While I know many of you recently sojourned south in search of sunnier skies, warmer temperatures and breezy beaches to get a jump-start on spring, my staff and I thoroughly enjoyed early spring right here in Northeast Ohio in order to present the latest in spring fashions in time for this April issue of Currents. It takes more time and manpower than you might think!

Stylist Donna Morrow-Alusheff shopped ’til she dropped, consulting with area retailers along the way to produce our palette for spring fashion 2008, photographed by John Bashian and detailed by Karen Fuller, which you’ll find in Section B. Our thanks to photographer Betsy Molnar for supplying the black and white photographs you’ll see in the studio backgrounds of the fashion pages. More of Ms. Molnar’s photography is on exhibit at the Beachwood Community Center through April 28.
           
Our Empowering Women series continues this month in Section C, with features about enterprising women in our region, “blending” families after a divorce or death and remarriage, and a profile about an area philanthropist whose philosophy about giving has positively affected many lives.
           
Current times demand that we focus on the global movement toward “Going Green,” even in our own little corner of the world (see page C9), and on sound, professional advice given today’s shaky investment market (see page D2).
           
Baseball season’s in full swing now, not only with months of Tribe games to look forward to watching and attending, but with two area exhibits chronicling our nation’s favorite pastime (see page B12). And for those of you for whom nature calls at this time of year, you already know that birding is another of our favorite pursuits, so fill your feeders, get out your binoculars and field guides and head outdoors to welcome our feathered friends who have finally flocked home (see page A9).
           
Enjoy! Kelli Cotesworth McLellan