Five Things You Need to Know Today: April 28

1. NewtonSERVES. The annual NewtonSERVES Day of Community Service will take place throughout the city today from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Volunteers from all over Newton will participate in various service projects from cleaning up schools to planting flowers at the Senior Center. If you're interested in volunteering today but didn't get a chance to pre-register, get down to City Hall this morning around 8:30 a.m. (morning projects) or noon (afternoon projects) to register. A closing celebration and ice cream party will be held in the City Hall War Memorial at 3:30 p.m. Today's events also kick off the city's Volunteer Week.

2. Russian Heritage Festival. The second annual "From Russia with Art and Culture" Festival will continue today at the Newton Cultural Center from noon - 6 p.m. Today's events include storytelling, music and a fashion show. A closing ceremony concert will be held at 5 p.m. For today's full festival schedule, check out Newton Community Pride's website. 

3. Run of the Charles Canoe & Kayak Race. More than 1,200 canoe and kayak enthusiasts ages 12 and up will compete in a variety of races at today's annual Run of the Charles Canoe & Kayak Race, which passes through Newton. Competitions include the Professional Flatwater Canoe Marathon, the 24-mile relay race, and 19-, 9-, and 6-mile amateur races. All races finish at Artesani Park on Soldiers Field Road in Brighton where there will be a Finish Line Festival. Admission to the festival is free. Race entry fees range from $35- $55 per individual to $350 - $400 per relay race team. For more information on the different races, check out the CRWA's website. 

4. Olli Hirvonen and his Jazz Quartet. Hirvonen and his quartet will perform this afternoon at the Scandinavian Cultural Center in West Newton. The show starts at 4 p.m. and tickets are $5. 

5. Bikes Not Bombs. Need to get rid of those bikes sitting around your garage? The Bikes Not Bombs organization will hold a bike drive today from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the First Unitarian Society in Newton.