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Watsonville
July 18, 2025

Was this the right time to increase utility rates?

Jimmy Dutra
Our council passed a rate increase this week on water, wastewater and solid waste utilities. It was a 6-1 vote. I was the sole vote against the rate hike. This was a difficult decision for all of us. Here is my explanation on why...

Letters to the Editor, April 23

letter to the editor pajaronian
Immigrants are essential Immigrants have played a critical role throughout the pandemic in our community. Across the country, nearly 23 million immigrants have been putting their lives on the line in essential roles that keep our children and families healthy, and keep our child care,...

Healing Together: The Progress and Promise of Watsonville Community Hospital

Trust is not built on words alone—it is forged through action, teamwork, and empathy. This holds true in times of prosperity, but is even more critical during hardship and crisis. Few experiences unite people like the shared journey from loss to pain, to recovery,...

From the editor's desk: Palm trees represent ‘baby step’ for downtown

Last week, crews planted palm trees in the recently-constructed medians along Main Street in downtown Watsonville. Immediately, people took to Facebook to express their disapproval.

Let’s give thanks

Jimmy Dutra
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...

24-hour Highway 1 closure coming March 23

Caltrans is scheduled to close both directions of Highway 1 for a 24-hour block on March 23/24 to make way for the demolition of the 1948 Capitola Ave. overcrossing.  Kevin Drabinski, spokesperson for Caltrans, said the work is the second phase of the three-phase project...

The Pajaronian recommends a Yes vote on Measure Y

In 2014, two-thirds of Watsonville’s voters approved the Measure G one-half percent sales tax to fund police, fire and youth violence prevention services for five years. This year, it will provide almost $5 million in funding to the police and fire departments—more than 10...

Letters to the Editor, April 16

letter to the editor pajaronian
Stunned at Cabrillo’s backpedal after name change discussion  I was absolutely amazed that the president of Cabrillo completely rejected the presentation given by Dr. Iris Engstrand, University of San Diego history emeritus professor, on the history of Spanish Explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. This presentation was...

Letters to the Editor, Dec. 21, 2018

Letters to the Editor, Dec. 21, 2018

Driscoll’s to build first commercial vertical strawberry farm

One year after announcing a new research and development partnership to grow strawberries indoors, Watsonville-based Driscoll’s and Plenty Unlimited Inc. are building a new indoor vertical strawberry farm.  Together, the companies aim to accelerate the growth of Driscoll’s top crop by using Plenty’s growing platform. According...
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Female Athlete of the Year: Aptos’ Izzy Graff brought excellence to...

Aptos graduate Izzy Graff was on the verge of joining the cross country team going into her junior year in 2023 so she could...