Eden Prairie Local News
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Thursday, March 30
    • About
      • About EPLN
      • Team
      • EPLN in the News
      • Policies
    • Contact
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Subscribe
    Eden Prairie Local News
    • Home
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Public Safety
    • City
    • Calendar
    • Donate
    • Subscribe
    • More
      • Construction
      • Outdoors
      • Politics
      • Health
      • Spirituality
      • Community Service
      • Legacy
      • Obituaries
      • Arts
      • Family
      • Holidays
      • Letter to Editor
      • Listen
      • Jobs
    Eden Prairie Local News
    Home»Politics»Civic Engagement»Making the post-pandemic rounds in EP
    Civic Engagement

    Making the post-pandemic rounds in EP

    By Jeff StrateJuly 3, 2021Updated:July 3, 20213 Mins Read
    West Metro Senior League Softball League teams compete at Round Lake Park on Thursday June 17. Photo by Jeff Strate

    On a street corner in Eden Prairie’s wooded north-central area a cardboard sign promises ‘LEMON AID’. Boys are playing hoops in Edenvale Park. An arched shot hits a perfect two-pointer. The Covid-19 protocols are lifting. Normal feels, almost, normal.

    Pizza is normal.

    Gina Maria’s Pizza as well as Chalet Pizza, a small-business victim of urban renewal in Hopkins, have survived the pandemic. Both handle takeout and delivery orders a mile apart on Valley View Road. Gina Maria’s is run by a family named Olson. New York Italian pies courtesy of Norski-Americans.

    At Menard’s on Saturday, the garden supply section is the size of Vermont. Inside are folks in need of dirt therapy. One desperate gent pushes a cart filled with sod rolls.

    Advertisement
    Ad for Washburn-McReavy

    Amidst the canyons of merchandise, the search for the mythical gaskets begins. It is said they prevent spray from jetting out from a garden hose outlet. An aisle clerk points to “Plumbing” on the second level. Another clerk winds a quarter mile not towards gaskets, but towards “rubber washers”.

    There are exactly one bazillion items at Menards. Eventually, check-out involves a packet of 10, quarter-sized rubber washers, cost $2.48. Menards now holds one bazillion minus one… or 10? They’re made in China. Hose leak and thirsty lawn issues solved – courtesy of international trade agreements.

    On Summerhill Drive, kids are yelping while running through sprinklers to the sound of wiffleball ‘bonks’.

    Last year strangers walked their dogs, jogged, or rode their bikes on the neighborhood’s street loop. Greetings and “How’s it going?s” were heartfelt, leading to friendly chats. Those chats didn’t need a laptop or Zoom password. This spring, in-person street encounters are less frequent. People are back in their cars.

    Cigar Jones, a Minnetonka smoke shop/lounge is operated by Todd, a fellow Eden Prairian. His cave and humidor serve as a retreat of sorts for a number of Prairie guys. A few weeks back it staged a golf event at the Bent Creek Course, a ten-minute jog from our neighborhood. Todd was absent, but the brother bear at the cash register growled, “Hey Jeff. How ya doing?”  It’s good to be king – one without a mask.

    Wednesday evening is the meet-up with Steve and Beryl at their annual, Bluestem Lane block party in southeast Eden Prairie. Steve is handing out watermelon slices. They are middle-aged cheerleaders in this multi-generational, southeast EP neighborhood. A gourmet food truck is selling pasties, kids are playing games on a front lawn. A dozen new best friends.

    This is the new norm. At noon Thursday there’s a meet-up with Tom Brouellet from Spring Park at a Round Lake baseball field. He’s in the West Metro Senior Softball League playing for the MoJos. Some of the players are in their 80s, he says.

    Tom steps to the plate. He takes a couple of swings at a big white sphere before grounding out to the second baseman. Melodramatic cat calls and laughs prompt his bold smile.

    The old boys of summer on a Round Lake diamond. Normal?

    Well…normal enough.

    Be Informed
    Sign up for the FREE email newsletter from EPLN
    Subscribe

    Comments

    Comments aren’t allowed on our site, but we do offer several ways to provide feedback, and have your voice heard. If you believe the story has an error, or would like to get in touch with the author, please contact us. If you would like to respond directly to this article, we welcome and encourage Letters To the Editor. You can find details on how to submit a letter on our contact page.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleEPHS athletics navigate 2020-21 school year, positive future ahead
    Next Article School board’s Veronica Stoltz bids farewell to EP

    More to READ

    3 Mins Read

    Dean Phillips visits dad’s Vietnam War crash site; rubs elbows with South Korean stars

    March 24, 2023
    10 Mins Read

    Phillips discusses bipartisanship, critical policy issues during EP chamber luncheon

    February 27, 2023
    9 Mins Read

    Who’s been working on the light rail?

    February 18, 2023
    Subscribe to get EPLN in your inbox for FREE!
    Recent Articles

    EP bucks trend as pothole problems persist in other metro cities

    March 30, 2023

    Martial arts instructor convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct

    March 29, 2023

    EP man charged with stealing gun, other items from 2 cars parked near Scheels on different days over the weekend

    March 29, 2023

    EP residents invited to join Park Clean-Up Day

    March 28, 2023

    Staring Lake Park opens off-leash dog exercise area

    March 28, 2023
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    Eden Prairie Local News is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 85-4248265 | Copyright © 2020-2023
    • About
    • Policies
    • Jobs
    • Contact
    • Advertising
    • Subscribe
    • Donate

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.