Monthly Archives: May 2016

A private family gathering is scheduled for June 25th, 2016, in Carmel.

 She will be interred at the Burwood Cemetery in Escalon, CA.

 A celebration of Mrs. Tamayo's life will be held on June 11th, 2016 at 10:00 A.M., at Westside Community Church located at 614 Mercy Springs Rd., in Los Banos CA. As requested by Mrs. Tamayo, please wear bright and vibrant colors. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org) in memory of Mrs. Esther Tamayo. Condolences to: www.whitehurstfunerals.com.

More than 90 percent of the $37,696 in the Yes on Measure E campaign chest is from outside Gilroy—most from firms, including one in New York, whose business with the school district exceeds $33 million just since 2011.

At this time, we’re housing our children in school buildings where their own parents attended classes 30 or 40 years ago. The average age of schools in the Gilroy Unified School District is 30 years old and five schools are more than 50 years old. The District has taken great care of the schools but they need to be renovated and rebuilt.

 Steven Madden, one of the most iconic brands in footwear, opened an outlet location atGilroy Premium Outlets on May 26.During its Memorial Day weekend grand opening celebration, Steve Madden Outlet is featuring “Buy One Get One” 70 percent off select shoe styles, plus 30 percent off select handbag styles. The new Steve Madden Outlet offers shoppers 2,000 square-feet of on-trend footwear, handbags and accessories for men and women.Over the past two decades, Steve Madden’s trail-blazing designs have garnered a cult-like following with celebrities, tastemakers and fashion-forward shoppers around the world. “Steve Madden Outlet is a fantastic addition to the center’s mix of more than 30 footwear retailers,” saidGilroy Premium Outlets Director of Marketing and Business Development Heather Roach. “Summer shoe trends such as novel oxfords, block heels, feminine flats, mules and bright sneakers to gladiator sandals are all available here this season.”  During Memorial Day weekend, Gilroy Premium Outlets will host a center-wide sidewalk sale with amazing discounts and extended hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Monday (Memorial Day), plus 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. For more up-to-date news and events, follow Gilroy Premium Outlets onTwitter and Facebook.   

Gilroy’s loss will be Berkeley’s gain, as all three of the city’s valedictorians intend to attend Cal in the fall.

The grand marshal of Monday’s Memorial Day parade in Gilroy is Korean War veteran Robert Diaz, who served two tours of duty with the Marine Corps.“I enjoy the parade and have watched it every year,” said the Gilroy native and commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6309. “It’s a real honor.”Diaz has been a regular at the parade and he’s humble about serving his country.“It was the right thing to do,” he said of his decision to enlist in 1951. He joined his brother and other Gilroy classmates in military service.During the war, Diaz worked as a photographer and lab technician, producing maps that were used by fighter pilots to locate enemy targets.Still reticent to share details of his military service decades later, Diaz said specially modified planes fitted with cameras would leave base in the early morning hours to take pictures of enemy territory. Returning some hours later, Diaz and his team would develop and print the film. The images were then used to create detailed maps of enemy targets.Diaz’s two tours were from 1951-1952 and 1953-1954.He was discharged at Treasure Island and within months, met his wife, Teresa.“I got out in March, met my wife in June and got married in July,” he said.They would go on to be married for 42 years, raising four children together. When he returned from the Marine Corps, Diaz worked in the local canneries.“Everyone worked in the canneries,” he said. Diaz later worked at the FMC plant for 19 years before retiring.Teresa passed away and Diaz lives with his son Gary and grandchildren, Teresa and Garon—a soon-to-be Gilroy High School graduate who has already voiced interest in joining the military.On Monday, his family will join thousands of spectators as they watch Diaz, escorted by the VFW honor guard, lead the solemn Memorial Day procession.“Our family is always there,” Diaz said.