Join John Duren at 7 p.m. on Monday in the Ruby Rupner Auditorium located at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center for his free program “Prairies & Potholes,” co-sponsored by the Austin Izaak Walton League, Austin Audubon and the Friends of the JCHNC. Please RSVP as they like to know how many are coming by calling 507-437-7519 or email at info@hormelnaturecenter.org.

For all you softball buffs, the 28th Minnesota Softball Hall of Fame Banquet will be held on Nov. 1 at the Rochester International Event Center.

The Hall of Fame biennially recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of softball. The ticket deadline is Friday, Oct. 27 and can be ordered at msf1.org. The cost is $45 for the banquet.

In 2012, there were more than 300 people in attendance so get your tickets early.

If you see Ron Bergstrom around town, be sure to congratulate him as he will be inducted. Others that were players from Austin and also rostered in other towns to be inducted include Bruce Blank, Ken Hagen and Gary Watland. Congratulations to these players as well as the 16 others from Minnesota to receive this honor.

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 Fourth Ave. NE.

Riverside Arena Public Skates are 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday; 4:45 to 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 15; 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 17; and 3:45 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 18. The cost to skate is $4. If you need skates rentals are $1.

You can find the calendar on the city website at www.ci.austin.mn.us.

We will offer youth volleyball for those in fourth through sixth-grades starting on Oct. 25 and running to Dec. 6 at Banfield Elementary on Saturday mornings. The cost is $20 and you can sign up at our Park Office.

The 12th annual Thanksgiving Feast will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the St. Edward’s Corcoran Center. The event starts at 5 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and a program and live auction beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and cost $35 for Friends members and $40 for non-members. They can be purchased by calling the nature center at 507-437-7519 or Rich and JoAnn, Thanksgiving Feast Committee chairs at 507-433-6928.

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.