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August 24, 2026

The hidden history of Watsonville, Pajaro Valley | Tony’s Thoughts

Last week my colleague Tarmo Hannula unveiled the first entry of a column I will be eagerly awaiting to read each month: Pajaro Valley, Past & Present. The column will be a deep dive into one of Watsonville’s many historic buildings – or an...

Tony’s Thoughts: Hank Garcia, please reopen Fox Theater

fox watsonville downtown
Hank Garcia, we’ve never met before—I hope that changes in the near future—but I want you to know you’ve had a massive impact on my life. You helped me see new worlds. You helped me learn English. You helped me fall in love with...

Letters to the Editor, March 12

letter to the editor pajaronian
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...

You make a mess, you clean it up

Rev. Robin Mathews-Johnson
There are times when we need to take a break, and consider our options. In the Bible, we call it the Sabbath, the seventh day, a day of rest and reflection; a day for God.   For someone like me, it’s a very hard thing to...

Addressing crime from all angles

Tony's Thoughts
I didn’t know Feliciano Martinez Perea but his story is not foreign to me. It’s a story that many Watsonville residents know. It’s the immigrant’s story. Martinez Perea hailed from the small town of San Martín Peras, Oaxaca, Mexico. He came to Watsonville to...

Concerned residents say ‘no’ to pesticide sprays

letter to the editor pajaronian
On Aug. 24, four of five Santa Cruz County Supervisors, except Greg Caput, from Pajaro Valley’s District 4, rejected the County Civil Grand Jury’s recommendation that they support an online pilot program to provide the public with advance notice of hazardous pesticides being applied...

Mayor’s column August 2025: In praise of the airport

When people hear “Watsonville Airport,” it often brings to mind moments of resilience and pride—whether it was serving as a crucial lifeline after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, playing a key emergency role during the 2020 CZU fires, or even welcoming a presidential visit...

On My Mind: Slowly returning to normal

tarmo mug
Last week my wife Sarah and I joined our friends Craig and Norma for dinner at Johnny’s Harborside restaurant in the Santa Cruz Harbor. It was the first time any of us have enjoyed a sit down meal indoors since November due to pandemic...

Letters to the Editor, May 25

Letters to the Editor, May 25, 2018

Shaz Roth | Honoring those who have given back

The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture is celebrating 57 years of honoring the people, businesses and organizations who have made this one of the absolute best places to live.
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Felon arrested with firearms, suppressors, ammunition and methamphetamine

An investigation that began with a traffic stop accelerated when investigators found multiple firearms, firearm suppressors, high-capacity magazines, ammunition, firearm manufacturing components and methamphetamine...

Man arrested after standoff

Climate change turns lethal