Abel Mejia, Dec. 9: Winter of discontent
Dec. 6, 2017 marked the one-year anniversary of the teacher’s union contract campaign for a decent raise on our salary schedule and the cap on our health and welfare benefits.
Racism is a ‘WE’ issue
By Jimmy Dutra, former Watsonville City Councilman
In 1992, some of us witnessed the ugly truth of racism for the first time. We heard the outcry over the beating of Rodney King. I was a teenage student at Watsonville High School, who believed in an...
Letter: County needs to address river at Murphy Crossing
We went to see the current situation of the Murphy Crossing Bridge area on Jan. 21 after we learned that there was a possibility of flooding in that area the next morning.
We measured the height between the bottom of the river and the bottom...
A lesson from the temptation of Jesus
The 40 days of Lent observed in Christianity begins with the story of Jesus who fasted for 40 days in the wilderness immediately following his baptism. It is as if before Jesus began his ministry, he needed to go through a spiritual boot camp...
Luis Alejo, March 20: The voting rights gladiator who changed California politics forever
California’s Latino community has lost its greatest voting rights gladiator. Last Friday, the legendary civil rights lawyer Joaquin G. Avila lost his battle to cancer after previously suffering from a stroke. No one was more accomplished than him when it came to fighting for Latino political empowerment and representation.
Watsonville Community Hospital Foundation – Making strides during challenging times
Not long ago, our community came together around a powerful shared belief: that everyone deserves access to healthcare.
That belief fueled the effort to save Watsonville Community Hospital and bring it under local control—a major victory.
But like many hospitals across the country, we continue to...
California FarmLink receives $500K from Wells Fargo
APTOS—Wells Fargo has announced a boost to diverse small businesses with $1.7 million in grants from its Diverse Community Capital program, which offers capital and technical assistance to minority-owned small businesses through Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).
“Diverse small businesses face unique challenges to start...
What’s going on?
Special events
SCDG Turkey Bowl (Nov. 27)
The Santa Cruz Derby Girls invite fans, friends and supporters to participate in their 11th Annual Turkey Bowl at the Boardwalk Bowl from 6-9 p.m. This annual tournament raises funds to help offset costs for the league’s travel teams. Teams...
Ag History Project works on newest restoration
In a barn tucked away in a corner of the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, volunteers from the Agricultural History Project are hard at work restoring a piece of the past.
2026 Santa Cruz County Fair theme contest underway
Organizers at the Santa Cruz County Fair are asking the public for ideas for a theme for the 2026 County Fair.
Anyone who has a...




















