Levee reconstruction project needs your support
Both my great-grandfathers immigrated to Watsonville in the 1850s. Not long after they first arrived, they were introduced to one of our region’s greatest threats to lives and livelihoods: flooding from the Pajaro River and its tributaries. Soon after arriving, my great-grandfather Stephano Martinelli,...
Letters to the editor Oct. 17–23
Organophosphates Endanger Our Children’s Future
25 years ago, when Dr. Brenda Eskenazi and her UC Berkeley team at the School of Public Health began taking blood and urine samples of pregnant women and young children in the Salinas Valley, they figured that anyone living within...
Letter: ‘Build It Now, It Will Never Be Cheaper’
Thankfully common sense prevailed and Measure D was defeated. However, those who support environmentally sound electric passenger rail service on the historic Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line must not rest on their laurels.
A concerted effort must be put forth to the Santa Cruz Regional...
Alliances in turmoil
In September of 1938, Adolph Hitler issued an ultimatum to Czechoslovakia, demanding it transfers the Sudetenland, a border region, to Germany.
He threatened acquisition by force if the country did not comply. This ultimatum led to the Munich Agreement, in which Britain, France, and Italy...
Supervisor’s Update: Embracing progress and community
In the vibrant tapestry of our community, positive change is often driven by the dedication and collaboration of individuals who care deeply about the betterment of our shared spaces. From rejuvenating local landmarks to fostering future leaders, and recognizing outstanding contributions, the recent events...
Letters to the editor July 10-16
Human cost of pesticides should be considered
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District from 2017-2023 had a total of 14,486,224 pounds of pesticides applied in its boundaries—more than any other school district on the California coast or Salinas Valley.
During the same 7-year period, PVUSD had...
From the editor's desk: Step forward and report crimes
I am relieved to say that we finally got through a Monday without reports of child abuse popping up from somewhere in Santa Cruz County.
Appreciating the bounty of our agriculture community
One of the healthiest food banks in the country. That’s the claim Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County makes because of the amazing generosity of our local agriculture community, the farmers, packers and farmworkers of the Pajaro Valley and beyond.
Second Harvest receives more...
Rick Longinotti and Mireya Gomez-Contreras, Dec. 7: Real alternatives for Watsonville commuters
Anyone over a certain age who has driven the freeways of the Bay Area or Southern California knows that widening highways doesn’t work to reduce congestion beyond the short-term.
Naval Support Activity in Monterey to conduct exercises this week
Naval Support Activity Monterey is conducting a weeklong emergency readiness exercise that could bring increased military, police and emergency response activity around the installation.
The...

















