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Watsonville
September 17, 2025

CALIFORNIA MUST NOT BACKTRACK ON ITS BROADBAND FOR ALL PROMISE

Three years ago, California did something truly remarkable and forward-looking by approving historic legislation that allocated a record $6 billion to bring equitable and affordable high-speed broadband service to all Californians.  The multi-year investment aimed to close the digital divide by building the largest “Middle...

Moving upward with Adult school

Editor’s note: this story is a preview for the graduation section that will come out on Friday. We will do our best to highlight all the schools that held ceremonies. Over 90 students crossed the stage in front of a full house at the Henry...

Bringing their education home

After 18 months of work by 200 students, Pajaro Valley Unified School District unveiled a small house that will soon be home to someone who needs it. At just 20 by 8 feet, the tinyhome is ready for occupation, and comes equipped with living quarters...

Community shows its pride

Elaine Johnson was 15 before she realized that the “aunt” who lived with her grandmother was actually her grandmother’s partner of four decades. In those days, LGBTQ largely had to live in the shadows, lest they draw scorn from a society not yet evolved enough...

Watsonville City Council approves changes to some cannabis rules

catalyst cannabis
After a contentious meeting on Tuesday, a divided Watsonville City Council approved in concept several amendments to its retail cannabis ordinances, a move intended to ease the regulatory burden for a burgeoning industry already beleaguered by local, state and federal regulations. City officials say the...

Remembering the fallen: community celebrates Memorial Day

For Michelle Martinez Kamalani and her mother, Judy Martinez of Watsonville, Memorial Day meant setting time aside to visit Valley Catholic Cemetery.  With an electric weed-whacker, a whisk broom,  hand clippers and two bunches of fresh flowers, the pair wandered through the rows of flower-festooned...

A call to end homelessness

Nearly 300 people marched the streets of downtown Santa Cruz May 18 to help end homelessness.  The second-annual gathering, organized by Housing Matters, reigned in a coalition of local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and public supporters in the March to End Homelessness. The event began outside Santa...

Group calls on Driscoll’s, Reiter, others to cease pesticide use near schools

Several community leaders and community members gathered at MacQuiddy Elementary School Tuesday evening to call on Driscoll’s, Reiter and other companies to stop using toxic pesticides around schools. “Choosing to farm organically is a decision based on hope and a deep understanding of our interdependence...

Man arrested for DUI after crash, one injured

A Watsonville man was arrested on suspicion of DUI Monday afternoon after a two-vehicle crash. Watsonville Police officer Bobby Rodriguez said the suspect was driving a red Chevy Silverado  pickup westbound on Martinelli Street around 4:30pm. Witnesses told police that the driver ran a stop...

Group to call on Driscoll’s to cease pesticides near schools

A local group is calling on the nation’s largest berry grower to cease the use of pesticides on farm fields located near schools. The Campaign for Organic & Regenerative Agriculture (CORA) will hold a press conference and community gathering on May 21 to ask Driscoll’s...
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Prep Athletes of the Week: MVC’s Boston Ashe; St. Francis’ Maya...

The Pajaronian’s Prep Athletes of the Week were selected based on their performances during the week of Sept. 8-14. Coaches and athletic directors are...