There will be an informational meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26 in the City Council chambers for all that applied for the deer hunt to be held on city property this fall.

We urged all that have applied to attend as well as those that would like to learn more about the process.

Fall yard and garden clean

In preparation for the fall yard and garden clean up the city has again opened the Cook Farm as a designated site to take your leaves, grass and plants from gardens and flowers. The site opened on Sept. 16 and will remain open until Nov. 26, seven days a week from dawn to dusk. Please remove all waste from any bags that it is transported in. Please dispose of the bags in the receptacle or take them with you. Compost from previous years yard waste will be available to the public.

Halloween Warm-up

Halloween Warm-up tickets are now on sale at Super Fresh Produce.

The dates this year are Oct. 13 and 14 with the first hike starting at 6:30 p.m. and the last one starting at 9:10 p.m.

Ticket prices are $8 per person. To get a time slot that works for you get your tickets early. Groups of 25 leave every 10 minutes and is a great family event.

Check out the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center website at www.hormelnaturecenter.org for the rest of the events happening in September.

Leagues

Mark your calendars for fall pickleball open gym at Ellis Middle School starting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 11.

Our kindergarten to sixth-grade basketball will begin Oct. 24 at Banfield Elementary School. Register at the Parks and Recreation Office.

This is a non-traveling league played on Tuesday and Thursday evenings with those in second-sixth grade practicing skills on Tuesday and playing games on Thursday. The kindergarten and first grade participants will practice skills with games being introduced later in the program.

Runs

The first Austin Utilities Share the Heat 5K and 1 Mile Run/Walk will take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday Oct. 7.

You can register online at www.austinutilities.com by Oct. 1 to receive a T-shirt. Questions can be directed to Austin Utilities at 507-433-8886. The cost is $25 for those 11 and up. Those 10 and under are free to participate and optional T-shirt for $15. Check-in will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Austin Utilities. This is a local run for a local cause.

Proceeds raised support the HeatShare heating assistance program administered by the Salvation Army. When you give to HeatShare, you are helping warm the lives of the elderly, disabled and others in the Austin community who have nowhere else to turn. As a public utility, we’re proud supporters of local community needs.

Prunning your trees

For those of you with oak trees the best time to prune them is from November to March to avoid any risk for oak wilt.

Oak wilt fungus spreads through the roots, grafting to another oak which can be as much as 50 feet away. The picnic beetle is also a way to infect a wounded oak, or freshly pruned oak.

The picnic beetle is not attached specifically to oaks and cannot wound a tree but they will visit fresh wounds and transfer the fungus. If an oak must be pruned during the high-risk time of April to June or in low risk from July to October, you must treat the fresh cut immediately with a nontoxic tree wound dressing or a latex spray paint.

The oak wilt fungus cuts off the water and nutrient supply between the roots and the top of the tree. Visible symptoms begin near the trees top and progresses down and in as well as rapid defoliation. Oak anthracnose is sometimes confused with oak wilt. oak anthracnose will typically not be life threatening to healthy tree.

oak anthracnose will infect the leaves and twigs during wet weather with the heaviest infection in the lower sections of the tree. White oaks are the most susceptible to oak anthracnose whereas red oaks are more susceptible to oak wilt. If you suspect oak wilt you can call our office at 1-507-433-1881.

Riverside Arena

Rent the arena for a skating party, call our office for details at 507-433-1881. Make sure to like us on Facebook so you receive up to date information.

Riverside Figure Skate Club: Their next session will begin Sunday, Sept. 24.

Adult Open Hockey: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays.

Public skate: 5 to 6:10 p.m. Monday and Sept. 25; 5 to 6:15 p.m. Tuesday andSept. 26; 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Sept. 28.

Stick time: 5:30 p.m. Sunday Sept. 17 and 24; 6:30  to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Sept. 26.

Austin Bruin’s Schedule: Home opener hosting Minnesota Wilderness at 7:05 p.m. on Sept. 30.