Reshaping the focus of history
From the first day his administration assumed office this January, President Trump broke all records issuing executive orders.
He generated 26 on his first day alone. These presidential directives covered a wide swath of topics, from sweeping changes in how the federal government works to...
Organization supports farmworker families
Ann López’s humanitarian journey began through her own education.
Johanna Miller, Feb. 13: Making amends with Valentine’s Day
I was supposed to be born on Valentine’s Day. About eight months into my mother’s pregnancy, her doctor announced that Feb. 14 was her most likely due date.
Guest View: Absurd decision threatens fairgrounds’ future
By GREG CAPUT
The Santa Cruz County Fair was facing bankruptcy when Dave Kegebein entered his position to save our county fairgrounds. The state had pulled back funding and thus threatened the existence of the fair.
Many county fairgrounds have shut down in California due to...
Kirk Schmidt: Fire in the Sky a spectacular time
Fourth of July fireworks are, by definition, spectacular. Spectacular is what 9,000 (est.) people, who came to the Watsonville Municipal Airport, and many more in surrounding neighborhoods, said on Tuesday night, a fabulous pyrotechnic display to celebrat
Strawberries once again take top spot as crop values rise
MONTEREY COUNTY—Monterey County agriculture’s gross production value bounced back by 4.8% in 2021 to just over $4.1 billion, despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic that also resulted in supply chain shortages.
This increase represents a $190 million rise from 2020, when the gross production value was...
Supervisor’s Update: Stronger together
The start of the New Year greeted all of us with more water than any of us, including meteorologists, had anticipated. And again, this past week our neighbors in Pajaro were devastatingly flooded. Although Pajaro isn’t technically a part of Watsonville or Santa Cruz...
The origin of Santa Cruz County and the division of the Pajaro Valley
Over the years of researching, writing and teaching this region’s history I have been keeping top-10 lists such as the most influential natural disasters, floods, earthquakes and the like.
I also have one of the “most ill-advised things done by individuals or groups”—perhaps more bluntly...
Abel Mejia, Dec. 16: Public relations 101
The Human Resources Assistant Superintendent of Pajaro Valley Unified School District should take some remedial courses in public relations if she is going to succeed at her job. She is only partly to blame for the mess that is our district’s negotiation process and the job that the district does to provide for our children’s needs.
Guest View: Thank you for giving Watsonville a bookstore, Kelly
I cannot remember the first time I visited Kelly’s bookstore. I had previously known it as Crossroads Books back in high school. It was within a short walking distance from Pajaro Valley High School, and I had a habit of stopping by after school.
I’d...
K9 helps nab suspect, find drugs, cash, gun
A man was arrested Dec. 4 after Monterey County Sheriff's deputies found drugs, cash and a loaded gun in a vehicle.
Around 3:15pm, detectives with...




















