PVUSD superintendent shares thoughts about state of District, its future
WATSONVILLE—Since the Covid-19 pandemic forced the closure of schools nationwide, education officials have been struggling to rebound from the significant—and unanticipated—academic and emotional toll at-home learning wrought on young people.
Pajaro Valley Unified School District has since boosted its ranks of socio-emotional counselors and mental...
County Supervisors get two new members
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors reached a milestone Thursday when the first African American person in its 172-year history was sworn in to the District 3 seat before a large audience that packed the chambers.
During the same ceremony, Felipe Hernandez...
CHP target impaired drivers for New Year’s weekend
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The California Highway Patrol will ratchet up its roadway vigilance over the New Year’s weekend by conducting a Maximum Enforcement Period from 6:01pm Dec. 30 through 11:59pm Jan. 2. During that time, all available CHP officers will be out on patrol with...
Criminal justice, healthcare and more among new laws for ’23
With a flurry of new laws ready to take effect, the Pajaronian took a look at a handful of the more notable ones, which take on several aspects of criminal justice, health services and firearms.Â
WALKING A FINE LINE
Before Assembly Bill 2147 was signed into...
State seized enough fentanyl to potentially kill North America, twice
CALIFORNIA—In 2022, authorities in California say they seized 28,765 pounds of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
The Department of Drug Enforcement said it is enough to kill hundreds of millions of...
Off the beat: Watsonville Police Capt. Tony Magdayao retires
Note: Reporter Tarmo Hannula contributed to this story
WATSONVILLE—After nearly three decades with the Watsonville Police Department, Capt. Tony Magdayao has dipped his toes into the quiet waters of retirement.
Magdayao was 30 when he joined the department, closing a career that began when he was...
A profile in public service: Lowell Hurst
By DREW ROGERS
CONTRIBUTED TO THE PAJARONIAN
Purely by happenstance after moving here in 2018, I met Lowell Hurst during his last month as Watsonville’s mayor (his third stint). Affable with a booming, cheery voice landing truth bombs and jokes equally, his Midwest openness and disdain...
El Sistema awarded $50,000 by the Lewis Prize for Music
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—El Sistema Santa Cruz/Pajaro Valley has been awarded $50,000 by the Lewis Prize for Music, which will help further the nonprofit’s work in bringing music education to local students.
El Sistema was named one of 10 finalists for the Lewis Prize for Music’s...
Photo: CHP hosts annual Adopt-a-Family program
California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murrillo (left), on behalf of the Santa Cruz area CHP, presents a hefty load of Christmas gifts to Selena Frutos and her kids, Julie Rodriguez, 5, Jade Duarte, 2, and Joseph Valencia, 10, as CHP officer Sam Courtney (rear)...
CHP Maximum Enforcement Period begins tonight
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—As people venture out for the Christmas holiday, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is preparing for a busy travel weekend in Santa Cruz County.
The CHP will kick off a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) beginning at 6:01pm today and will continue through 11:59pm Monday. Â
During...
Watsonville kicks off Christmas season
Sierra and Derrick Rodriguez visit Santa and Mrs. Claus Saturday in East Lake Village Shopping Center during the annual Shop Small/Buy Local event. Live...