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Watsonville
February 20, 2026

Students, teachers demand PVUSD board revisit ethnic studies vote

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will revisit a decision from last September not to renew a contract with an organization that helps teachers deliver ethnic studies curriculum, which now used in the district’s three comprehensive high schools. That discussion will occur...

Reel Work Film Festival returns

fruits of labor ashley solis emily cohen ibanez
The 22nd annual Reel Work May Day Labor Film Festival, April 27-May 8, is presented both live and online.  Viewings are followed by panel discussions with international and local filmmakers.  An all-volunteer group, many from the labor movement, has been meeting and viewing films since December...

PV Arts’ annual Members Exhibition opens Jan. 18

Every year, local arts organization Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA) hosts an annual Members Exhibit, where its members have the chance to showcase their artwork to the community. This year’s show, dubbed “New Beginnings,” opens on Jan. 18 and will include the work of 95 local...

PHOTO: Traditional steps in downtown Watsonville

la rama watsonville plaza Estrellas de Esperanza
Musicians, dancers and the public take part in a Mexican holiday tradition called La Rama Friday night in Watsonville Plaza. The first-ever such event in Watsonville was hosted by students in the dance class, Estrellas de Esperanza, taught by Ruby Vasquez. The purpose of...

Rare bird is big draw at Rio Del Mar beach

black-headed gull rio del mar state beach
Bird enthusiasts got a dramatic treat at the year’s end when an extremely rare black-headed gull dropped by Rio Del Mar State Beach.  While common in Asian countries and along the Eastern U.S. coast, the gull, largely white, with red legs, red bill and a...

Watsonville Hospital sale is official

watsonville community hospital
WATSONVILLE—After months of fundraising during which organizers scraped together more than $65 million, Watsonville Community Hospital will become a now publicly owned entity as of midnight on Sept. 1. The Pajaro Valley Health Care District (PVHD) signed the paperwork on Wednesday, making the sale official. State...

PHOTO: Firefighters douse Ohlone Parkway blaze

ohlone parkway fire
Watsonville firefighters chase down hot spots in a wild land fire that broke out Monday at 4:50pm on Ohlone Parkway at Main Street. Division Chief Corey Schaefer said firefighters got a quick handle on the flames that tore through dry brush but did not...

County unveils “transformative” youth crisis center

For years, Santa Cruz County lacked a youth crisis center, meaning that young people experiencing a mental health crisis were taken to overloaded emergency rooms, the county’s adult psychiatric facility or were shifted to out-of-county facilities, away from their families. That problem will end in...

Q&A: Watsonville Taiko sensei describes Obon

Ikuyo Conant watsonville taiko
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...

County receives funding for Mid-County low-income housing project

Santa Cruz County
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously accepted more than $10.6 million in unanticipated revenue, which will be used to build a low-income housing development in Mid-County. The project at 2838 Park Ave. near Cabrillo College will offer 17 units for...
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Medina ban was right call

At the Feb. 11 PVUSD Board meeting, trustee Gabe Medina was banned from the PV High campus for 14 days. It was a great...

Chaos as a political strategy