editor From the
ou’re not going to believe this…well, maybe you will; especially parents, all generations included. It’s nearing the end of August as I write this letter and this morning, as I drove my daughter to her summer camp, I got to play deejay and we listened to some “classic rock.” It’s always on in Dad’s car. Classic, by the way, now includes the bands and songs of my youth/teen years. Over the speakers comes Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and my daughter asks with a hint of sarcasm, “Is this pop music Dad? You know I like pop music; like Ariana Grande.”
“Well, it was new and popular at one point in time,” I SAID TO HER WITH A LAUGH. And it got me thinking, just how old is this song? After all, it still sounded great to me. Turns out that this September marks the 30th anniversary of Nirvana’s album Nevermind on which this song appears; the album was released on September 24, 1991. Sheesh. Funny how that is; I’m sure many of you can relate, whether it’s an album or song from the ’90s, ’80s, ’70s, and so forth that you, at some point in time, played for your kids. And though the songs of our generation(s) might not resonate with an 8-year-old’s perspective, they just might by the time she’s a teenager. After all, I, myself, became obsessed with the music of my parents’ generation by the time I was old enough to drive. The transitions of life can be funny like that. And this month perfectly symbolizes such changes. Aside from the obvious first swells of autumn weather that signal the literal seasonal change, there’s the fresh start of the school year as many 10
What’s Up? Eastern Shore | September 2021 | whatsupmag.com
students transition to their next levels of education (early, elementary, middle, high, college, etc.). Adults seem to flip a switch at the same time, getting into fall- and, soon enough, holiday-mode. The workplace shifts gears as summer gets further and further behind us. And, of course, there’s the start of football and hockey seasons (and the end of baseball’s), harvest festivals and events, peak fishing and hunting, home and garden to-dos before winter, and, generally speaking, it’s simply a great time to walk around town and be outdoors. This issue covers a lot of ground in this regard. If you’re parents and students about to embark on the search for the perfect school, I invite you to give “Schools of Thought” a once-over. It’s our annual guide to private schools/colleges/learning centers open houses, visitations, and student-shadow experiences. A resourceful list, plus advice, for those looking to transition from one school to another. Another great resource you’ll find in this magazine is the Best of Retail & Professional Services, which closes out the 2021 year of winners! So, rev up your shopping savvy and cue this list of local favorites for everything from jewelers and clothing to auto and computer repair. Pretty handy to have this, just in time for the coming holiday season.
We also have plenty of content that gives nod to the sports, teams, and players that we root for come fall; check out “We Will, We Will…Rock You” about sports fandom and our exclusive interview with Major League Baseball’s most promising prospect, Adley Rutschman. We also take a look at the local cycling scene in “Smooth Riding” and learn about advocacy and infrastructure that are growing this sport. And if fishing for striped bass in the fall excites you (or even just eating them), we have some intriguing perspectives about this Chesapeake Bay fishery and how we—anglers, advocates, politicians, and anyone with an ounce of concern in their veins—can help transition this beloved species from beleaguered to sustained. There’s plenty more within the pages of this magazine to peruse, enjoy, and inspire your own autumnal transition. And if you need a touch more motivation, give Earth, Wind & Fire’s hit song “September” a listen; it may be as old as I am, but I still think it’s pretty, pretty good!
James Houck, Editorial Director
