For the third year now, Vindicator readers soon will enjoy what is one of our largest special sections of the year, a two-part series that we call “Almanac.”

The product isn’t so new to our newsroom, though.

In fact, we’ve been producing the section for our Tribune Chronicle readers for about a decade now.

The publication evolved from earlier special sections that pre-date my employment here, but that I know focused on our region’s rich history in industry and business.

Just like our Valley has evolved from fully integrated steelmaking, stamping auto parts and assembling General Motors vehicles into a future that now will involve manufacturing electric vehicles and the batteries that will power them, so too have these special sections evolved.

Of course, our Almanac still offers in-depth analysis of the region’s business and industry, ranging from auto sales to real estate outlook to new business startup guidance. It also includes discussions with the region’s leading economic development experts working together to find new ways to attract and keep business here.

But it goes far beyond just business stories.

The special section also looks at things like changes in local education, developments at our local military installations and entertainment in our Valley.

As we struggle to emerge from the pandemic, our reporters spoke to experts in mental health fields, to area religious who lead our houses of worship and to operators of the Valley’s largest foundations who make it their lives’ work to help those in need. We’ve also revisited declining COVID-19 case numbers hoping that we soon will have seen the last of this scourge.

Again, this year, we have highlighted photos and small bios for dozens of “movers and shakers” who help our area grow and flourish, despite struggles of the past couple years.

Some of these stories and offerings you will find in the first volume of this year’s Almanac. It will be inserted inside next Sunday’s Vindicator. Some of these in-depth stories also will publish in the second volume of Almanac, slated for release next month on Sunday, April 17.

Next month, we’ll write about many of our area’s financial institutions, along with local retail developers and restaurant operators whose businesses started here, but now stretch nationwide.

I’ve always been extremely proud of this product that never would be possible if it weren’t for the true team effort of a very hardworking newsroom staff who eagerly accepted extra assignments and jumped in with both feet — all on top of their regular daily stories from news beats that they still must monitor while generating additional Almanac content. Even though we produce valuable extra reading materials like today’s Almanac as added value to your Vindicator, obviously, we can’t let news stories slip by that must be covered for the daily paper.

Business Editor Ron Selak Jr. drives the bus on this project. He started ironing out Almanac details, plans and assignments shortly after Christmas, and won’t be letting up until the next Almanac wraps up in April. The section was beautifully designed and laid out by staff page designer Patrick Litowitz.

Of course our reporters, photographers and editors have been working for several weeks generating stories, photographs and informational boxes that will fill dozens of extra broadsheet pages. That’s in addition to the regular Sunday paper, along with Sunday comics and other valuable favorite Sunday reading materials like Parade Magazine and weekly TV guide.

Trust me when I say Almanac brings so much to read that you likely will be laying it on your coffee table and returning to it time and again for quite a while.

Likewise, our advertisers know the value of the Almanac sections, and they have purchased ads that help us continue to be able to offer it to you. I hope you also will closely examine their advertisements and then respond by taking advantage of their broad range of offerings.

Mark your calendar and make sure you check out Almanac in next week’s Sunday Vindicator.

I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do. If so, please send a shout-out to Ron Selak at rselak@tribtoday.com or to reporters whose stories you might find particularly interesting.