Supervisor’s Update: Equity: From commitment to action
In the heart of Santa Cruz County, our community is rallying around a powerful commitment to equity.
Our recent equity statement reflects a transformative spirit, embracing every individual with support, dignity and compassion. Together, we're striving for systemic changes to address historical underfunding, language barriers,...
Movie Review: 'Justice League’ brings up feelings of what could have been
“Justice League” is a rushed, cut-together mess through its first two acts that has no heart and continuously thuds in the comedy department so badly that I was actually cringing.
Guest view: Feeding hope and nourishing community
By Erica Padilla-Chavez, Cindy Larive and Susan True
Shelly and Marty Hernandez go big on their annual Holiday Open House. Shelly, who has a passion for cooking, starts prepping weeks ahead. Over the years, the Hernandez open house has raised tens of thousands of meals...
Is there no balm in Gilead … or anywhere?
Looking over the suffering of his people, the prophet Jeremiah cries out in grief and dismay, "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?” (Jeremiah 8:22) That is, is there no comfort for the suffering? Is there no relief for the...
Sandy Lydon: The Porter family legacy
The myth about how Watsonville’s original Chinatown (1870-1888) moved from the corner of Maple and Union to a new site across the river in Monterey County began even before the move was completed in September 1888.
The story of the delicate negotiations and the Chinese...
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,...
Letter: Need a true bridge on Murphy Crossing
Building a real bridge over Pajaro River on Murphy Crossing Road “needs to be an immediate priority," according to an editorial in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
I have advocated for building a real bridge over Pajaro River on Murphy Crossing Road by replacing the current...
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.
Bob Fifield, Jan. 2: Time to invest in renewable energy
Over many years, oil companies have provided fuel to allow fossil powered engines to be useful (which has been appreciated for generations by the masses). They probably did not provide all that just out of the goodness of their hearts; many millionaires were made and some just in investing even became billionaires.
Letters to the Editor, Dec. 7, 2023
Hospital is a lifeline for Watsonville
I had an array of emotions after reading that the Watsonville Community Hospital got approved for a bond to fund much-needed repairs.
Currently, Watsonville is home to around 51,000 people, and for many, this hospital is all that they have...
The Pajaronian’s Female Athlete of the Year: Olivia Contreras
There’s a lot of work that goes into being a student-athlete nowadays.
Most have to juggle between practice, workouts (sometimes twice a day), school work...



















