A profile in public service: Lowell Hurst
By DREW ROGERS
CONTRIBUTED TO THE PAJARONIAN
Purely by happenstance after moving here in 2018, I met Lowell Hurst during his last month as Watsonville’s mayor (his third stint). Affable with a booming, cheery voice landing truth bombs and jokes equally, his Midwest openness and disdain...
Suspect nabbed in Aromas armed robbery
AROMAS—An Oakland man is in custody following a string of crimes that included an armed robbery of the Mobil Gas Station in Aromas on Oct. 22.Â
During the robbery, at 2961 San Juan Road, a store clerk was held at gunpoint while cash was taken...
Newsom signs student housing bill
Plans to build 624 units of affordable student housing on Cabrillo College’s Aptos campus got the green light Monday when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill to fund the project.
The dual Senate and Assembly bills, both numbered 142, will provide $111 million for the...
City to form Senior Action Committee
WATSONVILLE—The City of Watsonville is searching for residents 50 years of age or older to serve on its new Senior Action Committee (SAC).
Members of this volunteer committee will advise the city and other local jurisdictions by representing the perspectives, concerns and needs of Watsonville’s...
Work underway to strengthen levees and prepare for winter rains
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That long-anticipated work will be a relief to the...
Lawmakers, officials pushing for faster Pajaro levee repairs
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Substitute teacher no longer employed after racist rant
A longtime Pajaro Valley Unified School District substitute teacher is no longer working with the district after an expletive-laden, racist rant following a fender-bender was posted to TikTok on Monday.
PVUSD interim Superintendent Murry Schekman did not name the teacher, and did not confirm that...
Santa Cruz County Supervisors approve equity statement
In the minutes before the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously on Tuesday approved an equity statement and a series of steps to achieve it, Elaine Johnson, president of Santa Cruz County’s NAACP branch, described an experience five years ago that she says...
PVUSD trustees to appoint interim superintendent
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday are scheduled to appoint an interim superintendent to take the top spot while the district conducts a national search for a permanent one.
Also during that meeting, the trustees will select a firm to...
Q&A: Watsonville Taiko sensei describes Obon
The community is invited to the Obon Festival at the Watsonville Buddhist Temple (423 Bridge St.) Sunday, July 16 from noon to 5pm. Watsonville Taiko will perform at 3pm. The event is free and open to the public.
We spoke with Ikuyo Conant, Sensei and...
Stolen pickup leads to weapons seizure, arrests
Three people were arrested Nov. 23 on a string of charges after Watsonville Police got a tip about a stolen pickup.
Watsonville Police spokeswoman Michelle...