Local actions matter in battle with climate change
By Felipe Hernandez, Watsonville City Councilman
We face a sobering reality. For those of us who came of age in the 20th century, the existential threat of climate change that we debated theoretically and at great length will be lived by the children being born...
Vital questions about the rail project
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission’s (RTC) $9 million Zero Emission Passenger Rail and Trail project study (ZEPRT) has generated heated debate and confusion.
While the project promises to combine passenger rail and active transit in one sweeping vision, fundamental questions about its feasibility,...
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...
Memo from Rev. Hosei Shinseki: Pride Month
“May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness.May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.May all beings never be parted from freedom’s true joy.May all beings rest in equanimity free from attachment and aversion.”
The above quote comes from...
Guest View: Vote yes on Measure S for a healthier Watsonville
By Eduardo Montesino
As a longtime Watsonville City Councilmember, I know how essential the agricultural industry is to Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley.
Many Watsonville residents have friends and family who continue to work in the agricultural sector. It is an undeniable fact that many of...
Maria T. Cadenas: Including undocumented families in safety nets is the only way forward
Thousands of Monterey and Santa Cruz County families were forced to evacuate March 11 after the Pajaro and Soledad rivers flooded this rural agricultural area. The storms arrived at the beginning of the growing season, just as farmworkers were going back to work and...
Watsonville’s Firefighters and Their Lifesaving Mission
When a call comes in for a medical emergency, every second counts.
While an ambulance may be on its way from other parts of the county, it is often the Watsonville Fire Department that arrives first. What many people may not know is that every...
From the editor's desk, Dec. 7: Education is the key to pedestrian safety
Recently, I was driving on South Green Valley Road near the Kralj Drive intersection, when I noticed a bicyclist about two car-lengths ahead of me cruising along in the bike lane.
Pajaro Valley Chamber awards announced
Every year the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture names its annual awardees, selecting the people, organizations and events that help shape the...
