58 F
Watsonville
April 5, 2026

The virus isn’t done with us

tarmo mug
As more people get their second shot of the Covid-19 vaccine, I’ve heard numerous reactions. Some say, “It was awful.” Others say, “I felt nothing.” Nearly everyone feels they have to weigh in on the topic, similar to when an earthquake rumbles through and...

Awakening for a better world

Rev. Robby Olson
The Spirit of the Lord is on me,  because he has anointed me  to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners  and recovery of sight for the blind,  to set the oppressed free,  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.  —Jesus When...

Letters to the Editor, Oct. 16

Alyssa Wall for County Office of Education After eight years on the Santa Cruz County Office of Education board, I am stepping down. I am very pleased that Alyssa Wall filed to run. She grew up in San Jose, fell in love with Santa Cruz...

​​100 year flood protection is within grasp for Pajaro, Watsonville

pajaro levee
Now, let’s say the levees that protect your home from flooding are old and deficient. They could fail during the next big storm, causing a major flood. The federal and state government offer to pay $400 million for new and improved levees. The only...

This Week in Pajaro Valley’s Past, July 16

pajaro valley past
25 years ago on July 10, 1996 Watsonville police captain Chuck Carter retires this month after 30 years of service, many of them involved in community projects with a social angle. “I’ve never seen a police officer as heavily involved as Chuck is with a...

Sandy Lydon: The false myth that Watsonville drove its Chinese community across the river in 1888

I first heard the story in the 1970s when beginning my research on the history of the Chinese in the region. I read it in community histories, newspaper history columns, and both Chinese and non-Chinese old-timers told me the story with conviction.  It was true...

I’m voting yes on Measure Q for the Pajaro Valley

The people of the Pajaro Valley have shown we are resilient as we’ve faced the impacts of a changing climate, from severe flooding to the threat of wildfire. But more—a lot more—can be done to help reduce the effects on our community from future...

Guest View: Hurt people, hurt people

For seven years in the 1970s I taught elementary school at Hall District School in Las Lomas. My students were virtually identical to those massacred in Uvalde, Texas. Apparently, “my” children watched for almost an hour while their teachers and friends were being blown...

Movie Review: Bloated 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' forgets its heart

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” disappointingly, is just that. There is no real sense of purpose to this film and there is way too much going on for its own good. The sequel to director James Gunn’s smash hit — and my favorite Marvel cinematic universe

Valuing those who teach our kids

Like so many others who live on the beautiful Central Coast, I make the daily trek over the hill to my workplace in Silicon Valley. However, unlike so many of my fellow Highway 17 warriors, I am not a techie at Google or Facebook, but rather I am a teache
7,695FansLike
4,949FollowersFollow
2,895FollowersFollow