Saturday will mark our 10th year for Austin Community Pride Day.

This event takes place, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. to noon annually on the last Saturday in April. It is amazing how many groups and individuals turn out to pick up our public parks, green spaces, fence lines and parking lots regardless of weather.

Each year we fill at least an eight-yard dumpster in these few short hours, that equals 2.16 tons of garbage. That does not include the recycling items collected.

Education is key to helping keep our community cleaned up, so please encourage the use of garbage cans or recycling bins. This year the VFW will open their club room for us to stage the event. Stop in between 9 and 10 a.m. to pick up bags, grab a coffee or hot cocoa and a donut before you go to your spot to pick up.

Thank you in advance to all the volunteers that come to this event which is held rain or shine, we have always had a great turn out and removed a lot of garbage.

 Curling Open House

Come to meet John Benton, 2010 Winter Olympian and 2014 NBC Olympic commentator during the curling open house from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday at Riverside Arena. Please bring clean tennis shoes and wear appropriate clothing. Summer league will begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 2 and run through June 27. Sign up at our office.

 Municipal swimming pool, summer program sign-ups

Registration for Park and Recreation Summer programs, swim lessons and municipal pool memberships have begun. Check out our summer brochure located on our city website at www.ci.austin.mn.us.

If you have school age children they should have brought one home in their book bag, you can pick one up in our office and you will see them in local businesses as well.

 Riverside Arena

Punch cards are now available at our office for Stick Time. Pick one up at our office for $25 for five times and save $5.

Dates and times this next week are 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. Sunday and 5:30 to 7 p.m. on April 28. May dates are also posted on the website and our Facebook page. The cost is $6 per person at Riverside Arena or purchase that punch card from our office.

Adult Open Hockey will be from 6:45 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, 11, 18 and 26. The cost is $6 per person, you must be at least in high school, no checking, no alcohol and a helmet is required. Goalies are free and must have full gear.

We have added five more dates for Adult Open Hockey extending through May 25. Like us on Facebook to get up to date information.

Public skate is 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday and 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. on Thursday and May 5. The cost is $4 to skate and $1 to rent skates. The arenas are also available to rent for private parties at $130 per hour. Call our office for availability.

Sign up for 3-on-3 hockey as we are offering another eight weeks starting April 26 and 27. Tuesdays will be the 10U, 12U, squirts and peewees from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday’s the mites will play from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The fee is $45 per person.

 Dome

Austin Public School with offer the last open dome for this season from 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

 Garden Plots

We have nine garden spots left for rent in the Community Gardens located just south of the Woodson Kindergarten Center. Plots are 15 x 20 and cost $20 for the growing season. They are sprinkled on a rotating schedule in the late evening.