5 Editor's Note

The weather has fi nally warmed up and it feels like spring! This is my favorite time of year, for a lot of reasons. Gone again are the days of dreading having to leave the house because it's cold outside. Instead, I fi nd every possible reason to get out. Planting vegetables and fl owers, running errands, or even just going for a walk. And I can't wait to get started on some of my favorite summer activities, like fi shing, throwing a cast net (if the shrimp ever show up), kayaking, lazing on the beach on a Sunday afternoon, the occasional Friday afternoon poolside with my friend Liz, the list is long!

Unfortunately summer is also the time when we all need to start thinking about hurricane season, which starts the beginning of June. I didn't particularly want to run the hurricane article on page 14 - I don't think any of us are ready to start thinking about that possibility yet. But no matter how badly we'd like to think any future storms will avoid us, it still makes sense to prepare.

To counter that dreadful reality, we have an issue packed with fun stuff this month! Since schools will be getting out in no time, we've also put together a list of fun summer camps for your kiddos (page 20). Although these camps are mostly water related, there are a couple that off er activities such as golf, tennis, or even history.

But kids don't get to have all the fun - check out the fi rst in our new "Summer Fun Series" on page 23. It seemed only fi tting that our fi rst topic be on fi shing, given where we live, but look for more awesome ideas in the coming months. And if you have ideas to share, by all means send them to me!

If you can spare a week away, you might also be interested in participating in sea turtle research with The Caretta Project on Wassaw Island this summer (page 25). Here's a chance for you to give back and spend a week on the beach helping turtles at the same time!

And, just because it fascinates me, we've also brought you some stills from The Landings Bird Cam of the ospreys and their chick nesting there (page 27). So stinkin' cute!

There are lots of fun events coming up this month and next as well, so be sure to check out "What's Going On ..." on page 29.

I hope y'all can fi nd the time to get outside and enjoy this amazing place we live. I sure will! Which is why this column is a little shorter than usual. I don't WANT to sit here at my desk anymore!

See you out there!

Amy Thurman Editor in Chief amy@southerntidesmagazine.com

The last time I got a chance to go fi shing. It's way past time to get out there again! Photo by Todd Kasper