Only in Watsonville
The Japanese love cherry blossoms both for their beauty and as harbingers of spring, but also because their short life reminds us of the transience of life.
Sweet but sad.
In the 1920s the Pajaro Valley Japanese community donated and planted hundreds of cherry blossom trees...
Awakening for a better world
The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
—Jesus
When...
Supervisor’s Update: Winter readiness and community highlights
As the winter season approaches, ensuring the safety and well-being of our community becomes our paramount concern. Navigating the uncertainties of changing weather patterns demands unity and vigilance.
In preparation for the winter season and to foster community resilience, my office collaborates with regional partners...
Letters to the Editor | Sept. 3
City must update general plan to build around airport
At the Aug. 24 Watsonville City Council meeting, while discussing the housing project at 547 Airport Blvd., some council members implied that the Watsonville Pilots Association (WPA) had been involved in lawsuits with Target, Home Depot...
Strong schools, strong communities
A question we often hear from constituents is, “I don’t have kids at PVUSD. Why should I invest my time, energy, and tax dollars in schools?” However, a study in The Journal of Urban Affairs noted a strong correlation between community satisfaction and school...
Cultivating fruit
One of my favorite passages in the Christian scriptures comes from Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia. Perhaps surprisingly, the reason I love it so much is how not-religious it is.
The passage sets up a contrast between disparate ways we can choose to...
Reinstate Barrios Unidos at Pajaro Valley High School!
A month and a half ago, Principal Todd Wilson of Pajaro Valley High School decided against renewing a contract with Barrios Unidos, a grassroots Santa Cruz organization that has long worked with incarcerated and system-impacted people, drawing wisdom and leadership from those with lived...
Letter: Thank you for Porter history
I'm not a regular reader of the Pajaronian, but I am so glad to have caught the article “The Porter Family Legacy” (Pajaronian, March 10-16) and learn of the family’s link to the Chinese community in Watsonville. My father Henry G. Wong leased the...
Mr. City Manager, please answer these questions
By JOHN MENKE, Hyde Street Neighborhood Association Representative
On Sept. 25, I emailed you a letter discussing the proposed Hilton Hotel at 1 Western Drive. Excerpts from that letter subsequently appeared in the Oct. 4 issue of The Pajaronian as an “open letter’’ to you....
Watsonville City Council hears traffic safety plan
The Watsonville City Council on Feb. 10 reviewed a draft Vision Zero Corridor Study aimed at reducing traffic deaths and serious injuries, particularly among...


















