A Word From Marc: I know it's hard to tell but Summer's coming. There are hints of it out there. I'll see a random tulip or hear the frogs croaking loudly. Pretty soon we won't even think twice about walking outside without a jacket on. I'll have to dig to the bottom of the drawer for my swimming trunks and put away all my socks for another six months. We all have our different ways of prepping in spring so we can squeeze every bit of our summer time. When I was a kid growing up on Long Island once school ended I traded my dress shoes for no shoes. We went barefoot all summer long not even flip-flops. I would push all my school clothes to the back of the closet and get out my treasured star-spangled red, white and blue Mark Spitz speedo. You know the one I'm talking about from the 1972 Olympics. I would put that swimsuit on and wear it 24/7 until it was time to go back to the classroom. I would get out of bed most mornings and get on my Schwinn Stingray for a short ride and jump on the next ferry crossing over the great South Bay to Fire Island. Jones Beach, where the sand was always too hot and Atlantic ocean was always too cold. We learned to body surf and to find that sweet spot between tanning and an exceptional sunburn. Those were good sun filled summers. Well, except for 1975 when Jaws came out and most of us spent that summer on the shoreline looking out across the water for a dorsal fin to emerge. A friend of mine who grew up in North Oaks say it wasn't much different back then. There was a beach. You could pack your lunch and ride your bike to Island Road and spend the whole day there in the woods exploring. When I go down to the old Hill family barn and roam around the dairy and blacksmith buildings I still get that adventurous feeling. These days there seems to be less places where a kid can go outside and explore all day till the sun goes down. I think North Oaks is still that place where you can spend summer days riding your bike around the trails in any swimsuit of your choice. You can go down to Pleasant Lake and watch for a shark fin to emerge although you might have to settle for a loon. It's still a great spot for any kid of any age to explore. Enjoy the Tulips. Marc Anybody looking for a sweet place on Nice Lake give me a shout. $850,000. MARC KURTZ 612-751-6472 | MARC@LAKESMN.COM TOP PRODUCER & REGULAR GUY! Lakes Sotheby's INTERNATIONAL REALTY A Word From Marc : I know it's hard to tell but Summer's coming . There are hints of it out there . I'll see a random tulip or hear the frogs croaking loudly . Pretty soon we won't even think twice about walking outside without a jacket on . I'll have to dig to the bottom of the drawer for my swimming trunks and put away all my socks for another six months . We all have our different ways of prepping in spring so we can squeeze every bit of our summer time . When I was a kid growing up on Long Island once school ended I traded my dress shoes for no shoes . We went barefoot all summer long not even flip - flops . I would push all my school clothes to the back of the closet and get out my treasured star - spangled red , white and blue Mark Spitz speedo . You know the one I'm talking about from the 1972 Olympics . I would put that swimsuit on and wear it 24/7 until it was time to go back to the classroom . I would get out of bed most mornings and get on my Schwinn Stingray for a short ride and jump on the next ferry crossing over the great South Bay to Fire Island . Jones Beach , where the sand was always too hot and Atlantic ocean was always too cold . We learned to body surf and to find that sweet spot between tanning and an exceptional sunburn . Those were good sun filled summers . Well , except for 1975 when Jaws came out and most of us spent that summer on the shoreline looking out across the water for a dorsal fin to emerge . A friend of mine who grew up in North Oaks say it wasn't much different back then . There was a beach . You could pack your lunch and ride your bike to Island Road and spend the whole day there in the woods exploring . When I go down to the old Hill family barn and roam around the dairy and blacksmith buildings I still get that adventurous feeling . These days there seems to be less places where a kid can go outside and explore all day till the sun goes down . I think North Oaks is still that place where you can spend summer days riding your bike around the trails in any swimsuit of your choice . You can go down to Pleasant Lake and watch for a shark fin to emerge although you might have to settle for a loon . It's still a great spot for any kid of any age to explore . Enjoy the Tulips . Marc Anybody looking for a sweet place on Nice Lake give me a shout . $ 850,000 . MARC KURTZ 612-751-6472 | MARC@LAKESMN.COM TOP PRODUCER & REGULAR GUY ! Lakes Sotheby's INTERNATIONAL REALTY