Library receives grant to establish ‘creative cafe’ at Freedom Branch
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Public Library (WPL) has received a $12,000 grant which it will use to establish a “creative cafe” at its Freedom Branch.
Similar to a makerspace, a creative cafe is a hub offering a community a place to produce creative projects. The Freedom Branch’s...
Site hopes to increase local testing capacity
WATSONVILLE—The County of Santa Cruz had a soft opening for a new Covid-19 testing site at Ramsay Park Thursday.
The site will initially focus on frontline health care workers, first responders and employees working in essential services and roles, said county spokesman Jason Hoppin.
A partnership...
Anti-Asian sentiment not a novel issue, community advocates say
WATSONVILLE—Victor Kimura was just 6 months old when his family moved back to Freedom after being imprisoned in Arizona’s Poston Camp during World War II.
His mother and father, born in Watsonville and Petaluma, respectively, told him very little about the days prior to the...
Experts: be on the lookout for wildlife fleeing fires
WATSONVILLE—Tens of thousands of residents have already been displaced due to the CZU August Lightning Complex fires—and those are just the humans.
Wildlife experts are calling for people to be on the lookout for animals fleeing from the fires, which are currently 13% contained. As...
Stimulus bill transforms options for state and local governments
Richard F. Cortez, the top elected official in Hidalgo County, at the southern tip of Texas, is so full of anticipation for the federal stimulus money that is about to flow into his county that he has memorized the precise amount and happily recites...
District partners with little league to improve E.A. Hall field
WATSONVILLE—For years, Pajaro Valley Little League (PVLL) has used the field at E.A. Hall Middle School for its practices and games, providing an essential space for a sport that typically takes a backseat to soccer in South County.
Playing fields for baseball are few and...
Man who tried to kill officers denied parole
SALINAS—A man convicted two decades ago of trying to kill two Watsonville Police officers was denied parole this week after a hearing at Salinas Valley State Prison, Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell announced Wednesday.
Manuel Murillo, 42, was also convicted of dozens of...
Acosta recall effort advances
WATSONVILLE—A group formed for the sole purpose of recalling Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Georgia Acosta announced Wednesday that they have gathered the required signatures to officially begin the process.
The group, called The Committee to Recall Georgia Acosta, made the announcement during the...
Watsonville flood victims to sue
On Dec. 31, heavy rains overwhelmed Corralitos and Salsipuedes creeks and sent floodwaters cascading into several neighborhoods in Watsonville and unincorporated South County.
Sonia Corrales was among hundreds whose lives were upended.
She says her home in the College Lake area was rendered uninhabitable, forcing her...
PVUSD trustees approve new Assistant Superintendent contract
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved the contract for a new assistant superintendent to oversee the district’s 16 elementary schools.
Claudia Monjaras currently serves as Director of Curriculum and Instruction. She previously served as principal at Hall District Elementary...
Letters to the editor Oct. 17–23
Organophosphates Endanger Our Children’s Future
25 years ago, when Dr. Brenda Eskenazi and her UC Berkeley team at the School of Public Health began taking...
