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Watsonville
February 23, 2026

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...

Three ways to help friends in crisis

Memo from Pastor Rene Schlaepfer
Memo from Pastor Rene A friend who is a local marriage and family therapist told me recently she’s booked solid with Zoom counseling sessions every day. “People are feeling so much anxiety now,” she said, “more than I’ve ever seen in my practice.” Stress from...

Guest View: County jails are failing people awaiting trial

letters to the editor
Recently, we learned of a hunger strike in the Santa Cruz County main jail. Due to intolerable conditions, nine men awaiting trial started a hunger strike on Nov. 8. Five remained on hunger strike for nearly a month. Their demands?  • That jail staff treat...

Sandy Lydon: The false myth that Watsonville drove its Chinese community across the river in 1888

I first heard the story in the 1970s when beginning my research on the history of the Chinese in the region. I read it in community histories, newspaper history columns, and both Chinese and non-Chinese old-timers told me the story with conviction.  It was true...

Supervisor’s Update: Pajaro Valley rising

santa cruz county supervisor felipe hernandez
As the days get longer, we have the opportunity to cherish the beauty of our community under the warm sunshine. However, our community has also been impacted by the effects of climate change, with frequent flooding and atmospheric storms in parts of Watsonville and...

Keeping Health Care Local, Together

The Pajaro Valley Health Care District is evolving to better reflect and represent the diverse voices that make up our community. Today, our board of directors is elected “at-large,” meaning that every registered voter within the District votes for each seat. Beginning in 2026,...

Letters to the Editor | Aug. 23, 2019

Letters to the Editor for the week of Aug. 23, 2019.

Lives lost

Jay Shinseki Watsonville
May all beings find comfort and peace of mind in the midst of tragedy and loss. We send forth loving thoughts to those in sorrow and pain. We share in the tragedy of loss. We have all experienced loss, tragedy and separation. When we...

Hanamatsuri–The Flower Festival

Jay Shinseki Watsonville
This month Buddhist throughout the world are celebrating the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha with the celebration called Hanamatsuri the Flower Festival. The name comes from the legend of Shakyamuni’s birth in Lumbini’s Garden and the many flowers that were in bloom that day in...

Religion: Accept the adjustments in life

Jay Shinseki Watsonville
One of the basic teachings of the Buddha is the truth of change. This is an undeniable reality that we are all aware of. However, we resist change and cling to the illusion that we are always in control of our lives. When life...
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Photo story: Crash marks third in same area

A tow operator cleans up the area where a driver smashed into a utility pole Friday morning on Airport Boulevard at Roache Road. Watsonville...