our reporters and editors their job is to ‘surprise our readers every day with something new.’ That is our mission. It has not changed. We only tinkered a little with the package in which we wrap that surprise.

Happy reading!