Remembering the fallen: community celebrates Memorial Day
For Michelle Martinez Kamalani and her mother, Judy Martinez of Watsonville, Memorial Day meant setting time aside to visit Valley Catholic Cemetery.
With an electric weed-whacker, a whisk broom, hand clippers and two bunches of fresh flowers, the pair wandered through the rows of flower-festooned...
Man killed in Felton crash
A 45-year-old man died early Sunday morning when his vehicle careened off of Graham Hill Road near Felton and smashed onto a tree.
California Highway Patrol Officer Israel Murillo said the man, who has not been named, was driving a 2009 Nissan Altima north on...
Brazen armed burglary at Watsonville pot dispensary
In the wake of a May 25 burglary at his Watsonville cannabis dispensary, Bryce Berryessa installed several new features designed to deter similar crimes from occurring again.
According to Watsonville Police Department, 12 armed suspects used an SUV to ram and break open the dispensary’s...
Showing the Love
New School Community Day School teacher Bryan Love left a 20-year career in sales and business 14 years ago after a family emergency forced him to take some time off.
After working as a substitute for just four days, Love found his new place at...
Former Watsonville Mayor, longtime attorney Todd McFarren dies
Todd McFarren, who sat on the Watsonville City Council from 1989–98—including two stints as Mayor—who served as a U.S. Marine sergeant in the Vietnam War, and who as an attorney was known to fight fiercely for the “little guy” during his career spanning three...
Travels with Tarmo: Homeward bound from state’s capital
Editor's note: This is the final part of reporter Tarmo Hannula's trip to the Sacramento area. Stay tuned to The Pajaronian for his future travel exploits.
One the last day of the short road trip my wife, Sarah and I took from Watsonville to Sacramento,...
A call to end homelessness
Nearly 300 people marched the streets of downtown Santa Cruz May 18 to help end homelessness.
The second-annual gathering, organized by Housing Matters, reigned in a coalition of local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and public supporters in the March to End Homelessness.
The event began outside Santa...
Group calls on Driscoll’s, Reiter, others to cease pesticide use near schools
Several community leaders and community members gathered at MacQuiddy Elementary School Tuesday evening to call on Driscoll’s, Reiter and other companies to stop using toxic pesticides around schools.
“Choosing to farm organically is a decision based on hope and a deep understanding of our interdependence...
PVUSD trustees approve $315M bond for November election
If Pajaro Valley Unified School District performed all the upgrades, repairs and construction projects that are needed at its 33 schools, it would cost more than $1.2 billion.
A large part of that estimate is $400 million to replace the district’s array of portable classrooms
That’s...
County Supervisors begin budget hearings
When voters approved Measure K during the March election, they expected the half-cent sales tax to fund several areas of services in both the cities and the unincorporated parts of Santa Cruz County, as promised by its backers.
This included $1 million annually each for...
Watsonville names Patrick Rodriguez, 37, new softball head coach
Watsonville High this week announced it promoted Patrick Rodriguez as the newest head coach for the softball team.
The 37-year-old Watsonville native will take the...