The next mini-season of curling begins Sunday at Packer Arena.

Teams have already been formed and are registered through the Mower County Curling Club; however, teams may still be seeking substitute players for their match-ups, which take place at 3 and 5 p.m. on Sundays through Feb. 16. There will be no curling on Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 due to hockey tournaments. Stop out and watch the curling action. Spectating is free!

Packer Dome

The following information on the Packer Dome was taken from the Austin Public School website. We hope this helps you plan some “get out of the cold” activities and answer some of your questions.

The dome covers the artificial turf at Art Hass stadium, and amenities include an indoor walking area, batting cages, and fields for team sports.

The dome is open to the general public for walking/running at no cost from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The facility is also available for rental seven days a week. For more information on dome (playing field) rental or batting cage use, contact Ben Schuller at 507-460-1927 or email him at benjamin.schuller@austin.k12.mn.us.

Illegal parking near Riverside Arena

It was recently brought to my attention by the Austin Police Department that there have been ongoing violations of various “no parking” signs near Riverside. It was duly noted that the signs are in place for the safety of drivers and pedestrians alike and that APD will be issuing warning citations, followed by parking tickets if the problems continue.

Notices have been placed on the doors at Riverside and leaders for various groups who rent space at Riverland have been notified in an attempt to avert any ticketing, or worse yet, auto damage or injuries due to restricted visibility (stemming from illegally parked vehicles) in these areas. Please allow for the extra couple of minutes that it may take to locate a legal parking spot. Thank you!

Summer/seasonal employment

Are you or is someone you know seeking seasonal/summer employment?

The Park and Rec office is now accepting applications for seasonal/summer employment. Positions include pool (lifeguards, swim lesson instructors, concessions workers, and managers), parks maintenance (trimming, mowing, etc.), flower watering crew, flower weeding care, summer rec coaching, and more. You can fill out an application online, or stop down to pick up one.

Self-Care

Our lives can get extremely busy as we pour time into our children, church-related events, school, work, etc.

Putting forth our best effort toward all of the above is a top priority, but remember to save time for you.

Ideally self-care should include some sort of physical activity. According to the Mayo Clinic, virtually any form of exercise, from aerobics to weightlifting, can act as a stress reliever. Set and strive to keep goals this year which include time for addressing your overall well-being. If you’re beginning with physical activity after some time off, it might be advisable to get a medical evaluation, to make certain that you are capable of what you might be planning to conquer.

Remember to start in moderation, and if utilizing some sort of health club, begin with an orientation and guidance to proper use of equipment and machines. Enjoy your new year!

Packer Arena public skate date

• 4:30-6 p.m., today
• 5-7 p.m., Friday
• 3:15-4:45 p.m., Jan. 11

Are you having a birthday party or getting together with your friends and family? Renting the arena might be a venue option for your event. Call our office at 507-433-1881 for times of availability and fee information.