Year In Review: Highlighting the good in a challenging year
Around this time last year, I wrote that 2020 was “a year that changed the world.” And I stand by that. But in my opinion, 2021 was just as challenging, if not harder. Sure, we got to see friends and family again, maybe go...
Zach Friend and Erica Padilla-Chavez: PVPSA helping young people thrive
For more than 25 years, an important nonprofit has been quietly working in our community to support our schools, students and their parents — Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance (PVPSA).
Let’s give thanks
I hope you enjoyed Halloween with your friends and family. Whether it was carving pumpkins, trick or treating or attending parties, many of us were happy to be out again enjoying the interaction with our communities. This time of year brings with it many...
Santa Cruz County Supervisors year in review
In previous years, I have written about the year in review, however, since we are approaching the turn of the decade this coming year, it seems appropriate to have a decade in review. As many of you are already aware, the county has been...
Vote yes on Measure M
As a lifelong resident of Watsonville and current PVUSD Trustee for Area 4, I urge you to support Measure M in the upcoming election.
This measure is vital for our community's future. As a proud Watsonville High School alumnus (Class of 2000) and parent of...
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...
Celebrating new birth
literal new birth: This year we welcomed into the world our grandson Emmett—and two more grandchildren are due before the end of the year!
I hosted Emmett’s mom, my daughter Elisabeth, on my daily video blog recently. As she pointed out, the year 2020 and...
Letters to the Editor, Nov. 5
What happened to civility?
Thank you Theo Wierdsma, for your thoughtful opinion piece that was published in the Pajaronian on Oct. 22 about the growing polarization in our political country. I am worried as well, about the future of our democracy.
More specifically, I was saddened...
Withe the continent in disaray, Europe’s populists embrace Trump
Following the U.S. election, many celebrated a significant electoral victory. Many simply exhaled. Others are showing signs of frustration and despair. A significant segment of devastated voters is beginning to reflect on what just happened, and many, if not most, anxiously wait for the...
Letters to the Editor, Oct. 16
Alyssa Wall for County Office of Education
After eight years on the Santa Cruz County Office of Education board, I am stepping down. I am very pleased that Alyssa Wall filed to run. She grew up in San Jose, fell in love with Santa Cruz...
Graniterock polluted the Pajaro River, lawsuit alleges
Two environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday accusing Granite Rock Company of violating the Clean Water Act for more than 1,000 days at...




















