Sandy Lydon: The plan to obliterate Santa Cruz County
There were 27 original counties when California became a state on Sept. 9, 1850, but adjusting boundaries and forming new ones was nowhere near finished. From 1850 to 1907 the California Legislature made 35 major changes or created new ones. Imperial County, born in...
Auction raises $2.1M at Salinas Valley Fair
With the theme “Cowboy Up and Wind Down,” the 2017 Salinas Valley Fair brought thousands of visitors to South County and featured the annual Junior Livestock Auction, which raked in $2.1 million from the sale of 950 animals.
Letters to the Editor, Oct. 29
It’s time for unity
Thanks to Mr. Wierdsma for his piece on the huge and ever-growing divide between both political parties, a well-written editorial. Having said that, I have an opinion as to the cause for said divide.
President Clinton many years back, was able to...
John Song: A meaning behind ‘Thank You’
John Houseman, the British-American actor following his Academy-winning role as Prof. Kingsfield in “The Paper Chase,” became more famous for his commercials for the brokerage firm Smith Barney. His signature look was wearing a bowtie with a three-piece Oxford tweed suit and reading glasses...
Greg Becker, June 15: A rail travelogue and commentary
I have ridden the train from Watsonville to Santa Cruz.
Supervisor’s Update: Looking back, looking forward
Editor’s note: This is the second installment of a two-part Supervisor’s Update.
As the year draws to a close, I want to take a moment to extend my warmest Happy Holiday wishes to each and every one of you and to also wish you all...
Letter: No more outsiders for hospital
I would strongly recommend that the Watsonville City Council make their opinion known that the Council views the control of the operation and planning for the Community Hospital to be in the hands of a person that has been with the hospital and community...
Letters to the Editor, Jan. 6
Appreciate outgoing councilmembers
Thank you Watsonville Councilmembers Rebecca Garcia and Lowell Hurst for your longtime dedication to the Watsonville City Council. Please know that the Watsonville community is forever thankful for your leadership.
—Daryl Wise, Watsonville
Ancestral guilt
As an amateur genealogist, I would like to add my...
Guest View: Securing our health, keeping our commitment: Vote Yes on Measure N
Our community stands at a pivotal juncture. Access to life-saving, local healthcare for tens of thousands of residents throughout the Pajaro Valley, Santa Cruz County and North Monterey County is on the March 5, 2024 ballot.
Measure N is not just a bond; it is...
Pat Fohrman, April 7: A private initiative to solve a very public problem
At the March 13 meeting of the Watsonville City Council, prominent business people, Sherry Dang and Kirk DiCicco, outlined for the City Council a project that they have been engaged in over the past eight years, helping one homeless person at a time find stability and a way back to self-reliance and self-respect by providing jobs, positive reinforcement and training.
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...
















