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June 7, 2025

Letters to the Editor, June 18

letter to the editor pajaronian
Acosta’s ‘No’ vote a disservice to PVUSD students Amid a national teacher shortage, last week Trustee Georgia Acosta voted to make it even more challenging to put a quality teacher in every classroom. With hard-to-staff positions in areas like special education and science, schools occasionally...

Key environmental legislation passes assembly

CALIFORNIA—As California recovers from a historic heatwave, the State Assembly last week passed three bills by Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) to help fight the climate crisis, incentivize sustainable agriculture, and advance environmental justice for all.  “California has ambitious environmental goals, and the advancement of my...

Local water agency works toward long-term drought solutions

  In 1983, a group of local farmers looking for ways to manage the Pajaro Valley’s groundwater basin formed the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA). A year later, the agency was officially recognized by the state legislature, who tasked them to stop groundwater overdraft...

A lament

Rev. Robby Olson
Questioning God’s character and promises? Welcome to the Bible! Most readers of the Bible spend little time in the book of Lamentations, a short book of five poems composed by an anonymous Hebrew poet, reflecting on the fall of Jerusalem in the 6th century BCE....

Taking Pride in our community

pvusd trustees
Rainbow flags are flying at PVUSD schools this month. The colored bars represent different aspects of our LGBTQ+ community, that we come from all races and backgrounds, and that—despite differences in how those aspects intersect—we are all together. The Progress Flag, as it is...

This Week in Pajaro Valley’s Past, June 4

25 years ago on June 4, 1996 720 students will soon transfer from middle and junior high schools in the PV School District to the new year-round Lakeview Middle School. It’s open year-round by eliminating summer break and having four tracks of students, with each...

The trouble with snakes

Rev. Robin Mathews-Johnson
“ called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” (Mark 8:34) What does that really mean anyway? I can tell you what it...

This Week in Pajaro Valley’s Past, May 28

this week in pajaro valley's past
25 years ago on May 23, 1996 Nobody knows Watsonville High School like Mas Hashimoto. Born at home just two blocks from the campus, he’s spent two-thirds of his life there; first as a student, then as a teacher of history and geography. He knows...

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...

Awakening for a better world

Rev. Robby Olson
The Spirit of the Lord is on me,  because he has anointed me  to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners  and recovery of sight for the blind,  to set the oppressed free,  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.  —Jesus When...
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Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo

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...