About Town
Oct. 18, 2019
Tarmo Hannula: Here comes Halloween, one of my favorite times of the year. Fall leaves, colder mornings and evenings, crazy dressed up houses and businesses. The other day I spotted T-Rex stomping through Nob Hill Foods in Capitola following customers through the...
Federal education funding shift could mean $3M loss, upend two Cabrillo College programs
Two programs at Cabrillo College are at risk after the federal government announced major funding shifts away from schools that serve minority students.
When U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on Sept. 10 announced that the Department of Education is ending discretionary funding to Hispanic-serving...
POW/MIA flags to be flown at school district buildings
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees at its Nov. 18 meeting unanimously approved a resolution to fly POW/MIA flags above all district buildings daily.
It is not clear when the flags will be raised. District Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez says they will be...
Sergeant bids farewell to WPD
WATSONVILLE—As the aroma of sizzling meats, tortillas and salsa wafted across the parking lot of Watsonville Police Department May 11, a swarm of retired and current police officers and WPD staff gathered for a friendly send off to Sgt. Bryan Fuentez on his final...
New mural adorns County’s new Behavioral Health facility
WATSONVILLE—A new mural against an exterior wall of the new Adult and Children’s Behavioral Health facility in the County complex on Freedom Boulevard is nearing completion.
Watsonville artist Bruce Harman said he started the massive work at the end of August and has squeezed in...
Photo story: New four-way stop
NEW STOP A new four-way stop is now in place at Tuttle Avenue and Lake Village Drive. Watsonville Police say the change will help slow traffic and make the intersection safer for everyone, whether driving, walking, or biking.
Two women honored as veterans of the year
WATSONVILLE—The two women nominated as veterans of the year for the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 1716 and American Legion Post 121 say they chose to join the military for similar reasons: neither knew what they wanted to do when high school ended.
But once...
Festival celebrates Oaxacan culture
SANTA CRUZ—The annual Guelaguetza Santa Cruz festival unfolded Sunday at Branciforte Small Schools, an outdoor event that celebrates the culture of Oaxaca, Mexico.
Dazzling costumes and dance, a large orchestra—heavy in brass and woodwinds—food tents, arts and crafts of the region and plenty of sunshine...
New program puts Watsonville’s homeless to work
WATSONVILLE—A group of human services leaders officially launched a program created to put homeless people to work, pay them a small stipend and, more importantly, give them a sense of purpose
Under the WatsonvilleWorks! program, which began on Sept. 9, homeless people help clean areas...
County plans to reshape public defender office
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County officials are mulling a plan to retool the county’s public defender’s office, transitioning from its current private delivery system to a public one.
The move comes as the county’s contract with Biggam, Christensen and Minslof (BCM)—which has provided indigent criminal...
Letters to the Editor Dec. 5-11
Suggestions for PVUSD
My recommendations regarding the Recommended Realignments of PVUSD:
1. Regarding school closure, I have advocated for an idea to sell the District Office...





















