Round up the family and head down to Riverside arena for public skates or get on the ice for some stick time. Adult hockey also starts from 6:30 to 8 p.m. this Wednesday. Cost is $6 per person for each event. Goalies are free.

Public skate times: 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. Tuesdays (Sept. 20, 27, Oct. 4, 11); 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 24, 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.

Stick time times: 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays (Sept. 19, 26 and Oct. 3); 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Tuesdays (Sept. 20, 27, Oct. 4 and 11); 2:45 to 4 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 24) and 3 to 4:15 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 1).

The cost is $6 per person each event. Purchase a $25 punch card for five times and save $5. Stick time is designed to work on skills and have fun with friends, family members or coaches.

Players under the age of 18 must wear full gear, those over 18 must wear a helmet, gloves and skates. There will not be any scrimmaging, slap shots and/or horseplay when on the ice.

 Halloween Warm-up

Don’t forget to get your tickets 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.

 Riverside Arena

The Austin Riverside Figure Skating Club will offer three free lessons to learn to skate.

Their season will start at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25. 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.

 Volleyball

Registration is open for the parent and child volleyball camp, which starts on Saturday, Sept. 24, and meets the three Saturday mornings after.

Cost is $25 per child participant. This program will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. in Hastings Gym at Austin High School. This camp is geared for second through fourth grade both girls and boys. Participants are encouraged to bring someone 16 and older along with them.

This is a great opportunity for a parent to experience learning a sport with their child. No volleyball experience is necessary. This fundamentals camp will be using stations with instructors teaching movement, vocalization and the basic fundamentals of volleyball.

 Emerald ash borer 

The following information on the emerald ash borer has been posted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

On Aug. 30, emerald ash borer (EAB) was discovered in Dodge County, Minnesota, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) implemented an emergency quarantine in response.

As part of the process to formalize the quarantine regulations, a comment period is open through Oct. 21. The MDA will consider these comments.

We anticipate the proposed regulations will go into effect on Oct. 24. The EAB emergency quarantine for Dodge County as well as the current EAB formal quarantine is available to view here: http://www.mda.state.mn.us/eab.

Important facts about the emergency quarantine:

•The same articles regulated in the current state formal quarantine are regulated for Dodge County. Regulated articles are ash (Fraxinus spp.) in any form (logs, green lumber, chips or mulch, branches, etc.) and firewood of any non-coniferous (hardwood) species.

• Movement of regulated articles is allowed within and between quarantined counties.

•Regulated articles may not move out of a quarantined area without a certificate or permit issued by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Since 2002, EAB has killed tens of millions of ash trees throughout North America. With the largest concentration of ash trees in the country, Minnesota has much to protect. EAB is the most serious forest pest that Minnesota has encountered, and the scope of this problem could reach billions of dollars nationwide if not dealt with immediately.

Comments should be directed to: Kimberly Thielen Cremers; Minnesota Department of Agriculture; 625 Robert Street North; St Paul, MN 55155; Phone: 651-201-6329; Fax: 651-201-6108.