Mayor Salinas and members of the Hayward City Council presented the City of Hayward’s annual Earth Day poster and writing contest awards at the March 22 council meeting, recognizing student entries from across the city and encouraging public participation in related events.

The contest, part of the city’s Earth Day campaign, drew 602 entries from 31 Hayward schools this year, council members said. “This year’s entries, including posters, essays, and poems, shows students creativity and enthusiasm about Earth Day,” Mayor Salinas said during the presentation.

Councilmember Zirmeno, chair of the council’s sustainability committee, and Mayor Pro Tem Roach and Councilmember Goldstein joined the mayor in introducing winners from kindergarten through high school. Winners received framed certificates and gift cards usable at local stores; first-place gift cards were $200 and second-place awards $150, with certificates presented onstage to students and families.

The council also thanked staff in Environmental Services, including sustainability service corps fellows Ava Samuels and Ben Jenks and Solid Waste Program Manager Jeff Crump, for organizing the contest and related outreach. Miranda Everett and other members of the Hayward Arts Council served as judges, the mayor said.

The city announced its annual citywide cleanup and Earth Day Community Fair will be held Saturday, April 26, at Weeks Park. The event will include neighborhood litter collection, a free lunch and a community fair with sustainability-focused organizations. “We invite everyone to come out and collect litter in various neighborhoods throughout the city,” Mayor Salinas said.

Councilmembers and staff encouraged residents to register for the cleanup and other water-wise classes the city is offering in partnership with regional water agencies.

The event closed with a reception and a short recess so council, students and families could take photographs and continue the celebration.

Ending: The awards presentation was one of several Earth Day activities the council promoted; the city asked residents to check the Hayward website for registration details for the April 26 cleanup and upcoming conservation workshops.