How Farmworkers Outlawed ‘El Cortito’ 50 Years Ago
For decades in the Salinas Valley, the short-handle hoe, known as “El Cortito,” was used for weeding and thinning rows of crops that kept farmworkers stooped over for long hours each day. Workers were only able to stand and stretch when they reached the...
Loving past the division
Memo from Pastor Rene:
There they were, side by side, helping to feed evacuees in our church parking lot last week: A true red-state conservative and a deep blue Democrat. I knew this about the two men from previous conversations, but as I watched them...
Returning to class
By Jennifer Holm & Jennifer Schacher, PVUSD Board President & Vice-President
Like so many others in education, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District community has had a rough year. We are approaching the one-year mark of schools closing to in-person instruction. That feels significant. In...
Letter to the Editor, Feb. 27: Attacks on Community Bridges unwarranted
Letter to the Editor, Feb. 27, 2018
From the editor's desk, Aug. 1: Amusement safety in the spotlight
When tragedy struck the Ohio State Fair on July 26, the amusement industry was attacked by the general public. As is the case nowadays, people took to social media to bash the industry, many saying they would never visit an amusement park again.
No, there are no Coronavirus cases in Watsonville
Let’s set the record straight. There are no confirmed Coronavirus cases in Watsonville and we did not report that absolute falsehood. I can say that with 100 percent certainty.
For those that do not know, someone on the internet was playing a game earlier this...
Opening 2020 together | On My Mind
On New Year’s Eve my neighbor Jan invited me to join her and a bunch of our neighbors for a bonfire in her front yard to help close out 2019 and usher in a warm beginning to 2020. By 7 p.m. she had an...
Helen Beavers
Helen L. Beavers died on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017, at her home in Freedom. She was 81.
Letters to the Editor, Dec. 9
Grateful for opportunity to run for PVUSD board
With sincere appreciation to my community, CSEA, KSCO and all that supported my candidacy. I would also like to acknowledge the remarkable and tireless support team that unexpectedly pitched-in with help and guidance. Your generous contributions, personal...
Letters to the Editor, Nov. 16, 2023
Questions surrounding PVUSD ethnic studies decision
As a former member of the Ethnic Studies Community Cooperative Committee, I read and presented the following open letter to Ms. Jennifer Holm during the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting on Nov. 8.
I have some...
From Our Archives: Public Transportation
A city bus rolls along Main Street into the Watsonville Transit Square on March 23, 1954. (Sam Vestal/Pajaronian file)


















