On Tuesday, California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) introduced legislation designed to expedite construction and upgrades along the Pajaro River levee — a 74-year-old earthen flood control berm that breached in March, inundating the mostly migrant farmworker town of Pajaro. As an El Niño weather pattern takes hold in the Pacific, residents and lawmakers worry another breach is likely if construction doesn’t start soon.
Watsonville
Posted inFood & Drink
Not that kind of ‘oyster’: Watsonville Testicle Festival fundraises for youth in agriculture
The 15th annual Testicle Festival’s main attraction is freshly fried Rocky Mountain oysters, aka bull testicles. The family-friendly barbecue raises money for scholarships awarded to youth entering careers in agriculture. As the farming population ages across America, event organizers say attracting new agriculturists is vital.
Posted inLatest News
PG&E investigating outage in the Watsonville area
More than 1,600 customers in and around Watsonville were affected by a power outage as of noon on Wednesday. Pacific Gas & Electric was investigating the cause and aiming to restore power by 2:30 p.m., though a map indicated that it had come back on for many customers by 12:30.
Posted inLatest News
Smoke from Northern California fires makes its way to Santa Cruz County
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jed Wilson told Lookout the majority of the smoke that moved into Santa Cruz County overnight into Wednesday is from the fires in the northern part of the state, in Humboldt and Trinity counties, while some might also be drifting northward from a vegetation fire that broke out Wednesday afternoon in Royal Oaks in Monterey County.
Posted inK-12 Education
After revealing surprise enrollment jump, PVUSD says student population might have actually dropped by 675
Last week, Pajaro Valley Unified School District said total numbers for its schools appeared to show about 500 more students enrolled this year than expected. But upon closer look, officials say they accidentally included dependent charter schools in the district’s total enrollment figures. Interim Superintendent Murry Schekman said the realization the district’s enrollment was in fact continuing on a downward trend is frustrating and makes planning for the district difficult. Schekman sees cost of living as the primary driver for the trend.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Rep. Barbara Lee energizes Watsonville during U.S. Senate campaign stop
Touting “a different perspective and lived experiences” from the Democratic candidates who had preceded her in visiting Santa Cruz County, Oakland Rep. Barbara Lee talked about the state’s housing crisis and homelessness and her ability to work across the aisle at an event at Jalisco Restaurant.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Ailing Watsonville Community Hospital receives $8.3M rescue from state to ease cash crunch
Annual losses of $20 million or more have been trimmed to a $5 million operating loss under the nonprofit health care district that now runs Watsonville Community Hospital, and a no-interest loan from the state’s Distressed Hospital Loan Program will help with financial flexibility as officials work on other measures.
Posted inK-12 Education
PVUSD fall school enrollment over projections as pandemic ebbs: ‘We can hug each other’
Santa Cruz County’s largest school district is off to a “smooth start,” says interim superintendent Murry Schekman. Enrollment is up, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District teaching corps is almost fully staffed — but chronic absenteeism poses challenges.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘Don’t be a Drag, just be a Queen!’: Pajaro Valley Pride gears up for annual march and celebration Sunday
Pride week is underway in the Pajaro Valley, with festivities culminating in Sunday’s march and celebration in Watsonville. With drag performers under attack across the United States, Pajaro Valley Pride organizers are putting special focus this year on drag’s contributions to LGBTQ+ history and culture.
Posted inCity Life
Strauss to Star Wars and Rossini to Ravel, Santa Cruz Symphony fires up for 2023-24 season
Kicking off Sept. 23 at the Civic Auditorium and also playing at the Henry J. Mello Center in Watsonville, the Santa Cruz Symphony’s upcoming season promises variety.