Luis Alejo, March 20: The voting rights gladiator who changed California politics forever
California’s Latino community has lost its greatest voting rights gladiator. Last Friday, the legendary civil rights lawyer Joaquin G. Avila lost his battle to cancer after previously suffering from a stroke. No one was more accomplished than him when it came to fighting for Latino political empowerment and representation.
Annual Artichoke Festival returns June 3-4
The Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival will return to the Monterey County Fair and Event Center for two full days of cooking demonstrations, activities, exhibits and entertainment.
Bringing their education home
After 18 months of work by 200 students, Pajaro Valley Unified School District unveiled a small house that will soon be home to someone who needs it.
At just 20 by 8 feet, the tinyhome is ready for occupation, and comes equipped with living quarters...
Letters to the editor Oct. 3 – 9
Bring tennis back to Callaghan Park
There are many American legends of men’s professional tennis. And from its beginnings, the United States has produced the finest players the world over. In recent decades that has not been the case. Why? The decline of interest in...
ICE becomes an autocratic tool
It is generally accepted that, historically, a common survival strategy for autocratic leaders includes forming a personal paramilitary support group. These groups serve to counterbalance the regular military, strengthen security services and provide an armed force loyal directly to the leaders, rather than the...
Working together, staying together during disasters
Over the past five years, we’ve learned how to navigate successive disasters in Santa Cruz County.
We fill sandbags, dig ditches, clear fallen trees, clean up debris, distribute food and help folks cover critical expenses when they are out of work due to shutdowns, floods,...
Chamber announces annual awardees
The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture has announced its annual awardees, including the man and woman of the year.
Nita Gizdich was on her ranch Tuesday morning, and as usual she was working.
Although sweeping the driveway leading to her iconic pie shop was...
Mayor’s Message: Help shape the future
Since my last message our clocks have sprung forward and Spring is here. As we move past the storms of the past several months, much-awaited federal help for our neighbors in Pajaro has arrived.
The President approved a major disaster declaration for Santa Cruz and...
Letters to the Editor, Jan. 23–29
Passenger rail price estimates too high
One can never convince me that restoring the Santa Cruz Branch rail line for passenger rail would cost an...



















