Spring is in the air, and we’re not just referring to all that pollen. If you do suffer from allergies, particularly oak and hickory, you’ve felt that, too.

No, we’re referring to one of the most wonderful times of the year to be a Newton County resident.

Did you attend a ball game at the Miracle League field? Did you beat your personal best in the Cheerios Challenge? Did you catch a toe-tapping performance of Shrek, the musical, Shrek Jr. or Alice in Wonderland? Did you get outdoors for the Antique Tractor show on the Square, Mithcam Farms Strawberry Festival, the BMX show on the Square or the Horneyhead Festival? Did you bring your pooch to show for the Bark for Life?

Did you even know all of this has happened throughout the last two weeks?

If so, you are probably exhausted from all the fabulous activities. If not, what are you waiting for? It doesn’t stop with one super busy weekend in April. No, it keeps going.

Whether your kids play soccer with the Y or baseball with the Recreation Commission, spring sporting events are going on every weekend.

Whether you are interested in walking, biking, or kayaking, our community has trails for all methods of mobility.

Whether you like musical theatre, home-grown music, or ballet, our community has performances for every interest and budget.

Community band performances, high school theatre productions, library events, community cleanups, and a Strawberry festival – Newton County has it all!

Put on our pride hats, Newtonians, and embrace all that this community has to offer. Stop looking to neighboring counties for your entertainment, recreation, and shopping. Look right here at home for all the opportunities that are right under our noses.

And don’t stop just because it is not happening in your neighborhood or at your school. Branch out. Are you full of Eastside pride? You should have caught the Newton High’s performance of Annie. Are you a regular on the Oxford trail? You should have attended Mansfield’s Horneyhead Festival.

The Covington News brings you community information each and every week, right to your doorstep and to your fingertips. Whether you read the Sunday print edition or the online stories throughout the week, the information is available on all the community goings-on.

This spring, let’s get out in our community and (re)discover all the little and some of the big things that make it so great.