The Youth Activity Center opens at 3:30 p.m. on Monday for those in grades fifth through 12th in Mower County. All activities are free and supervised, located in the east rooms at Riverside Arena. Enter through the doors on the northeast side of the building and walk down the hall. We have pool tables, air hockey, DDR, Guitar Hero, Wii, PlayStation 3, high-speed wi-fi and a computer lab, large screen TV’s for games, cards, table tennis, dart boards, foosball, a piano, and there is always free popcorn.

The hours at the center are 3:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 3:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. It opens at 1 p.m. on days with no school, and it closes at 6 p.m. when the Bruins are playing at home. Parents you are welcome to stop in and check it out.

We will hold our first public skate for this season from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. on Thursday at Riverside Arena. The next open skates are 2:15 to 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 27 and then 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 28. The cost to skate is $4. Skate rentals are $1. Inquire about family or individual memberships. They can be purchased at our office or at the Arena during open skates.

Riverside Figure Skating Club will begin its season at 1 p.m. on Sept. 21. Figure skating is open to girls and boys age 4 and up. For questions stop at Riverside Arena between noon and 1 p.m. on Sept. 21 to talk with board members or the coach.

Basketball for those in grades second through sixth will begin Oct. 21 and run through Dec. 4 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Banfield Elementary School. Youth volleyball for grades fourth through sixth will also be held at Banfield on Saturday mornings from Oct. 25 through Dec. 6. People may register at our office, 121 4 Ave. NE.

Our archery intro is scheduled to be held on Monday, Dec. 29, at the 4-H building in the Mower County Fairgrounds. The archery league for ages 9 to 18, held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings, has five open spots left. Our Thursday league has 10 available spots. The league begins in early January. Cost is $40. Registration is necessary and available at the Parks and Recreation office.

Upcoming Jay C. Hormel Nature Center events include John Duren’s program at 7 p.m. on Sept. 16 and Oct. 6 on “Prairies & Potholes: Minnesota’s Forgotten Lands.” Please try to RSVP the day prior as they like to know how many to expect, the class is free. Call 507-437-7519 or email info@hormelnaturecenter.org.

Stop in to Super Fresh at 2104 Fourth Street NW to buy your tickets now for the 31st Annual Halloween Warm-Up which will be held Oct. 3 and Oct. 4. If you are interested in playing a part give Matchbox Theatre at call at 507-437-9078 for more information.

RE-fest will be held this year from 11 to 4 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Mower County Fairgrounds. This years’ keynote speaker will be Justin Hanson on Cedar River watershed health. There will be music by Bella Ruse and Reminisce on the Solar Stage, kid’s presentations by David Stokes, Larry Dolphin and Jim Jayes, a mushroom presentation with our very own JCHNC intern, Sammie Peterson, electronic recycling, document shredding, free well water testing, lots of food vendors and more.

You can find information on cancellations of our programs by liking us on Facebook as we are putting that information out there when it happens. If you do not have Facebook you can go to the city of Austin web page at www.ci.austin.mn.us, click on departments, click on Park and Recreation, scroll down and click on the Facebook logo and the information will come up.