Spring Equinox
In the next few weeks, we will turn our clocks forward and then later in March the first day of Spring will arrive. The Buddhist celebration of the Spring Equinox is called Ohigan in Japanese. This year’s celebration takes on greater significance as we begin...
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...
Letters to the editor Oct. 31-Nov. 13
Trump is a Vector of Chaos
Using a phrase I learned from my wife's family, this is only my “pee pot opinion”, but I've been writing these observations for nine years, and almost all have turned out to be spot on. So, here we go:
Trump...
Memo from Rev. Hosei Shinseki: Pride Month
“May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness.May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.May all beings never be parted from freedom’s true joy.May all beings rest in equanimity free from attachment and aversion.”
The above quote comes from...
Letters to the Editor, April 8
Measure D will waste taxpayer money
Supporters of Measure D always promise us that we can railbank our county rail and eventually reinstall rail at a later date. They cite Denton County, Texas as an example of this happening.
Since I lived in Denton years ago,...
Hollywood’s harmful fixation on fashion
When I walked into work on Monday morning, a fellow reporter asked me if I’d tuned in to the Hollywood award show known as the Golden Globes, which was broadcasted the previous night. I had not—in fact, I didn’t even know it had aired.
I...
Letters to the Editor, Nov. 22
Incidents of convenience
Please realize that there are more guns in our country than there are people. That came to light again in one of the latest senseless shootings in Santa Clarita.
The shooter’s late father had six guns. While reports aren’t clear on the impact...
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...
Letters to the Editor, March 12
Standing up for Asian Americans
The Watsonville-Santa Cruz chapter of the National Japanese American Citizens League (W-SC JACL) is sincerely grateful for the support expressed in Theo Wierdsma’s column entitled, “Xenophobia erupting,” and to the Pajaronian for publishing it on Feb. 26.
We thank Theo Wierdsma...
K9 helps nab suspect, find drugs, cash, gun
A man was arrested Dec. 4 after Monterey County Sheriff's deputies found drugs, cash and a loaded gun in a vehicle.
Around 3:15pm, detectives with...















