SAN LEANDRO — The city will holds its 17th annual Cinco de Mayo festival Tuesday, May 5.
The Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno and the Mariachi Halcones de Oakland will perform. Craft booths will feature traditional Mexican art.
The fiesta begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Civic Center Plaza, 835 E. 14th St. in downtown San Leandro.
For more information, contact Lydia Rodriguez at 510-577-3477 or lrodriguez@sanleandro.org.
HAYWARD — Hayward Area Recreation and Park District will recognize its volunteers Saturday, April 18.
In 2014, 915 district volunteers donated more than 55,000 hours. They helped out in various programs: aquatics, arts, camps, dance, special needs, theater arts, gymnastics, nature, parks, youth, sports and senior adults.
The volunteers will be honored at a brunch at 10 a.m. at the Hayward Area Senor Center. The volunteer of the year will be announced.
The senior center is at 22325 N. Third St.
HAYWARD — Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church has joined South Hayward Parish.
The interfaith parish advocates for social justice and the rights and dignity of all people.
It runs a food pantry that serves more than 75 families daily. Its Family Resource Collective sponsors community health, GED, community gardening and other community services.
The parish’s Community Action Network (CAN) provides services aimed at helping the homeless become self-sufficient.
The Castro Valley church is the parish’s eighth congregational member. Others include New Bridges Presbyterian of Hayward, Starr King Unitarian Universalist of Hayward, South Hayward United Methodist Church, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Hayward, St. Clement Catholic of Hayward, Congregation Shir Ami of Castro Valley and United Church of Hayward.
Our Lady of Grace has long supported groups that help the elderly and people in need. It has an active St. Vincent De Paul society and convalescent hospital ministries and supports Family Emergency Shelter Coalition in Hayward and St. Mary’s Center in Oakland.
HAYWARD — “Hank Williams: Lost Highway, the Music and Legend of Hank Williams” opens Friday, April 17, at the Douglas Morrisson Theatre.
The fourth show in the theater’s 2014-15 Journeys Season will have 10 performances, including a preview Thursday, April 16.
The musical biography goes from the hills of Alabama to the Grand Ole Opry, following country music singer-songwriter Williams’ swift rise from honky-tonks to his Nashville triumphs and his self-destruction at age 29.
The production includes memorable Williams songs, including “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” “Move It on Over” and “Hey, Good Lookin’.”
Kevin Singer takes on the role of Hank Williams.
Other cast members: Paul Chianese as Shag on pedal steel guitar; Dylan Collins as Jimmy on lead electric guitar; Sarah Coykendall as Audrey; Rebecca Faiola as Mama Lily; Dwight Mahabir as Tee-Tot; Sarah Mitchell as the Waitress; Kyle O’Brien as Leon on fiddle and other instruments; Tom Reardon as Fred “Pap” Rose; and James Touzel as Hoss on upright bass.
The play is directed by Ben Randle; Olive Mitra is music director.
The creative team: Liliana Duque Piñeiro, scenic designer; Allen Willner, lighting designer; and Valera Coble, costume designer.
Written by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, “Hank Williams” was first produced by the Manhattan Ensemble Theater in New York City, opening in December 2002.
Tickets are $10-$29, and are available through the box office at 510-881-6777 or online at www.dmtonline.org.
The theater is at 22311 N. Third St., next to the Senior Center and the Japanese Gardens. The box office is open Tuesday through Friday, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.
HAYWARD — The city library is seeking volunteer tutors for its adult literacy program.
Tutor orientation will take place May 5 and 11, with training on May 16.
Volunteers must be 18 or older. For information and an application, call 510-881-7910.
HAYWARD — A blood drive is planned Sunday at the World Mission Society Church of God.
The church invites everyone to take part. The drive will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 27951 E. 12st St., Hayward.
For more information, call 808-783-3942 or email leekh264@gmail.com.
Alameda County is looking for poll workers for a special election in the 7th state Senate District on Tuesday, May 19.
Poll workers earn from $110 to $190.
The county also is looking for bilingual poll workers fluent in English and one of the following: Chinese, Spanish, Filipino/Tagalog, Vietnamese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, or Korean. Bilingual workers receive additional pay.
Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) may serve as bilingual poll workers. Otherwise, poll workers must be registered voters.
Bilingual poll workers will need to pass a fluency assessment and attend a mandatory training class.
For more information and to apply, contact the Registrar of Voters office at www.acgov.org/rov/workers.htm, rov_pollworker_info@acgov.org or 510-272-6971.
The Chabot College women’s basketball team, which won the state championship, was recognized on the floor of the California Assembly Monday.
Assemblyman Bill Quirk of Hayward presented a proclamation honoring the team to its members and coaches.
The team made history in March by winning the Hayward college’s first state championship. The Gladiators defeated Mount San Antonio on March 15 at the state tournament. Mount San Antonio had won six of the previous 10 state championships.
The team also was honored by the Hayward City Council, which presented it a certificate of commendation at its March 24 meeting.
The team had a 31-3 season.
HAYWARD — Banners placed around Cal State East Bay campuses have won a bronze award.
More than 120 light post banners created by Jesse Cantley, Cal State’s director of creative services, and Cal State graphic designer Garvin Tso were placed around the Hayward and Concord campuses. The banners are part of a branding effort and also highlight the diversity of its students.
The university won a bronze award of excellence from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s District VII. This is Cal State’s first award from the council.
Cal State was chosen from about 700 entries for seven awards in the Design: Specialty Pieces category.
HAYWARD –A new digital art exhibit highlights Hayward’s natural beauty and distinctive landmarks.
“In My Own Backyard” featuring the works of Jeanne Bertolina opens Wednesday, April 15, at the Hayward Area Historical Society’s Center for History and Culture.
Jeanne says of her work, “My passion is seeing beauty and artistic possibilities everywhere and making interesting (and sometimes surprising) compositions from ordinary subjects,” Bertolina said in a release.
An artist reception will take place at noon Saturday, April 25. Those at the reception can vote for their favorite art piece from the exhibit. A drawing will take place, with the winner being given the artwork after the show concludes.
The exhibit also includes trivia about each subject: Buffalo Bill’s was one of the first brewpubs in California. The Ranch restaurant was built with the wood of a pilfered train trestle from Sacramento, and the Hayward Plunge is on some lists of haunted places in California.
The museum is at 22380 Foothill Blvd. Call 510-581-0223 for more information.