Brian Gustafson, South Zone Coordinator for the Minnesota Frisbee Association, passed on some exciting news that the Minnesota Frisbee Association will hold the 2017 Mider Cup team competition at Todd Park this Sunday.  The year’s previous zone winners get the opportunity to host and yes, the South Zone team is looking to repeat a Mider Cup victory with a solid team of Austin, Todd Park veteran players.

The Mider Cup is a 12 hole match play competition between the four zones of the MFA, North, South, East Metro, and West Metro. Each of the zones will put together an 18-person team consisting of five top Minnesota professional players, one women’s player, one grand master, two master professionals, one master advanced, four advanced, three intermediate and one junior player.

Spectators are welcome to check out the tournament with a start time of 9:30 a.m. that includes two rounds, lunch break, third round followed by awards around 4 or 5 p.m.  We are fortunate to have a very active Disc Golf Club in Austin which helped our park crew with the maintenance of the course.  Thank you to both groups working together to make improvements to allow for a great disc golf course and successful tournaments in Austin.

Halloween Warm-up a success

Thank you to all of you that purchased tickets for the Halloween Warm Up at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center.  Saturday’s weather did not cooperate however the show did go on.  For those of you that did not venture into the dreary night you may use your tickets towards the next Matchbox Children’s Theater presentation.

Nature center

You can still check out some Nature Yoga at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center lead by Kay Middlebrook at 6:30 p.m. on Monday and Oct. 30.  Please wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely, and bring a yoga mat (if you have one), and an open, curious mind and heart.

This is for ages 12 and up, a great way to involve family members.

If you have some free time on your hands we may have just the spot for you!   The nature center will hold a volunteer training session at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26.

We are looking for volunteers to help as greeters, docents, vehicle tour drivers, raptor transporters, and people to assist with invasive species removal. Once through our training, you can sign up to volunteer weekly, monthly, or even just a couple times a year.

Leagues

Grab your racket for some Wednesday evening open gym pickleball fun at Ellis Middle School.

Pickleball nets will be in the auxiliary gym 6:30-8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 1, 8 and 15. The cost is $2 per person at the door.

Stop in to Packer Arena 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5 for a curling open house and try out your skills.  There will be a Sunday night league starting on Nov. 12 for six weeks.  Starting Jan. 7 there will be another eight-week league.

Austin Youth Wrestling will begin their season on Monday, Nov. 27. Registration is now open.

For adults interested in playing flag football this winter on Sunday nights, the team entry deadline is Dec. 22. Games will be played in the Wescott Field Dome at 6 and 7 p.m. starting Jan. 7 for eight weeks (no games on Super Bowl Sunday).

Your team entry fee is $477 and must have seven players listed on your roster when you register.

Sola Fide Observatory

The next viewing of the stars at the Sola Fide Observatory is at 8 p.m. on Oct. 28.

Riverside Arena

Riverside Figure Skate Club: Sunday’s from 1-5 p.m. There will be no class on Oct. 22.

Adult Open Hockey: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays until Oct. 25 when the time will change from 6:45-8:15 p.m.

Public skate: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Oct. 27; 16-7:30 p.m., Oct. 28. Packer Arena opens on Nov. 4. More information to come.

Stick time: 5-6:30 p.m., Oct. 25.

Austin Bruin’s Schedule: Wed 10/25, 11:30 – 1:30 PM hosting Brooking for Healthy Habits Day!

Packer Arena

Public skate: 3:15-5 p.m., Nov. 4; 4:30-5:45 p.m. Nov. 7 and 14; 6:15-7:45 p.m. Nov. 8 and 15; 4:30-5:45 p.m. Nov. 10; 6-8 p.m., Nov. 17.

Stick time: 4:30-6 p.m., Nov. 8 and 15.

Curling Open House: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Nov. 5. Come on down to Packer and curl. League begins Nov. 12 on Sunday nights.