Opinion

This week marks six months since the insurrection at the United States Capitol building, the death of five people, the attempted assassination of the Vice President and members of Congress, and the first flying of the Confederate Battle Flag in our capitol building. It...

literal new birth: This year we welcomed into the world our grandson Emmett—and two more grandchildren are due before the end of the year! I hosted Emmett’s mom, my daughter Elisabeth, on my daily video blog recently. As she pointed out, the year 2020 and...

25 years ago on July 1, 1996 Watsonville’s Spirit of Watsonville Committee organized a full schedule of fun across the Pajaro Valley leading up to the annual Grand Parade on the Fourth of July. The weekend prior had live banda music and dancing in the...

Distributing limited resources fairly and equitably in a way that best serves students, staff, families and the community is an ongoing challenge for any school board. On July 21, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will review and discuss the Elementary...

25 years ago on June 24, 1996 For the first time in its 15 years of existence, the Monterey Bay Strawberry Festival has awarded its title of Strawberry Queen to two contestants: North Monterey County High junior Nikki Gillot and Watsonville High graduate Norma Fabian....

It is so easy, ridiculously easy, to simply point at someone else and say, “He’s not in our group.”  Ever felt that way? I know I have, but I confess I’m not proud of it.  Even churches make that mistake. Arthur Herman’s book “How the...

A response to pro-rail letters The Pajaronian has printed pro-rail opinion pieces that, in fairness, require a response. First, it should be said that almost everyone initially likes the idea of a train. Many of us have been to mega cities and rode the rail. But...

One of the healthiest food banks in the country. That’s the claim Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County makes because of the amazing generosity of our local agriculture community, the farmers, packers and farmworkers of the Pajaro Valley and beyond. Second Harvest receives more...

25 years ago on June 18, 1996 Today is the 4th annual celebration of the apparition of the Virgin Mary on one of the trees at Pinto Lake County Park. The image was first sighted by Anita Contreras Mendoza as she walked through the park....

I wish to share the merit of writing this work equally with all beings, So that we may all awaken aspiration for Bodhi and together attain birth in the Land of Peace and Bliss. The above English translation was written by a Chinese Buddhist monk by...