Navigating Watsonville’s skeptics
By John Flaherty, vice-chair of Navigator Schools’ Board of Directors
Sharon Waller, the co-founder of Navigator public, nonprofit charter schools, grew up in Watsonville. Her grandmother worked at Ford’s Department store. She took Sharon to lunch next door at the Woolworths.
Sharon Waller is a third-generation...
Remembering Jimmy Carter
America lost a giant on Dec. 29, when our 39th president, Jimmy Carter, passed away at the age of 100.
After his wife of 77 years, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, died a year ago, President Carter decided to stop his treatment for diagnosed metastatic...
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,...
Celebrating Women’s Equality Day
“The tribe is like an eagle
and the eagle will only fly true and high
when the wings are equal.”
—South American Indian Proverb
In 1973, the U.S. Congress designated Aug. 26 as “Women's Equality Day.” The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th...
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.
December Update: 2025 A Year of Delivering Results
As we close out the year, I want to provide District 4 with a clear update on the work we’ve advanced together. My priorities have remained steady: deliver improvements, protect our families, and bring long-overdue investment to South County. This year was defined by...
Letter: Does County care about Pajaro?
One has to wonder if our elected County officials really care about the people of Pajaro. Presently, an H2A housing project is proceeding in the community right next to the levee that will increase the population of the community by about 15-20%.
Now here is the...
Honoring those who sacrificed
POW—prisoner of war.
What happened to them? Where did they go? From the time civilization first began so began the mystery of the POW/MIA. Many have fought for truth, justice and freedom. Men and women sacrificing their lives for us.
As I remember my childhood, I...
Trina Coffman-Gomez, Nov. 9: Unified Corridor Study: How we got to this juncture
While there are many more reports and milestones the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) has accomplished, here is my summary of the history lesson.
Queer Youth Leadership Awards approaching
The Queer Youth Leadership Awards (QYLA) has, in the decades since its inception, honored young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people (LGBTQ+) whose...


















