This week in Pajaro Valley’s Past, March 5
Compiled by Steve Bankhead
25 years ago on March 4, 1996
Watsonville High teacher Kathy Anderson was named Santa Cruz County’s Teacher of the Year for her work in the Interactive Mathematics Program. She sought help from the Packard Foundation and received a $150,000 grant to...
No greater love
Memo from Pastor Rene
This summer our nation is reeling at the horrific police brutality on display in the death of George Floyd and others, and grappling with the difficult task of criminal justice reform––and the broader plague of systemic racism.
But while the country’s focus...
This week in Pajaro Valley’s Past, Feb. 26
Compiled by Steve Bankhead
25 years ago on Feb. 23, 1996
A 13-member delegation from Watsonville’s sister city Kawakami, Japan began a whirlwind tour here of our lettuce industry. The lettuce industry began in Japan during the U.S. occupation after World War II when a mess...
Letters to the Editor, Sept. 9
Naloxone can save lives
A billboard will be unveiled in Watsonville presenting how Naloxone can easily save and reverse an opioid overdose.
True convenience arrives as soon as anyone views the value and significance of this tool. It has the power to save a life. Why...
Letters to the Editor, April 29
Reasons to vote against the levee assessment
Everyone seems to agree that the Salsipuedes and Pajaro levees need repair. The public relations information from the new Pajaro Flood Agency isn’t emphasizing some issues that deserve to be considered before you vote—and there are about 3,000...
Watching war crimes as we prepare for Easter
As I write this, images of atrocities in the city of Bucha, a suburb of Kiev, Ukraine, are crossing our screens. Executed civilians, hands bound, lying prostrate on the road. Neighborhoods targeted and destroyed, leaving innocent Ukrainians in the wake. A cyclist, seemingly shot...
Measure N is Vital for Pajaro Valley’s Economic Prosperity
Watsonville Community Hospital is vital to the economic success of the Pajaro Valley. Businesses, their employees and customers all benefit from local access to healthcare. From employees to medical providers, the hospital provides nearly 1,000 local jobs and medical care for over 100,000 people...
Silvia Morales, Oct. 12: South County is underrepresented on the RTC
An acute racial divide has historically separated North and South County. Decisions made by the Regional Transportation Commission as it stands will adversely impact residents of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) for decades. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, low income and minority communities are negatively impacted in many ways by inadequate transportation planning.
Bill Monning, Aug. 5: Purple Heart Day
On July 20, 2017, the California State Senate passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 55 declaring Aug. 7 as Purple Heart Day in California. I am proud to be a coauthor of this resolution that honors Purple Heart recipients and those who serve in the Armed Fo
Johanna Miller: Fireworks irresponsible in summer heat
Last week, Watsonville experienced one of its hottest weekends on record. Temperatures reached 110 degrees at one point — practically unheard of for our region’s normally mild summer days. When things began to cool down slightly on Sunday, it seemed like most of us were breathing a collective sigh of relief.
Santa Cruz, Monterey counties to test wireless emergency system Thursday
Officials in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties will conduct a test of the Wireless Emergency Alert system on Thursday, sending emergency messages to mobile...



















