Having a ball as the times change
It was 1977. The world was playing tennis. I had been riveted by the Wimbledon final match between Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors. I was pulling for Bjorn Borg who looked like Jesus Christ with a racket. My friend Tod liked Connors, and Borg won but I didn’t rub it in.
I was just starting to want to play tennis. Got a Pancho Gonzalez wood racket from Green Stamps my mom had collected, and would mimic Borg’s topspin strokes in the living room as well as Connors volleying at the net. Man, I really wanted to play and finally got out to Callaghan Park with Tod, and hacked around the court, running after balls, struggling to get a serve in – not double fault all the time. But I resolved to do one thing – try to keep the ball in at all times. Keep it in play and let Tod hit it out or long which means a point in my direction. I remember tapping serves, just to keep it in play, and learning to slice, and hit moon balls, and learning some touch. Running balls down was really fun and I got pretty good at it. I didn’t even think about taking lessons but just learned to play the way I did by inspiration for the sport, and trying to copy Borg as much as I could. Tod liked Jimbo Connors, as he called him, and loved going for passing shots like Jimbo did. Borg was good at passing shots too, but I decided to just try to keep the ball in. I think it might have been early in the same day of the U.S. Open final—between Borg and Conners, now in September 1978, freshman year. Connors had infamously said he would chase that “SOB” (Borg) “to the ends of the earth,” to regain his number one World ranking, and that day on the other coast (in New York) Jimbo had his shot.
I remember we took to Callghan’s court, the one closer to Freedom Boulevard. We decided on a best of five set match, just like Borg and Connors. And it was a challenge match, of which the pros used to play a lot in those days for big money. And for the life of me, I cannot recall if we bet anything on the match at all.
Well, it wasn’t a great match. I did a better job of keeping the ball in play than Tod did, who actually had more passing shot winners. I’m not sure if I had even one passing winner, yet came away with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, straight set victory, one of this life’s all time moments. Maybe in the afterlife I’ll be able to watch it.
Goodbye Callaghan Park Tennis. Hail to our new king – PICKLEBALL!
Charles Birimisa
Watsonville
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PVUSD wrong in dismissing two principals
I find it profoundly interesting that a principal let go by the district, for no apparent reason, has received so many gifts and flowers that she’s had to borrow vases to hold them and additional THANK YOU cards to thank everybody. Letting go of the most popular and qualified principal and not even letting her know why is callous and unjustified. I worked in the public schools and also taught methods to incoming teachers. I’ve worked with good and bad principals as well as good and bad superintendents. When you find a piece of gold principal, a lump-of-coal administrator and a school board that doesn’t realize that they need to be informed, you can see what happens. The students and the community have to pay the price.
Julie Hanks
Watsonville
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Two apologies, different agendas
It’s been two months since the PVUSD board of trustees voted to officially apologize to Dr. Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales. It only took one week to formally apologize to a certain population in Aptos that was prompted by Santa Cruz County superintendent Faris Sabbah.
For the past 20 months, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District has defamed, discredited, and dragged the personal and professional reputation of Dr. Tintiangco-Cubales, a national leader and expert in the field of Ethnic Studios through the mud after trumped-up allegations of antisemitism on Sept. 13th 2023 by then Trustee Kim De Serpa, which were never proven.
Now, they are hiding behind the Brown Act as justification to not issue an apology despite being unanimously voted on two months ago to do so. Since when has President Olivia Flores began to be concerned about the Brown Act? Certainly not when Georgia Acosta was president.
When Georgia Acosta and Oscar Soto were voted off the board last Fall, their last words were to “hold the line!”
Whether that be political, ideological or racial, it is obvious to observers that PVUSD superintendent Heather Contreras, who was hired by Acosta and Soto is “holding the line.”
Roy Recio
Founder of the Tobera Project
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Condemning the Violence and Intimidation: A Call for Civility in Political Discourse
In recent weeks, our community has witnessed a disturbing escalation in political hostility, culminating in the so-called “RESIST” protest aimed at President Donald Trump and his supporters.
What was promoted as a peaceful public demonstration quickly devolved into a campaign of intimidation and political antagonism, symbolized by the phrase “86-47” spelled out in giant letters using sea kelp along the beach.
As members of the Republican Party, we fully support the constitutional right of every American to protest peacefully. It is a cornerstone of our democracy. However, when such protests cross the line into criminality—when tires are slashed, car windows shattered, and drivers forced off the road simply for displaying a Trump bumper sticker—what we are witnessing is not democracy in action, but mob rule.
The slogan “86-47,” a not-so-subtle reference to rejecting the 45th and 47th presidents, has emboldened a fringe element in our community. These individuals seem to believe that violence, vandalism, and harassment are acceptable forms of political expression. This mindset is not only dangerous—it is fundamentally un-American. No one should fear for their safety, livelihood, or property simply because of their political beliefs.
In our predominantly liberal county, conservatives are increasingly being treated as second-class citizens—marginalized, threatened, and targeted for holding opposing views. That should concern everyone, regardless of party affiliation. When one group’s rights are trampled, all of our freedoms are at risk.
The Republican Party unequivocally condemns these acts of politically motivated violence and intimidation. We urge local law enforcement to treat these incidents with the seriousness they deserve, thoroughly investigate all reports, and bring those responsible to justice. Failing to act sends a dangerous message: that political violence is tolerable so long as it targets unpopular or minority viewpoints.
We also call on our neighbors across the aisle—including local Democratic leaders—to speak out publicly against these actions. In moments like these, silence is complicity. Civility in our political discourse begins with mutual respect, not with turning a blind eye to intimidation and aggression. Our disagreements are real and often passionate, but they must be expressed through debate, the ballot box, and peaceful assembly—not through threats, vandalism, or fear.
Let us be clear: disagreement is not hate. Supporting Donald Trump or holding conservative values does not make someone your enemy. The strength of this nation lies in its diversity of thought and its ability to resolve differences through peaceful means.
This recent string of attacks should alarm every citizen. If violence becomes a normalized response to ideological disagreement, no one will be safe. This is not the future we want for our community.
We, the local Republican Party, remain steadfast in defending the rights of every citizen to speak freely, vote their conscience, and live without fear of reprisal. We condemn these disgraceful acts and reaffirm our commitment to law, order, and civil discourse.
America deserves better—and so does our community.
Michal Lelieur
Santa Cruz County Republican Party- Chairman
