Keith Vandervort ELY – While indoor sports and team activities remain on hold because of public health concerns due to the coronavirus, flooding of the city-owned ice-skating rink has been ongoing for the past two weeks and city residents are sharpening their skates, locating their hats and mittens, and beginning to enjoy a popular outdoor winter activity. So many Elyites are looking forward to participating in a “normal” activity outside of the house, that the city council here addressed the issue at the beginning of the month in anticipation of calls for the skating season to begin. Mother Nature provided her own skating rinks this year on nearby lakes as the relative lack of snow left the ice mostly bare until some light snow earlier this week. And area residents have been taking advantage to spend time outdoors with friends and family.