The parking lot at Pinehurst Park saw more action than a McDonald's drive-through Tuesday night, with numerous cars parked in clumps around the lot while other vehicles moved through slowly.

Each car contained at least one teenager armed with a Nerf gun. Some of them were full of teenagers, Nerf guns and the foam darts or balls that they fire. None of them wanted to roll their windows down, but when they did, the atmosphere inside the cars was electric with the excitement of youth.

The Nerf war is here, again. Although not unique to northern Carlton County, this rite of spring is a big deal...