BERKELEY
Bring your kids out to the city of Berkeley’s annual Carnival and Community Picnic on June 27, when they can enjoy a day of food, games and fun. The city’s Community Carnival and Picnic will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Berkeley’s Grove Park at 1730 Oregon St.
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Children are invited to jump on giant inflatables, scramble through an obstacle course or play a variety of sports. The city will also have carnival games, a petting zoo with bunnies and goats, and a tot-zone for the littlest ones.
Kids attending will join others coming from most of the 16 summer camps run by the city’s Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront Department. Friends, neighbors, as well as kids from privately-run camps are also welcome.
Lunch will be on the city, for which Fuddruckers will serve hotdogs and burgers with chips for a picnic meal. A tots lunch will start at 11 a.m., and lunch for everyone else will start at noon. Popcorn and cotton candy will also be available. Register online to shorten time to enter the carnival. Get in early, as officials anticipate some lines.
An adult must accompany children aged 10 and under for their safety. This event is one of many free events throughout the year organized by the city’s recreationd epartment, which offers camps, classes, and activities designed to include an array of age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds.
To register online for this event in advance, visit bit.ly/3KQAry9, where you can also use the city’s online recreation portal to see all of the recreation department’s offerings.
— city of Berkeley
SAN PABLO
City’s new administrative services director to start July 16
The city of San Pablo has appointed Arturo Castillo as its new administrative services director.
Castillo, selected from a field of 58 applicants, has served as an administrative services officer with Contra Costa County for the last nine years, and as a program manager within county government since 2009 handling complex budget, finance and IT management services.
Before that, Castillo held multiple administrative services positions in local, nonprofit and community-based service organizations focused on administration, budget, fiscal and public heath services since 1999.
Following the retirement of former City Finance Director Norman Veloso in late February, the city retained Peckham and McKenney, an executive search firm based in Roseville, to conduct this important and successful executive search.
“Mr. Castillo brings forward a solid and operational reputation in local governemnt, with vast knowledge and expertise in managing administrative, fiscal and IT management services to the city. He will definitely ‘hit the ground running’ and will serve as a valuable member of the city’s executive team,” said San Pablo City Manager Matt Rodriguez.
Castillo earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of San Francisco and a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from San Francisco State University. His starting annual base salary is $217,597 and official start date will be on July 16. Castillo is married with two children and lives in Martinez.
— Agility PR
ALBANY
‘Bohème Out of the Box’ coming to Solano Avenue on June 27
San Francisco Opera is taking their performance art form out of the opera house and into a shipping-container-turned-stage on Albany’s Solano Avenue.
At 1 p.m. June 27, audiences can enjoy a one-hour version of Giacomo Puccini’s famous opera “La Bohème” performed live in Italian with English narration and keyboard accompaniment.
Support Albany businesses and grab your lunch from one of the fabulous restaurants nearby and enjoy this free lunchtime performance of “Bohème Out of the Box,” which will bring powerful emotions and soaring arias in a relaxed, intimate environment.
Families with young children are invited to participate in a free First Act Workshop 45 minutes before showtime at all performances. Explore Puccini’s “La Bohème,” and get to know the passionate artists in the story.
Attendees can also bring along a favorite stuffed-animal friend and dance to “Musetta’s Waltz,” one of the most famous melodies in all of opera. For more details online, visit sfopera.com/seasons/opera-out-of-the-box.
— city of Albany
RICHMOND
Art center’s opening reception for two exhibitions June 29
Artists living and working in Richmond, as well as incarcerated artists, will present their work at Richmond Art Center in two new exhibitions opening this summer
In the main gallery, San Quentin Prison Arts Project and Philadelphia Mural Arts will present “The View from Here,” an exhibition featuring artwork by incarcerated artists from San Quentin Rehabilitation Center and Philadelphia’s State Correctional Institution Phoenix who participated in a creative exchange over the past year.
The theme — “The View from Here” — emerged from the artists’ communications, exploring life inside prison and the realms where their minds wander beyond its gates.
A panel discussion and paint day featuring alumni and facilitators from both prison arts programs will be held on July 13 starting at 11 a.m. After a panel discussion, former program participant Eddie Ramirez will showcase his mural painting technique, and community members are invited to join in the process.
Also opening at Richmond Art Center this summer is the Richmond Open Studios Preview Exhibition. In its second year, this event will bring together nearly 50 artists in Richmond who are opening their studios to the public during the weekend of Aug. 17-18.
The Preview Exhibition offers visitors an advance showing of work by participating artists, letting them plan their self-guided tours throughout different Richmond neighborhoods in August. Richmond artists are also being hosted at ar.ti.fact Gallery, NIAD Art Center and Richmond Art Center.
An Opening Reception for “The View from Here” and the Preview Exhibition will be held from 1 o 3 p.m. June 29, and all are welcome to attend. The Richmond Art Center is at 2540 Barrett Avenue in Richmond, admission is free and gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Visit richmondartcenter.org online for more details.
— Richmond Art Center
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