The Pajaronian Articles

Nearly three decades ago, 9-year-old Jessica Cortez and her brother Jorge, 16, were gunned down by gang members as they walked to a nearby panaderia on Salinas Road for a treat. Nobody has ever been arrested, and while police do …

APTOS—Matt Anderson has adjusted quite well in his second stint as coach of the Aptos High girls’ golf team. He’s feeling more confident than ever, ready to make some noise in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League this season. However, …

WATSONVILLE—October is Filipino American History Month, commemorating the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States in 1587. The month was first introduced in 1992 by the Filipino American National Historical Society, and was officially recognized by Congress …

WATSONVILLE—The Monte Vista Christian football team last week began its quest for a Pacific Coast Athletic League title.  However, the journey to league supremacy took a snag for the Mustangs following a 50-29 loss to Monterey High in Mission Division …

WATSONVILLE—A 33-year-old pregnant woman died Thursday night as she walked across South Green Valley Road and was struck by a car. The woman has been identified as Marlyn Uribe of Watsonville by the Santa Cruz County Coroner’s Office. Watsonville Police …

An eager group of fifth graders filed through fresh beds of dirt at Whisky Hill Farm (WHF) in Watsonville Sept. 13, ready to plant their very own seedlings.  Laura Arnow’s fifth grade class from Calabasas Elementary School were there to …

New lane striping is shown at the new business center on the corner of Main Street at Auto Center Drive where the heavily traveled intersection is being reconfigured. Kevin Drabinski, public information officer for Caltrans, said new traffic lights, signage, …

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 …

By TARA FATEMI WALKER SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Second Harvest Food Bank (SHFB) and its network of more than 70 partner agencies, including nonprofits such as food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, work hard to combat food insecurity.  But because of new …

WATSONVILLE—Two men and a young boy escaped major injuries when their car flipped over Sunday on a curving section of Buena Vista Drive. California Highway Patrol officer Daniel Ibarra said two adult men and the boy were aboard the Honda …

SANTA CRUZ—Dientes Community Dental care has launched Santa Cruz County’s first dental residency program, in partnership with and sponsored by NYU Langone Hospitals, the world’s largest postdoctoral dental program to train dentists in the public health setting. In this inaugural …

SEASIDE—Monterey Bay F.C. midfielder Adrian Rebollar continues to ride the wave during the team’s inaugural season in the United Soccer League Championship.    Rebollar and company are in a good position to still clinch a postseason berth after a 5-0 win …

MOSS LANDING — An early morning fire in a Tesla Megapack at the Elkhorn Battery Storage facility in Moss Landing forced emergency officials to close a section of Highway 1 between Salinas Road and Molera Road. Fire crews have largely …

CENTRAL COAST—A man and a woman were arrested Saturday night following a brazen string of robberies of several CVS stores in multiple counties. Lt. Patrick Dimick of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said Coryeon Wyatt, 18, and Keoinjhanie Russell, …

SANTA CRUZ—It was supposed to be a celebratory night for the Harbor High football team which was celebrating its homecoming festivities.  However, it was North Monterey County High that was having all the fun by spoiling the Pirates’ party in …

The Santa Cruz County Fair runs through Sunday. For information, visit santacruzcountyfair.com.

SANTA CRUZ—A Watsonville man has pleaded no contest to killing his wife two years ago, and faces at least two decades in prison when he is sentenced on Oct. 28. In making the plea to one count of second-degree murder …

SAN JOSE—Watsonville native Matt Mahan is on the ballot in San Jose and could become the mayor of Northern California’s largest city if voters select him in the two-way race. The mayoral candidate grew up on the outskirts of Watsonville …

WATSONVILLE—When the Santa Cruz County Fair opened Wednesday, Watsonville resident Manuel Monroy was one of the first ones through the gate, his 3-year-old son Leo at his side for the boy’s first fair experience. On their agenda was the popular …

WATSONVILLE—Breaking from the usual modus operandi of allowing her colleagues to ask their questions and voice their concerns first, Watsonville Mayor Ari Parker started the city council’s questioning of a $25 million reimaging of downtown Watsonville’s street landscape. The people …