A Year of Service, Growth, and Civic Health in Watsonville
On Dec. 9, I had the profound honor of being sworn in as Mayor of Watsonville.
Standing before community leaders, public servants, and neighbors that evening, I felt a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility.
Watsonville is a city defined by service, resilience, and possibility, and...
Local and national elections display the power of media and bias on politics
Editor’s note: Zen Weaver is a junior at Aptos High School. This is his second story for The Pajaronian. We welcome contributions from aspiring young journalists. Email [email protected]
In an era where headlines spread faster than facts, Santa Cruz County residents, politicians, and community leaders...
Letters to the Editor, Dec. 16
Hats off to the multitude of volunteers that have pulled off the Holiday Lights display at our Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. My understanding is that with the state’s intervention in the leadership at the fairgrounds, staff hours were cut from 48 hours to just...
Watsonville Community Hospital’s future is in our hands
At present, Watsonville Hospital Corporation is in Bankruptcy Court, putting this essential institution at risk. It’s critical to this region that Watsonville Community Hospital continues serving the community. Fortunately, our local and state governments, health-focused nonprofits, medical establishment and donors are working hard to...
Guest View: Period Project tackles menstruation stigma
By Sophia Manzur
Period poverty is defined as the struggle those who have a menstrual cycle face while trying to afford menstrual products. Despite not being able to control a menstrual cycle, those who have one are still left to purchase products that some cannot...
There’s a hole in the bucket
Memo from Rev. Mathews-Johnson
I love the old story that goes like this: A group of young children were sitting in a circle with their teacher. She was going around asking each of them questions.
“Davy, what noise does a cow make?” He said, “It goes...
Don’t wait, act
By Christian Garcia
Like many other communities, Watsonville has significant challenges. We have an ailing local economy, affordable housing needs, needs for better access to healthcare and education, aging infrastructure, funding needs for local parks and youth programs, and the list goes on.
Inspiring people to...
Kirk Schmidt: Fire in the Sky a spectacular time
Fourth of July fireworks are, by definition, spectacular. Spectacular is what 9,000 (est.) people, who came to the Watsonville Municipal Airport, and many more in surrounding neighborhoods, said on Tuesday night, a fabulous pyrotechnic display to celebrat
On My Mind, Nov. 2: No passwords or passcodes, please
If I can afford a gravestone, when that time comes, it will simply offer these words: “No Password, No Passcode, No User name, no iTunes password, No iMac User name, No PIN code, No SSI.” None of this will be necessary to stop and think about Tarmo and what he meant to you and this kind Earth.
Manny Contreras out as Watsonville High’s head football coach
In a stunning turn of events, Manny Contreras will not return as Watsonville High’s head football coach for the upcoming 2026 fall season.
Contreras received...



















