PVUSD trustees approve new superintendent contract
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday unanimously approved a three-year contract for its new superintendent.
Heather Contreras’ contract shows her start date of May 1. Her base pay will be $242,000 per year, with a 2% raise after one year,...
Looking back and moving forward: MLK Day
Renowned 20th-century theologian, Karl Barth, said that one should, “preach with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.” That is to say, what pastors and priests preach ought to be faithful to scripture and applied to our current context. There...
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.
From the editor's desk, Jan. 9: Stay home if you are sick, please
The flu season this year is shaping up to be worse than normal, as I can attest to.
Letters to the editor Oct. 3 – 9
Bring tennis back to Callaghan Park
There are many American legends of men’s professional tennis. And from its beginnings, the United States has produced the finest players the world over. In recent decades that has not been the case. Why? The decline of interest in...
Reshaping the focus of history
From the first day his administration assumed office this January, President Trump broke all records issuing executive orders.
He generated 26 on his first day alone. These presidential directives covered a wide swath of topics, from sweeping changes in how the federal government works to...
This week in Pajaro Valley’s Past, Feb. 26
Compiled by Steve Bankhead
25 years ago on Feb. 23, 1996
A 13-member delegation from Watsonville’s sister city Kawakami, Japan began a whirlwind tour here of our lettuce industry. The lettuce industry began in Japan during the U.S. occupation after World War II when a mess...
Pilot program weighs notification of pesticide use
WATSONVILLE—A new pilot program to inform residents of hazardous pesticide applications at area farmlands, under the umbrella of the Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, will go into motion in August.
The program was outlined by Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo at a community meeting at...
On My Mind: Slowly returning to normal
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...
Photo story: A lighted Watsonville
The front yard of this home at the corner of Hushbeck Avenue and Bronte Street in Watsonville is packed with Holiday cheer.


















