“Boy, did I need this,” said Terrace Tavern co-owner Mike Sweeney as he ran up the beach against a howling northeast wind on Sunday.

He really needed the Sunday before as well, when Hurricane Henri graced our shores with clean waves all day. But this past Sunday, he needed that combination of stoke and good will mixed with a physical challenge and smiling kids. He got that – we all did – thanks to the Waves of Strength event.