Briefs: Rydell arts fellowships; local equestrians in Tournament of Roses Parade
Four awarded Rydell Visual Arts Fellowships
Four local visual artists have been selected by Community Foundation Santa Cruz County to receive Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship awards for 2024 and 2025.
The awardees are Christian Rex van Minnen, Louise Leong, Maria Isabel LeBlanc and Shirin Towfiq.
Each fellowship...
Art, stitch by stitch: PV Quilt Show returns to fairgrounds
The annual Pajaro Valley Quilt Show returns to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Feb. 23 and 24, showcasing more than 300 quilts as well as clothing, purses, dolls, pincushions and more.
Former NMC High coach writes book on football stories
Phil Maas, a former head coach for the North Monterey County High football team, had one of the best turnaround seasons for any team in Monterey County. He took a group that went from winless to undefeated in the span of a season.
Maas shares...
Open Farm Tours returns this weekend
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The annual Open Farm Tours will return this weekend—albeit in a different capacity.
Pre-registration is now required for small, socially-distanced outdoor tours at the following farms: Thomas Farm and Luz Del Valle Farm in Aptos, and GroundSwell Farm in Santa Cruz. Additional participating...
Dodgers beat Astros 3-1, force World Series to Game 7
Chris Taylor hit a tying double off Justin Verlander during a two-run rally in the sixth inning , Corey Seager followed with a go-ahead sacrifice fly and the Dodgers beat the Astros 3-1 on Tuesday night to push this dramatic Fall Classic to the ultimate game.
Photo: Lighting up the Plaza
A crew from Watsonville Public Works joins forces with a team from the Christmas Light Pros in dressing the Watsonville City Plaza with lights and other decorations in preparation for the annual Holiday Tree Lighting.
A live 28-foot tree is the centerpiece of the...
Second life | Photo Gallery, Dec. 13
Have a recent photo you’d like to share? Send it to us for consideration by emailing it to tnunez@pajaronian.com or mailing it to 21 Brennan St., Suite 14, Watsonville, CA 95076. Please include a brief description of the photo as well as the name...
Formerly homeless grad part of historic Cabrillo College class
APTOS—Tomas Alejandrez was experiencing homeless and using drugs while living on the streets of Fresno when he was 39. Now 47, he is set to graduate from Cabrillo College today with three Associates degrees.
He is one of 1,240 that will participate in the college’s...
Business brewing: Historic crop making comeback as city takes cautious step into brew scene
Akiyama Hopyard business partners Sam Akiyama and Jorge Vasquez are not the only people jumping head first into the blossoming craft brew scene in Watsonville.
Bridge Street homeless encampment will close Jan. 3
WATSONVILLE—The city of Watsonville and a local homeless union have come to an agreement that will dismantle the encampment on Bridge Street where some 25 people are currently staying.
The two parties hammered out the terms of the agreement in a whirlwind series of telephonic...
Community leaders host rally for Measure E
Dozens of community members and local leaders gathered at a rally Friday at Watsonville Community Hospital in support of Measure E, the temporary half-cent...




















