Miguelina Manriquez, Nov. 2: Education matters — now more than ever
While most kids grew up running around their daycare after school, I grew up hanging out in my parents’ classrooms. Both of my parents work in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District — a district that is severely underfunded. This district is largely populated by low-income, immigrant families.
Movie Review: Schumer, Hawn combo saves so-so 'Snatched'
Directed by Jonathan Levine (“Warm Bodies,” “50/50”) and written by Katie Dippold (“Ghostbusters”), “Snatched” does absolutely nothing new or special — or better than good, for that matter — but it does what a comedy should: make you laugh.
True and real
MEMO FROM REV. SHINSEKI
“A human being, his material possessions, and his surroundings are merely shadows of his mind. However, this Truth cannot be understood by an ignorant person who thinks the thought that things exist everlastingly or that things become completely extinct. These two...
Racism is a ‘WE’ issue
By Jimmy Dutra, former Watsonville City Councilman
In 1992, some of us witnessed the ugly truth of racism for the first time. We heard the outcry over the beating of Rodney King. I was a teenage student at Watsonville High School, who believed in an...
Watsonville gains a centenarian
By Jimmy Dutra, Watsonville Mayor
This week my grandmother, Epi Tavarez, turned 100. Just seeing that number is surreal. She was born one year after the 19th Amendment was ratified and women got the right to vote. My grandma has been a lifelong voter who...
A celebration of achievement
Members and staff of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County came together at Watsonville Slough Farm on Aug. 5 to commemorate the work they've accomplished.
Strawberry industry settles after hectic start to season
Strawberry season in the Pajaro Valley is in full swing, and experts are reporting that demand has steadily increased despite a difficult kickoff.
As the Covid-19 pandemic hit the California region in mid-March, strawberry producers initially saw a spike in sales. But it was soon...
Trina Coffman-Gomez, Nov. 16: Identifying common ground
There has been such a polarization and passion of opinions about what the future of our transportation will look like that I thought it best to share where we can all reach a consensus.
St. Francis boys’ hoops rebounds with league win over NMC |...
St. Francis senior Jacob Jimenez put up a game-best 22 points as the Sharks cruised to a 79-37 victory over North Monterey County in...





















