Photo story: Water distribution project progressing
Water fills the newly constructed sentiment drying beds on Holohan Road Wednesday as part of the College Lake Pipeline Project, which was designed to develop College Lake as a new water supply for the Pajaro Valley.
Six miles of 30-inch water main will transport treated...
Loving past the division
Memo from Pastor Rene:
There they were, side by side, helping to feed evacuees in our church parking lot last week: A true red-state conservative and a deep blue Democrat. I knew this about the two men from previous conversations, but as I watched them...
Support needed for the immigrant community facing Trump policies
The incoming Trump Administration has announced its intention to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
As religious leaders in Santa Cruz County from across the faith traditions, we cannot remain silent in the face of these policies that will cause untold damage to our...
The responsibilities of serving on a school board
We usually discuss issues occurring within the district. However, for this month’s column, we decided to take a different approach and shed some light on our roles as trustees and the process of decision-making. What is it like to take on a publicly elected...
Letter: Gratitude for C&N Tractors
C&N Tractors on Salinas Road just finished repairing my Kubota tractor in February when the levee burst. Suddenly it was under six feet of water. After the mud and flood receded, the tractor needed serious help.
I want to express my gratitude to Nigel Mallison,...
Healing Together: The Progress and Promise of Watsonville Community Hospital
Trust is not built on words alone—it is forged through action, teamwork, and empathy. This holds true in times of prosperity, but is even more critical during hardship and crisis. Few experiences unite people like the shared journey from loss to pain, to recovery,...
New bill would provide $500M to agricultural fairs
SACRAMENTO—Earlier this month, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley), Representatives Billy Long (R-MO), Mike Levin (D-CA), and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced bipartisan legislation aiming to help preserve agricultural fairs across the country and offset the devastating financial losses they have experienced due to Covid-19.
The Agricultural...
Independence Sunday
Memo from Rev. Mathews-Johnson
While I was growing up, whenever we moved—which was often in those days because my dad was a Navy officer—my mother would find a job at the local United Methodist Church in our new town playing the organ and piano. As...
Movie review: Nolan's ambitious, alluring 'Dunkirk' lacks characters
"Dunkirk” is director Christopher Nolan’s 10th feature film and it is without a doubt his most fresh and innovative piece of storytelling. There’s not much dialogue, the characters — in terms of background, depth and personality — are underdeveloped and t
Mayor’s and Supervisor’s November updates
Shaping Watsonville’s Future Together
By Watsonville Mayor Maria Orozco
Our 2025 State of the City on Oct. 22 was a meaningful moment to pause, reflect, and look forward—to recognize how far we’ve come and how we’re shaping a brighter future for Watsonville together.
This year’s theme, Shaping...
K9 helps nab suspect, find drugs, cash, gun
A man was arrested Dec. 4 after Monterey County Sheriff's deputies found drugs, cash and a loaded gun in a vehicle.
Around 3:15pm, detectives with...



















