New habits
Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic entered our lives we have had to change the way we do things quite a bit. We are careful about who we encounter, we wear our masks, we practice social distancing, we wash our hands more often, and we...
California lawmakers should address health disparities, stem rise in prostate cancer
As California continues to grapple with the present effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are also beginning to consider the longer-term health impacts, including the significant percentage of Californians that delayed or avoided medical care due to concerns over Covid-19. The result is that,...
Orchard offers u-pick roses, outdoor fun
There is now a new way to assemble your own bouquet of roses, thanks to a pick-your-own rose venue at Birdsong Orchards in Watsonville.
Owner Nadine Schaeffer said she is growing dozens of varieties of roses on her 8-acre parcel where she also tends to...
Sambrailo sees major growth in sustainable packaging line
WATSONVILLE—When Santa Cruz-based natural foods store Staff of Life opened its second location in Watsonville in March, employees from Sambrailo were pleased to see their products featured front and center.
Fresh, organic vegetables and fruit in the store’s produce aisle were nestled inside Sambrailo’s sustainable...
Aptos farm wins Best of Show at regional olive oil competition
Patrick and Teresa Royan were living in Los Gatos when they first discovered Pleasant Valley, a rural area in Aptos permeated with rolling hills, orchards, vineyards and pastures. The couple had been looking for a place to settle relatively close to the beach yet...
This Week in Pajaro Valley’s Past, May 14
25 years ago on May 14, 1996
The program “Home Independent Study” is open in the PV School District at Alianza Elementary School. The 90-plus students enrolled in it are free to explore their own learning styles, interests and ideas while keeping within state and...
This Week in Pajaro Valley’s Past, May 7
25 years ago on May 6, 1996
The Cinco de Mayo festivities in the Plaza keep growing, drawing 8,000 people and diverse entertainers this year. Sunday’s festival featured the Mariachi Eleazor Cortes group, the salsa band Orquestra Sabor Latino, the White Hawk Dancers, Banda Torero...
Letters to the Editor, May 7
Railbanking is the answer
Who, what, why, where, when and how?
These are the questions that need to be considered in any public transportation project.
According to the RTC's planning documents, a $1.3 billion train would primarily serve a projected 300 Watsonville commuters, making an insignificant impact...
Summer school programs
By Jennifer Holm & Jennifer Schacher, PVUSD Board President & Vice-President
In a little less than a month, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District school year draws to a close, and we move into summer. While the gap between June and August can be a...
Watsonville Airport’s organic farm an ‘uncut diamond’
WATSONVILLE—On March 30, the Watsonville Municipal Airport (KWVI) announced it had renewed a two-year lease with Watsonville-based Urban Organics, aiming to bring fresh produce to the community as the sole organic farm within city limits.
At the southernmost tip of airport property, just over the...
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...