A reminder to our Community Garden patrons that you must clean out the produce and remove all fencing in your garden plot by Oct. 16.

We will be tiling the area the week of Oct. 17.  Thank you very much for gardening with us, see you in the spring.

Playground equipment

You may have noticed that the play equipment in our low lying parks have caution tape around them from the flooding.  We will be in the process of sand replacement due to the flood water that covered those play areas. Again thank you for your help by staying out of these areas.

Nature center

The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center has had a busy month with five raptor rescues in September.

The nature center staff; Luke, Ben Julie and volunteer Duane Champlin have all been involved helping with two barred owls, two great horned owls and a juvenile Swainson’s  hawk. All of the birds were transferred to the Raptor Center in St. Paul for treatment. The staff at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center takes in only birds of prey —hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls — found in Mower County. We do not have the facilities, extra staff, or expertise to provide care for mammals or other birds.

The JCHNC staff will provide primary care for the raptor and then make the best decision with our veterinarian, Dr. Mike Williams, regarding assessment and treatment for the raptor. Thank you again, Dr. Mike and Jane, for your many years of assistance with birds of prey.

The Nature Center assists 10 to 18 birds of prey on an annual basis. If you find an injured or orphaned hawk, owl, or eagle in Mower County, call nature center staff at 507-437-7519 for assistance. We are always looking for volunteer drivers who are willing to transport an injured bird of prey to the Raptor Center. Contact the Nature Center staff for more information (507-437-7519 or info@hormelnaturecenter.org

Halloween warm-up

Tickets are on sale for Halloween Warm-Up hosted at our very own Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. Tickets can be purchased at Super Fresh Produce Bakery and Garden Center.

This year’s Halloween Warm-Up takes place on Friday, Oct. 14 and Saturday, Oct. 15. The first hike is at 6:50 p.m. and the last hike is at 9:10 p.m. The cost is $6 per person which includes a cookie and apple cider.

2016  is the event’s 33rd year for the partnership with the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center and Matchbox Children’s Theatre.

This is an event you should not miss.

Riverside Arena

The Austin Riverside Figure Skating Club will offer three free lessons to learn to skate from 1 to 1:30 p.m. starting this Sunday. Feel free to stop in and check it out. You can bring your own skates or use a pair at the arena.

Learn to skate is for new skaters only.  The fall session runs Sept. 25 to Nov. 13.

Riverside arena schedule:

Public skate times: 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. Tuesdays (Oct. 4, 11); 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 8) and 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. Oct. 1. Cost is $4 to skate plus $1 if you need to rent skates.  Purchase a family membership for $70 (two people) and add other family members for $5 each.Expires March 31.

Stick time times: 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays (Oct. 3); 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Tuesdays (Oct. 4 and 11); 2:45 to 4 p.m.

The cost is $6 per person each event. Purchase a $25 punch card for five times and save $5.!

Adult Open Hockey: Wednesday’s from 6:30 to 8 PM, cost is $6 per person each event; must be 16 – goalies are free.

Youth basketball

Park and Recreation will offer youth basketball for those students Kindergarten through sixth grade beginning Oct. 25.

This program is not a traveling program and is geared toward those that would like to learn and try the game.

They will learn and practice skills with games being introduced throughout the course of the program.  They will play at Banfield Elementary school in the wood gym on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Kindergarten and first grade go from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m.; second and third grade, 6:20 to 7:05 p.m. and fourth to sixth grade from 7:10 to 7:55 p.m.

The cost is $20 and you must register by Oct.14..

Police auction

Watch for information and items for sale on the 2016 fall auction hosted by the Austin Police Department. The auction will take place in the Packer Arena parking lot starting at 10 a.m. on Oct. 29.

Austin Bruins

Austin Bruin’s first home games will be against Bismarck, North Dakota, Oct.14 and 15. Puck drops at 7:05 p.m. at Riverside Arena.