News Briefs: Rally Round Downtown eyes Farmers Market on Sunday

A local movement centered around bringing people, their ideas and energy to support existing and future downtown businesses will converge upon the Gilroy Farmers Market this Sunday.
Called “Rally Round Downtown Gilroy,” the new grassroots organization is spearheaded by local developer Gary Walton. The founders hope to create a “great mix of interesting people who come together to have fun and meet new friends on a regular basis,” wrote Walton. “Everyone is welcome and it is hoped that the make-up of the people who attend the organizations meet-ups reflect a microcosm of Gilroy’s citizenry.”
RRDG outings are aimed at showcasing downtown services, retail, restaurants and artistic entertainment options that currently exist downtown but are not widely known throughout the community, Walton explains.
“The group’s founders believe that ultimately, downtown’s are a place for people,” said Walton. “Without them there can be no life or vibrancy or sense of community.”
The Gilroy Farmers’ Market is regularly held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday on the corner of Monterey and Seventh streets through Oct. 28, 2012.
Relay for Life event Saturday at Christmas Hill Park
The 2012 Relay For Life will last from 10 a.m. this Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday in Christmas Hill Park at 7049 Miller Ave. in Gilroy. All proceeds go directly to the American Cancer Society.
Relay For Life is an event that takes place around the globe and claims to be “the largest movement to end the disease.” Teams of people camp out at a local high school, park or fairground, then take turns walking or running around a track or path to earn pledge money. Signifying the fact “cancer never sleeps,” relays are overnight, last 24 hours and require each team to have a representative on the track at all times.
Want to get involved? Learn more by visiting relayforlife.org, Gilroy Relay For Life on Facebook or by emailing event coordinator Manuel Haro at mh*********************@gm***.com.
The schedule for this year is:
– Opening ceremony: 10 a.m. Saturday
– Miss Relay Contest: 4:30 p.m.
– Locks of Love donations: 3 to 5 p.m.
– Luminaria ceremony: 9 p.m. Saturday
– Gilroy’s Got Talent Show: 11 p.m.
– Closing and “fight back” ceremony:    9 a.m. Sunday
– Ongoing activities: Musical guests,  Zumba, Laser Recon, Yoga, tug-of-war, race for a cure car races and Kid’s Camp.
Gilroy High’s summer hours and temporary locations
While Gilroy High School undergoes renovations this summer, temporary offices for administration, athletics, registrar and student activities will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and located inside the Glenview Elementary School library on the corner of Ninth and Princevalle streets. Offices will be closed July 27. Athletic packets are now available. Sports clearances will begin July 7 in the Glenview Library. Independent Studies is currently located at Christopher High School at 850 Day Rd. Cal-SOAP is located at Brownell Middle School on 7800 Carmel St.
$500 scholarship for Christopher High student
The Boomerang Project, a company that trains educators to facilitate peer mentoring in schools using leadership and group development methodologies, recently announced that Christopher High School student Rosario Gutierrez is one of 10 Link Crew seniors throughout the U.S. and Canada who has been selected to receive a $500 scholarship.
Gilroy library bonds get a AA-
Fitch Group, one of the nation’s top three credit rating agencies, affirmed an AA- rating of Gilroy’s library bonds Wednesday, pointing to the city’s solid financial position.
The rating took into account the entire financial condition of the city, including its general fund balance, conservative fund balance reserve policies and active management to align expenses with revenues, said City Administrator Tom Haglund.
In May 2009, the city took $10.5 million in bonds to finance the acquisition, construction the new library facilities. In 2009, Fitch Group gave those bonds an A+ ratings, said Christina Turner, Gilroy’s finance director. After the summer 2010 issuance of the second series of bonds of $23.5 million, Fitch Ratings upgraded the bonds to AA-.