The Pajaronian

The Pajaronian is the leading news source in California's Pajaro Valley. It was honored with the Pulitzer Prize for Journalism in 1956 for its contributions to public service.

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Sex offender arrested for stalking, touching girl

1 week ago | pajaronian.com | Todd Guild

Watsonville Police on Tuesday arrested a registered sex offender after he allegedly followed and inappropriately touched a 17-year-old girl. Kenneth Wilder, 31, has been charged with assault with intent to commit rape, stalking, annoying or molesting a minor and sexual battery. As a registered sex offender, he was also charged with illegally being on school property. He was not in custody Wednesday afternoon, jail records showed.
SLV returns to form following spring break hiatus | High school softball

1 week ago | pajaronian.com | Juan Reyes

San Lorenzo Valley’s softball team returned to the diamond Tuesday afternoon following a much-needed spring break this past week. It took little to no time for senior Angie Fulkerson to shake off the rust as she batted 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles, two RBIs and one stolen base in the Cougars’ 15-9 victory over Soquel in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League action. “I think we looked strong coming back from spring break, but [the rust] definitely showed a little bit,” Fulkerson said.
PVUSD superintendent looks back on first year

1 week ago | pajaronian.com | Todd Guild

Nearly one year after she took the helm of the county’s largest school district, Pajaro Valley Unified School District Superintendent Heather Contreras sat down with The Pajaronian to talk about her accomplishments, and the ongoing challenges facing the district. “It’s been a long year, but an exciting year,” she said. Contreras, who started on May 1 of last year, began her time with her “Look Listen and Learn” tour.
Local and national elections display the power of media and bias on politics

1 week ago | pajaronian.com | Todd Guild

Editor’s note: Zen Weaver is a junior at Aptos High School. This is his second story for The Pajaronian. We welcome contributions from aspiring young journalists. Email In an era where headlines spread faster than facts, Santa Cruz County residents, politicians, and community leaders are tasked with navigating a complex and constantly changing media landscape.
Community rallies against proposed battery storage facility in Watsonville

1 week ago | pajaronian.com | Todd Guild

A grassroots movement of citizens concerned about the construction of a new battery storage facility in Watsonville held a public meeting on Monday evening to discuss the dangers of such a project and rally local residents by passing around petitions and encouraging citizens to join the group. The meeting, which grew raucous at times with many people interrupting and catcalling, was held at the Watsonville Church of the Nazarene, less than one mile away from Minto Road and the proposed BESS site.
Photo story: man falls from Civic Center parking structure

1 week ago | pajaronian.com | Tarmo Hannula

Watsonville Police collect evidence where a man reportedly fell from the sixth floor of the parking structure on Second and Rodriguez streets early Tuesday morning. Officials shut down Second Street and surrounding intersections to clear the way for the investigation. Little information was available at the time about the victim, who was taken to a trauma center unconscious but breathing. A witness described him as “young.”
‘Catz rebound with a win over North Salinas in PCAL Gabilan action | High school softball

1 week ago | pajaronian.com | Juan Reyes

Watsonville senior Jillian Lerma typically hits at the No. 2 spot in the batting lineup, meaning her role is to get on base with the intention to score runs. However, that all changed Wednesday afternoon when the speedy shortstop smacked a three-run double to help lift the Wildcatz past North Salinas, 8-5, in Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division softball action April 9. “In the moment I thought, ‘Oh wow, that’s pretty far. I’ve never hit the ball that far,’” Lerma said.
Photo Gallery April 11, 2025

1 week ago | pajaronian.com | Tarmo Hannula

Tarmo Hannula has been the lead photographer with The Pajaronian newspaper in Watsonville since 1997. More recently Good Times & Press Banner. He also reports on a wide range of topics, including police, fire, environment, schools, the arts and events. A fifth generation Californian, Tarmo was born in the Mother Lode of the Sierra (Columbia) and has lived in Santa Cruz County since the late 1970s. He earned a BA from UC Santa Cruz and has traveled to 33 countries.
Photo story: annual Business Expo hits fairgrounds

1 week ago | pajaronian.com | Tarmo Hannula

John Kegebein demonstrates an early day, hand-pump vacuum at the Agricultural History Project’s table during the annual Business Expo at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Thursday. “The businesses and people of the Pajaro Valley came together at the Expo to show what a fabulous community we have,” said Shaz Roth, CEO of the Pajaro VCalley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture who hosted the event. “Businesses went all out to connect with their future clients.
$12 million campaign aims to secure Elkhorn Slough

1 week ago | pajaronian.com | Tarmo Hannula

The Elkhorn Slough Foundation (ESF) launched a new “Elkhorn Forever” campaign with a kick-off celebration Tuesday, with the goal of raising $12 million. Held at the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve Visitor Center, the effort aims to ensure the long-term health of Elkhorn Slough’s ecosystem, which is home to more than 700 species of plants and animals, including migratory shorebirds, 16 threatened and endangered species, and the southern sea otter.