City of Dublin to Celebrate 30th Anniversary and All-America City Win on Sat. July 21

To celebrate both its “All-America City” honor and Dublin’s 30th Anniversary of incorporation, the City of Dublin will be putting on a special event – “Dublin: An All-American Anniversary” – at the Dublin Heritage Park and Museums on Saturday, July 21, 2012, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Dublin families are invited for a quintessential American experience.  In addition to providing a feast of all American foods, such as hot dogs, apple pie, and root beer (while supplies last), there will be activities such as sack races, a watermelon-eating contest, and water balloon tosses; kid-friendly activities like face painting, inflatables, and wagon and tractor rides; and a variety of American music, with performances by both folk musicians and a local blues band, featuring Zakiya Hooker, daughter of blues legend John Lee Hooker. Dignitaries from Dublin’s past will also be on hand to share fond recollections from their time in Dublin, and they’ll unveil a recently-discovered piece of Dublin’s history.

In June 2011, the City of Dublin was recognized as a 2011 “All-America City” by the National Civic League. This prestigious award is given to towns, cities, counties, neighborhoods, and metropolitan regions that demonstrate outstanding civic accomplishments. Dublin was chosen as one of just ten cities, and the only city in California to receive the award.

Dublin Mayor Tim Sbranti said that because this honor coincided with the 30-year anniversary of Dublin’s incorporation, City leaders decided to celebrate both occasions with one family-friendly event.  “We wanted to give Dublin residents an opportunity to not only celebrate Dublin’s history, but to recognize where we’re going as a city. The All-America City award recognizes the positive path that we’re on as a city, while also honoring achievements from Dublin’s past,” said Sbranti.

City of Dublin Representatives at the All America City Awards

In addition to having a performance by Bay Area folk musicians Steve Ewert and Russ Gautier, the highlight of the celebration will be a 90-minute concert, featuring America’s musical heritage – blues, jazz, and R&B – anchored by Dublin resident and renowned blues-woman Zakiya Hooker, daughter of blues legend John Lee Hooker. Hosted by another Dublin resident, Kathy Blackburn, and featuring guitarist/vocalist Jim Caroompas, backed by the band Four and More, Zakiya and friends will take the audience on a musical and historical journey through a program of toe-tapping and soulful songs interspersed with entertaining and informative tidbits about the personalities and their music.

Hooker is excited about helping Dublin celebrate its honor and anniversary through the music of America, “The blues grew out of the South more than 100 years ago and spread throughout the country until it became jazz, R&B, and rock ‘n roll. In this concert, we’re going to bring back the great bluesmen and women like Robert Johnson, Etta James, and, of course, my dad, John Lee Hooker, along with some jazz and R&B,” said Hooker.

“I’ve performed blues all over the world and now, bringing this universally loved music to my hometown will be a real treat,” added Hooker. The concert will also be a reunion of sorts for Caroompas and Hooker. Caroompas started his career as a blues guitarist touring with John Lee Hooker. This will be the first public performance featuring Jim Caroompas and Zakiya Hooker.

For more information, please visit the City of Dublin website at www.dublin.ca.gov, under Special Events, or contact Shari Jackman at (925) 556-4555.  For information about the blues concert, please contact Kathy Blackburn at (925) 828-1894.