As the new year approaches, we take a look at the stories and imagesthat captured the most attention over the past year. All photos are by Pajaronian photographer Tarmo Hannula.
January
TERMINAL CONDITION
The year started off with a literal bang, as the battery energy storage system (BESS) facility in Moss Landing owned by Vistra Corp. caught fire on Jan. 16. The chemistry of the lithium-ion batteries meant that water from firefighters’ hoses only fueled the blaze, which therefore burned for days, emitting a black plume of toxic smoke and thousands of pounds of toxins into soil and water.
The incident spurred reactions from local and state lawmakers hoping to rein in and regulate the BESS industry.
Monterey County declared a local emergency in response.
And in an example of horrible timing, Watsonville residents became alarmed when Lowell, Massachusetts-based New Leaf Energy announced its intentions to build a BESS facility on Minto Road.
FAIR PLAY
After firing previous manager Dave Kegebein—and after a manager before him departed under mysterious circumstances—the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds announced that manager Zeke Fraser had resigned after less than two years. Later in 2025, the governing board hired Dori Rose Inda, who has extensive experience managing nonprofits. Based on the success of last year’s fair, we assume her time is going well.
PIER PRESSURE
On Dec. 23, a storm damaged the end of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, forcing its closure. This was evidenced spectacularly when a public bathroom broke free and washed up on a nearby beach. The wharf reopened less than a week later, 150 feet shorter and minus several businesses.
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors declared a state of emergency in response.
TRUMP CARD
Santa Cruz County officials began to prepare in earnest for President Trump’s hard-line immigration policies, with many undocumented residents and nonprofits predicting a severe impact on the local workforce, the economy and the families that live here. Since that time, those fears have played out, with an estimated 65,000 in ICE custody as of Nov. 16. Many protests and demonstrations have followed throughout the U.S.
In response, several bodies of elected leaders showed their support for the local immigrant community with resolutions.
And speaking of Trump policy, the year ended when the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution of support for the LGBTQIA+ community, as the President signed executive orders to recognize only two genders and ban transgender people from serving in the military.
CUTS HERALD MORE TO COME
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees made $5 million in cuts, knowing that the financial picture would worsen as enrollment declined and federal funding slowed. Indeed, the board is back to the chopping block, with roughly 150 positions at risk of layoff.
February
LAYOFFS REJECTED
The PVUSD Board of Trustees considered—and largely rejected—roughly 100 layoffs district staff said were meant to ease upcoming budget troubles.
A group called Never Again Moss Landing announced a lawsuit against Vistra Corp. and PG&E seeking damages from the fire’s impacts
BID BARRED
A man who committed one of the most gruesome crimes we’ve ever heard lost a bid for parole. Adrian Gonzalez lured 8-year-old Madyson “Maddy” Middleton into his apartment in the Tannery in Santa Cruz, then raped and killed her before dumping her body in a recycling bin.
DRIVE-IN PLOWED OVER
Work crews began tearing down a restaurant that had been a part of Watsonville’s history for years. Taqueria Mi Tierra was once an A&W drive-in. The site is now occupied by a Starbucks.
Speaking of restaurants, Watsonville’s own The Rustic Table took home the first-place ribbon at the annual Santa Cruz Clam Chowder Cook Off at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
FACING EVICTION
Students and teachers at Renaissance High School had a scare when the charter school Ceiba College Preparatory Academy demanded that Pajaro Valley Unified School provide space to accommodate its growing population. That’s a legal request under Proposition 39, a state law requiring that school districts accommodate charter schools within their boundaries.
But that changed the next month.
March
NARROWLY AVERTED
The Watsonville City Council and PVUSD Board of Trustees both agreed to waive zoning rules, allowing Ceiba to remain at its current location on Locust Street.
PINK SLIPPED
Pajaro Valley Unified School District sent out 30 layoff notices to teachers, a move that heralded more to come later in the year.
LOUNGING AROUND
Californians approved recreational pot in 2016. The county supervisors took the next logical step by approving smoking lounges à la Netherlands. In concept, anyway. The red tape required in the actual creation of one means that we’re years away from people lighting up indoors, county officials say.
HOUSING TAKES SHAPE
A village of 34 tiny homes for unhoused people in the parking lot of a Watsonville church continued to take shape, to the chagrin of neighbors. The project, which opened in September, is intended to help clear the Pajaro River Levee of unsanctioned encampments in advance of a project to rebuild it.
THE CUPBOARD IS BARE
Second Harvest Food Bank, which helps fill the pantries of thousands of county residents who need the help, began to sound the alarm of impending budget cuts and increased need that could impact the nonprofit’s ability to provide its services.
A CELEBRATED EDUCATOR
We featured this story about former Watsonville High School auto shop and drivers education teacher Ray Burgess celebrating his 100th birthday.
IT’S THE PRINCIPLE
Aptos High Principal Alison Hanks-Sloan left her position, but whether she resigned willingly or was terminated is a matter still unresolved. Either way, the school’s community protested the decision.
April
RELIC RELEGATED
The historic but dilapidated Redman-Hirahara House was almost saved and restored by a group of plucky locals who envisioned it as a tourism welcome center. But that didn’t pan out, and now it has been delisted and will likely soon be demolished.
CHAPTER AND VERSE
The Trump Administration took aim at funding for public libraries and museums. This posed a problem for those in California, which benefit from $266.7 million annually from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.
HANDS OFF
With the first “Hands Off” demonstration, people nationwide took to the streets for what would become many demonstrations protesting the Trump administration.
FILLING A NEED
The city of Watsonville opened a new landfill at 730 San Andreas Road that is expected to last another 75 years.
BUILDING THEIR FUTURE
The Aptos Junior High School robotics team the Octonots took home a top prize in the Marine Advanced Technology Education Remotely Operated Vehicle competition.
May
CURTAIN CALL
Cheryl Anderson, the longtime director of Cabrillo College’s Choral and Vocal Studies, announced her retirement after a 35-year career.
CENSURE REBUFFED
After PVUSD Board Vice-President Misty Navarro and President Olivia Flores cast the lone yes votes to censure Trustee Gabe Medina, the motion failed at the raucous meeting.
SLAP BACK
And in response to the censure, Medina told the district he would file a $35,000 lawsuit seeking damages unless Flores and Navarro issued a public apology.
NEW LEADERSHIP
Watsonville Police Chief Jorge Zamora announced his retirement after three years. David Rodriguez has been named as the interim chief.
June
CAPPING A CAREER
And while we’re on the subject of new leaders, County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios, who formerly served as Watsonville City Manager, announced his retirement, capping three decades of civic roles. Nicole Coburn has taken his place.
SERIOUS CHARGES
PG&E tried and failed to restart the BESS facility adjacent to the Vistra plant that burned five months earlier, even as an attorney announced a mass-action lawsuit made up of 500 clients against PG&E and Vistra.
NO KINGS
Sentiment against the Trump administration continued to build, as protestors nationwide attended rallies on No Kings Day.
July
NOT SO BEAUTIFUL
And while we’re on that subject, a group of local lawmakers and nonprofits began to sound the alarm over Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which they said would lead to thousands losing their health insurance and other benefits.
FAIR CHANCE
Dori Rose Inda, who formerly served as CEO of Salud Para La Gente, took the reins as CEO of the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.
CANCELLING THE CANCELLATION
After canceling its school resource officer (SRO) programs at its three comprehensive high schools in 2020—and reinstating it one year later after a student was stabbed to death at Aptos High—the trustees put the finishing touches on bringing the programs back. The SROs will be placed with mental health clinicians, and the programs will be evaluated annually.
GROUNDBREAKING
Work began on the village of tiny homes in the parking lot of Westview Presbyterian Church on First Street.
August
EVE OF DESTRUCTION
The Redman-Hirahara house was delisted from state and federal historic registries, setting the stage for its demolition. A lawsuit is in the works that aims to stop it, but with construction experts agreeing that the structure is beyond redemption, it’s only a matter of time before it will be replaced by a business.
BUILDING UP
Crews began work on the controversial Recurso de Fuerza, the tiny home village for homeless people displaced from the Pajaro River Levee. Soon, specialized trucks began delivering the structures.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees took the first step in allowing students to vote for the trustees that represent them, a move that drew equal measures of praise and scorn.
PIPE DREAMS
After two years of work, the College Lake Water Supply Project wrapped up. The project was designed to protect the Pajaro Valley’s groundwater resources. It includes a water treatment plant and a 6-mile-long, 30-inch diameter treated water pipeline to convey water from College Lake to thousands of acres of area farmland.
INSPECTORS’ GADGETS
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office unveiled its new DNA lab, which will expedite cases by giving local investigators the tools they need to solve cases.
TRAGEDY FROM THE AIR
In a truly bizarre story, a radio-controlled airplane flying for the Fire in the Sky show at Watsonville Municipal Airport smashed into a house, seriously injuring two and causing major damage.
September
SEEKING HELP
Pajaro Valley Health Care District, the elected body tasked with overseeing Watsonville Community Hospital, announced that federal cuts under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) have thrown the institution into financial uncertainty. The board is now seeking a partner to help run the hospital.
BUILDINGS BUILT
Recurso de Fuerza opened its doors and gave the media a sneak peek before residents moved in. The place looks great, but we’ll be monitoring how the neighbors are adapting to it.
October
STAGE PLAY
Pajaro Valley High School has long borne the brunt of low funding and construction delays that kept the school from having its own athletic field for more than a decade. The school still doesn’t have its long-promised performing arts center, but it has created its own space for that purpose.
A STORY WITH BITE
Dientes opened a new clinic in Watsonville, allowing the organization to serve 3,000 additional patients annually.
INVESTIGATION
Watsonville police investigated a stabbing on the campus of Watsonville High School, an incident in which four teens were detained after two fights. One 14-year-old student and a school employee were injured.
RAILROADED
The ambitious but financially troubling (at least for now) plan to build a $4.2 billion passenger rail system moved forward with the release of the Final Project Concept Report. Rail advocates were excited, but look ahead to December to see how well that worked out.
November
THE HITS KEEP COMING
Local nonprofits continued to fret about federal cuts to food aid programs, with an estimated 25,000 additional people expected to seek help filling their pantries. Local jurisdictions pledged $1 million to Second Harvest Food Bank.
CHARGED TOPIC
While BESS facilities are regulated by state and federal rules, the county Board of Supervisors took the first step in wresting what control they can with a new ordinance. It will return to the board for approval in January.
December
ROCK AND ROLL
Watsonville’s own Graniterock celebrated 125 years in business, and we got a behind-the-scenes tour.
MOVING, AGAIN
The unsanctioned homeless encampment on Airport Boulevard across from the Freedom Centre shopping plaza that includes Safeway got an eviction order when the city council declared it a public nuisance.
LOOKING BACK
Watsonville Fire Chief Rudy López announced his retirement this month, and Acting Fire Chief Corey Schaefer will continue to lead the department.
LAYOFF SAGA
On Dec. 11, the PVUSD Board of Trustees cut 78 classified positions in a move recommended by district officials to address a $15 million budget shortfall, driven by declining enrollment and reductions in state and federal funding.
Then the time came to discuss roughly 80 teacher positions, but when the furious crowd kept shouting and interrupting the proceedings, newly appointed board president Carol Turley cleared the Watsonville City Council Chambers, and the vote went through without the public present.
In a rare move 11 days later, the board announced a special meeting to reconsider the vote, this time allowing public input. But the layoffs passed again—despite dozens who spoke against them—with trustees Daniel Dodge Jr. and Gabe Medina the only dissenting votes.
While that put a grim cap on the year, it’s still unclear what the financial picture will look like in 2026, when Gov. Newsom releases his budget.
NEW LEADERSHIP
County officials named a new probation chief, at the same time Watsonville announced it had new leaders for its fire and police departments.
