State Representative David Bly, District 25B

State Senate candidate, Jessica Peterson and I handed out fresh picked strawberries and chatted with citizens at the annual start of summer Cookout last Friday in Belle Plaine.  We were across the street from Mayor Tom Meger, who handed out his famous Dill pickles on a stick. Dark clouds kept threatening rain but it held off until most of the berries were gone. 

Cary Coop, JoAnne Gill, and Lois Lynch helped connect us with local folks.

The community in the far west of this legislative district is often like a trip back in time for me.  I have the sense that I am visiting my childhood when times seemed simpler and life was easier.  Whether it’s German Days or St. Patrick’s Day or the annual Cookout and Barbeque Days or perhaps the Memorial Day celebration where community pride is expressed by people from all walks of life. It is good that we have these small town gatherings to remind us that we are a community - not always in agreement, but a community just the same where we can celebrate each other.

After the cookout I rushed back to Northfield to the home of Bill and Janet McGrath for a Coleen Rowley fundraiser where we listened to Bonnie and the Clydes and talked with  Coleen about her campaign to take the 2nd Congressional District seat.