Happy New Year, and welcome to The Day Publishing, 2022 edition.

Our company has been around for more than a century — 141 years for those who are counting — but we thrive on keeping our content fresh and relevant.

We're excited to introduce our newest product, The Day Magazine. Subscribers to The Day's print edition received a copy of this glossy beauty inside their Sunday, Jan. 2 paper, and digital readers can access it on theday.com, where we are providing a free preview.

The Day Magazine, which we've nicknamed TDM, will be published the first Sunday of every month and replaces our more specialized magazines with a publication that has something for everyone. Editor Shannon Cushing says the goal is "to publish a magazine that speaks to every single person in The Day community."

The January edition hits the mark. Masterfully assembled by graphic designer Barb Dunn, it has scads of crisp, bright photos and loads of stories from writers you'll recognize from the pages of The Day, along with some new contributors.  

You'll likely say, "Who knew?" when you read about the commercial seaweed industry in Ann Baldelli's cover story about Suzie Flores and Jay Douglas of the Stonington Kelp Company. You'll probably say it again when you meet New London mother-daughter therapy team, Gizelle Tircuit and Janelle Posey-Green and learn about their holistic mental health business, Magnolia Wellness LLC, in an article by Traci Neal. And yet again when you read Jennifer Carmichael's piece about Merrily and Michael Connery and the history of their Saltwater Farm Vineyard in Stonington.

Day staffer Johana Vazquez featured Tony's Caribbean Kitchen of New London. Staffer Erica Moser scored an interview with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. Phil Hall wrote about National Soup Month (again, who knew?). Neal wrote about worker burnout and who it affects the most. Writer Gretchen Peck took the pulse of the housing market in southeastern Connecticut for one article and wrote about the seasonal changes taking place at local garden centers for another. In the "Life Cycles" section, Bridget Shirvell talked to pediatricians and child psychologists about keeping children well during the coronavirus pandemic. (Hint: Get them outside!)

You'll be able to up your food takeout delivery game after reading Tyler Duboys' piece, prepare for a day trip to the Connecticut Science Center in an article by Carmichael and soak up some "Vitamin Sea" in an article about small-ship cruises by Catlin M. Bagley.

When you're done, you can snuggle up with one of author Betty J. Cotter's book recommendations in a column called "Turning Pages."

Louvenia Brandt, our regional advertising director, was thrilled to receive an early review of TDM from a reader who said the first edition was, "thoroughly enjoyable, diverse and enlightening." Brandt said February's Valentine's issue will include articles about romantic homes, "mocktails," which are nonalcoholic cocktails, delicious fix-at-home recipes, local finds from area businesses, a visit to the beloved Sift Bakery in Mystic and more. Look for a delicious cover featuring macarons.

"This doesn't come close to anything else we've done," Brandt said of TDM.

The magazine is sent to subscribers but will not be inserted into newsstand copies of The Day. Copies are available for purchase, for $4.95, from 8 a.m. to noon on weekdays at our office at 47 Eugene O'Neill Drive in New London.

Your thoughts and comments are always welcome.

Karen Florin is The Day's engagement editor. She can be reached at k.florin@theday.com or (860) 701-4217.