The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has confirmed three new emerald ash borer infestations in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The suspected EAB infested trees were reported by the Minneapolis and St. Paul City Forestry units and were checked and confirmed on Jan. 29, 30 and 31.

Sections of the bark were removed from trees in these areas to find the insect’s distinctive “S” shaped tunneling on the surface.  These new areas are within the existing metro quarantine of Ramsey and Hennepin Counties.

“It is also encouraging that these cities have staff with sufficient expertise to identify infestations before tree decline is evident,” said Mark Abrahamson, emerald ash borer program coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.  “Based on our experience with other sites, these trees have probably been infested for three to four years.”

Please help stop the spread of EAB by not transporting firewood, buy and burn local firewood.

Check out www. mda.state.mn.us/eab for more information.  You may also call our office or stop in for some written material.

We have warming houses at Kaufman and Galloway Park. Kaufman is open 6 to 9 p.m. every evening and afternoons 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Galloway is open 6 to 9 p.m. Friday nights and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. ­

We also have land rinks at Shirley Theel, Decker, Sherman and South Grove Park to use during the daylight hours.

Paint the Town Pink events have now ended and we will await the press conference on . 14 to find out the total number of donations. Thank you, the citizens of Austin and the surrounding area, who come together to donate to the Hormel Institute so they can continue the fight to find a cure.

Our next open skates at Packer Arena will be noon to 1 p.m. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday.   Public skate is $4 if you have your own skates or you may rent skates for $1.

The next Adult Open Hockey will be 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. Wednesday at Packer Arena. The cost to participate is $6. Goalies are free but must have all the proper gear. You must be a High School player or older to play in the Adult Open Hockey league. Remember when you play adult open hockey you must wear a helmet, no checking and no alcohol.

The Youth Activity Center is open and free.

Our hours are from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. On days where there is no school, we open at 1 p.m. We are closed at 6 p.m. for Bruins home games.

The Austin boys hockey team will host LaCrescent at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Rochester John Marshall will be in Austin on Thursday. Junior varsity will play at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity will play at 7:30 p.m. Games on Saturday, against Owatonna will begin at noon and varsity at 2 p.m. in Riverside Arena.

The next Bruins home game is Feb. 15, 16, 22, and 23 at Riverside Arena. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Looking for a place to hold a graduation party or family reunion?  Check out the opportunities available at the Park and Recreation Department, 433-1881, as well as the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, 437-7519.

Check us both out on Facebook. Search Austin Park & Recreation Department.