The Pajaronian

Farmworker advocates, parents, educators and environmental activists gathered Wednesday outside Driscoll’s Watsonville headquarters to call for stronger protections against pesticide exposure near schools, arguing that children in the Pajaro Valley face disproportionate health risks from agricultural chemicals.

The news conference, arranged by community organizer Omar Dieguez, coincided with the release of a report titled “Pesticide Use in the Pajaro Valley: Harmful and Disproportionate Amounts by County, School District, and Race.” The report cites state pesticide-use data and academic studies linking certain pesticides to cancer, asthma and developmental problems.

“Today, we stand together with farmworkers, parents, students, teachers, health professionals, environmental advocates and community members because enough is enough,” Dieguez said. “Protect our children, protect our farmworkers, protect our air, protect our water, protect our land.”

Organizers called on growers to stop using highly hazardous pesticides near schools and urged the Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner to expand school pesticide buffer zones from the current quarter-mile to one mile.

According to the report, more than 95% of pesticides linked in scientific studies to childhood cancer that are applied in Santa Cruz County are used in and around Watsonville and much of South County. The report also states that Pajaro Valley Unified School District has the highest use of the fumigant chloropicrin of any school district in California, and that more 1,3-dichloropropene, another fumigant, is applied within district boundaries than in any other California school district.

Dieguez said residents have grown frustrated with assurances from regulators and agricultural companies.

“For too long, our families have been told not to worry. For too long, our concerns have been dismissed,” he said. “But we are not imagining what we see. We see the fields next to our schools. We see the pesticide notices.”

The report cites National Cancer Institute data showing Santa Cruz County has one of the highest overall cancer rates in California. Organizers argued that the county’s heavy pesticide use may be contributing to those outcomes, though they acknowledged the report does not establish direct causation.

Maria Ortiz of the Watsonville Brown Berets pointed to countywide cancer and asthma statistics while urging state regulators to phase out certain pesticides.

“We are not claiming that elimination of these pesticides will save our cancer, lung and brain problems,” Ortiz said. “But we do think that it’ll help, maybe even a lot.”

Among the speakers was Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Gabe Medina, who delivered an emotional address focused on the personal toll cancer has taken on his family.

“My nephew, a little boy, beat childhood cancer,” Medina said. “My tía beat cancer. This year, another member of my family received a new diagnosis, liver cancer. Cancer is not a stranger in the Pajaro Valley. Cancer is a neighbor. Cancer sits at our kitchen tables.”

Medina cited findings from UC Berkeley’s long-running CHAMACOS study and other research linking pesticide exposure to developmental and neurological impacts in children.

“When our communities wonder why our young adults wrestle with ADHD, ADD, dyslexia, anxiety, why parents wrestle with cancers we cannot pronounce, the answer is no mystery,” Medina said. “The answer is in the air at six in the morning when the spray rigs roll before the school bell rings.”

Medina called for a one-mile pesticide-free zone around schools, stronger notification requirements and greater accountability from agricultural companies.

“So Driscoll’s, don’t tell me you care. Show me,” he said. “Show me with the buffer zones. Show me with a written commitment to phase out organophosphates from your supply chain.”

Watsonville resident and Cabrillo College student Araceli Gonzales described receiving notices warning residents to remain indoors during nearby pesticide applications. Her daughter attends Amesti Elementary School.

“I’m worried about the air quality our children are getting,” Gonzales said. “I’m worried about the air quality I’m getting after being diagnosed with asthma and all sorts of allergies just a year ago.”

Gonzales said state pesticide records show thousands of pounds of toxic air contaminants have been applied within a one-mile area surrounding her daughter’s school during the past seven years.

“As a mother, I’m also worried about the 8,407 pounds of cancer-causing pesticides and the 856 pounds of brain-harming pesticides that have been applied in this one-mile square where my family has lived and gone to school,” she said. “I feel like I’m letting my children get poisoned just by breathing the air.”

The report frames pesticide exposure as an environmental justice issue, noting that the Pajaro Valley is home to much of Santa Cruz County’s Latino and indigenous population.

Advocates also challenged comments made in a recent newspaper advertisement by Driscoll’s Vice Chair Brei Reiter Smith, who called for discussions about pesticides to be guided by the best available evidence.

The protest organizers’ recommendations include expanding school buffer zones, increasing public notification requirements for pesticide applications and phasing out fumigants and organophosphate pesticides.

In a statement issued the day of the event, Driscoll’s disputed claims that local berry farming has been shown to cause elevated childhood cancer rates and pointed to recently updated information from the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency.

According to the company, the county’s review found that “childhood cancer rates in Santa Cruz County were not significantly higher than rates seen across California” and that a focused review of South County, including the Pajaro Valley, “did not find a statistically significant increase in childhood cancer in the region during a five-year study period.”

Driscoll’s said overall cancer cases observed in South County were consistent with what would be expected based on population size and established cancer rates. The company noted that while countywide childhood cancer rates have been higher than state averages over five- and 10-year periods, rates in the Pajaro Valley are close to the statewide average.

“For weeks, our community has heard claims that local berry farming is responsible for elevated childhood cancer rates,” said Soren Bjorn, chief executive officer of Driscoll’s. “The County’s update is important because it helps set the record straight. At the same time, it leaves an important question unanswered: Why are childhood cancer rates higher across Santa Cruz County overall?”

Bjorn said families deserve more information about what may be contributing to childhood cancer rates countywide.

“The public deserves to know more about what is actually happening with regard to this deeply concerning situation in our county,” he said. “Families deserve answers to that question.”

Driscoll’s emphasized that its independent growers operate within a regulatory system overseen by federal, state and local agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Department of Pesticide Regulation, with workplace safety requirements enforced by Cal-OSHA.

The company said it supports continued discussion grounded in scientific evidence and public health data.

“Our community is at the center of this conversation,” Bjorn said. “We’ve listened carefully and take these concerns seriously. This is where my family lives and where many of our growers and employees have built their lives. Conversations about children’s health are deeply personal, and families deserve compassion and clear, accurate information.”

One of the teen victims killed in a two-car crash just outside Watsonville Sunday night has been identified as Carlos Angeles from Soquel. His passenger, a 17-year-old girl, also died at the scene.

The crash occurred around 8:45pm  at the intersection of East Lake Avenue and Casserly Road between a white Infiniti sedan and a gray Toyota sedan, California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo said.

A GoFundMe campaign created for Angeles describes him as a self-taught guitarist who was preparing to start a new job with Frito-Lay the morning after the crash. Organizers wrote that Angeles was excited about the opportunity and hoped it would allow him to better support his father, Martin.

He attended Soquel High School, those that knew him said.

CHP Officer Israel Murillo said a 19-year-old Watsonville man was driving a white Infiniti westbound on East Lake Avenue east of Casserly Road when it collided with a 2026 Toyota Camry driven by Angeles, who was traveling east through the intersection. Authorities have not determined either vehicle’s speed.

The Camry came to rest beneath a billboard on the dirt shoulder after sustaining catastrophic damage. Two occupants of the Infiniti suffered major injuries. One was airlifted by CALSTAR from a landing zone at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, while the other was transported by ambulance to an out-of-county trauma center.

Fire crews spent nearly an hour cutting into the Infiniti to reach trapped occupants. One injured passenger appeared conscious and was able to answer questions as rescuers removed him from the heavily damaged vehicle.

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the collision. CHP is examining whether alcohol or drugs played a role. The Infiniti driver was arrested, but authorities have not released his identity.

Debris from both vehicles littered the intersection, including bumpers, license plates, shattered glass and engine components. Rescuers removed the roofs of both vehicles to access those trapped inside.

East Lake Avenue (Highway 152) remained closed in both directions for several hours, forcing motorists bound for Gilroy and Morgan Hill to detour via Highway 129.

Cal Fire led the rescue effort with assistance from Watsonville Fire, while multiple CHP officers remained on scene during the investigation.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact CHP dispatch at 831.796.2160.

Election results posted Tuesday show that Tony Nuñez has maintained his sizable lead in the race for the District 4 seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.

Nuñez has received 3,930 votes, or 50.1% of the total, while incumbent Felipe Hernandez has received 2,417 votes, or 30.79%.

Challenger Elias Gonzalez has received 1,443 votes, or 18.35%.

A total of 54 votes were cast for write-in candidates.

Nuñez said he remains “cautiously optimistic” about his single-digit margin.

If that falls below the 50% simple majority, it will mean a runoff election against Hernandez in November.

“It’s not over until it’s over,” he said. “You run through the finish line, you run through the tape.”

He also credited voters and campaign supporters.

“More than anything right now, I’m just grateful for the support that we’ve received up until this moment,” he said. “Grateful for all of the conversations that I’ve had so far on the campaign trail.”

Nuñez said he hopes to begin preparing for office as soon as possible.

“Right now, I would love to be able to get to work immediately and start to plan out and meet with people and get a lay of the land for District 4 in a way that will really get me ready to get started in January 2027,” he said.

Those percentages have changed little since election night, when Nuñez took a commanding 49% of the vote, just shy of the simple majority needed to win the election outright.

There are an estimated 365 ballots left to count, according to the Santa Cruz County Clerk’s Office.

The next batch of results was scheduled to be released June 18, with final results expected June 26, County Clerk Tricia Webber said.

Webber predicted that more than 50% of the county’s registered voters cast ballots, which she said would be the highest turnout for a primary election since 2002.

District 4 encompasses much of South Santa Cruz County, including a large portion of Watsonville.

District 3 Supervisor Justin Cummings ran unopposed.

In Santa Cruz, Ryan Coonerty opened election night with more than 50% of the vote in his bid for mayor. However, his share has since fallen below that threshold, placing him on track for a November runoff against second-place finisher Ami Chen Mills.

As of Tuesday, Coonerty had 9,251 votes, or 47.89%, while Chen Mills had 20.44%.

Monte Vista Christian senior Zach Binder was named the Offensive Player of the Year in the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Mission Division for the 2026 boys lacrosse season.

The standout Mustang finished with a total of 82 points (64 goals and 18 assists) during the spring campaign, according to the Max Preps website.

Binder, along with teammates freshmen Everett Olmstead and Gabe Figliomeni each earned All-PCAL First Team honors.

Olmstead had 39 points (29 goals and 10 assists), while Figliomeni tallied 24 points (17 goals and seven assists).  

Aptos High senior Alex Sandoval earned All-PCAL First Team honors in the Gabilan Division. He finished with 76 points (47 goals and 29 assists).

On the girls side, Aptos senior Aryel Reyes-Mager earned All-PCAL First Team honors, tallying 40 goals and three assists this season.

MVC seniors Raina Covarrubias and Sophia Sheridan, along with junior Maya Moore each earned All-PCAL First Team honors.

Moore finished with a team-best 72 points (59 goals and 13 assists). Covarrubias had 45 points (31 goals and 14 assists), while Sheridan totaled 36 points (29 goals and seven assists) this season.

Below is a complete list of the 2026 All-PCAL boys and girls teams. 

Pacific Coast Athletic League 2026 all-league boys lacrosse teams Gabilan Division Individual Awards

Player of the Year: Zach Otoupol (Sr.), Los Gatos

Offensive Player of the Year: Ben Reilly (Sr.), Los Gatos

Defensive Player of the Year: Laird Welch (Sr.), Stevenson

First Team

Alex Sandoval (Sr.), Aptos

Matthew Ellis (So.), Carmel

Zach Otoupol (Sr.), Los Gatos

Ben Reilly (Sr.), Los Gatos

Zach Gouldrup (Sr.), Los Gatos

Justin Buran (So.), Los Gatos

Ryder Gamecho (Jr.), Pacific Grove

Cooper Dukes (So.), Palma

Eli Dukes (Jr.), Palma

Laird Welch (Sr.), Stevenson

Fin Mink (Sr.), Stevenson

Topher Moan (So.), Stevenson

Second Team

Sam Miller (Sr.), Aptos

Parker O’Hara (Jr.), Aptos

Daniel Bodensteiner (Jr.), Carmel

Ben Burtis (So.), Los Gatos

Asher Rooney (So.), Los Gatos

Liam Carlin (Sr.), Los Gatos

Tyce Bowen (Sr.), Los Gatos

Garrett Kusaka (Sr.), Pacific Grove

Chase Amaral (Jr.), Palma

Bryce Amaral (Jr.), Palma

Bradley Stade (Sr.), Pacific Grove

Grady Roth (Sr.), Stevenson

Tucker Green (Sr.), Stevenson

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Greyson Agnello (Sr.), Aptos

Connor Reilly (Sr.), Carmel

Nikolay Barkhatov (Sr.), Los  Gatos

Noah Murdock (Sr.), Pacific Grove

Conner Jimenez (Jr.), Palma

Andrew Vanoli (Sr.), Stevenson

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team

Pacific Grove

Mission Division Individual Awards

Player of the Year: Jedidiah Del Favero (Jr.), Soquel

Offensive Player of the Year: Zack Binder (Sr.), Monte Vista Christian

Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Latham, Salinas

First Team

Vitto Forneris (Sr.), Hollister

Troy Cooper (Fr.), Hollister

Hedrix Coons (Sr.), Monterey

Everett Olmstead (Fr.), MVC

Gabe Figliomeni (Fr.), MVC

Zach Binder (Sr.), MVC

Caleb Nolan (Jr.), Salinas

Andrew Babcock (Sr.), Salinas

Stephen Yee (Jr.), Santa Cruz

Troy “TJ” Kusanovich (Fr.), Soquel

Bo Blackwood (Fr.), Soquel

Jedidiah Del Favero (Jr.), Soquel

Asher Kille (Jr.), Soquel

Second Team

Chase Chipley (So.), Hollister

Isiah Toscano (So.), Hollister

James Langford (Jr.), Monterey

Mason Binder (So.), MVC

Tyler Bennett (So.), MVC

Sean Cote (Jr.), MVC

Mason Black (Jr.), Salinas

Von Robinson Jr.), Salinas

Isaiah Maloney (Fr.), Santa Cruz

Xavier Rivas (Fr.), Soquel

George Staychock (So.), Soquel

Devin De La Rosa (So.), Soquel

Barry Lombardi (Fr.), Soquel

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Nicco Forneris (Sr.), Hollister

Tyler Mansfield (Sr.), Monterey

Everett Olmstead (Jr.), MVC

Max Casillas (Jr.), Salinas

Andrew Trowdridge (Sr.), Santa Cruz

Tanner Niizawa (Fr.), Soquel

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team

Santa Cruz

Pacific Coast Athletic League 2026 all-league girls lacrosse teams Individual Awards

Player of the Year: Georgia Boifas (Sr.), Stevenson

Offensive Player of the Year: Lola Voss (Jr.), Carmel

Defensive Player of the Year: Zola Ducker (Jr.), Stevenson

First Team

Aryel Reyes-Mager (Sr.), Aptos

Leah Sibley (Sr.), Carmel

Lola Voss (Jr.), Carmel

Grace Zodiacal (Sr.), Carmel

Raina Covarrubias (Sr.), Monte Vista Christian

Maya Moore (Jr.), MVC

Sophia Sheridan (Sr.), MVC

Lily Mcafee (Fr.), Salinas

Addie Somerville (Sr.), Soquel

Georgia Boifas (Sr.), Stevenson

Brogan Dolata (Sr.), Stevenson

Zola Ducker (Jr.), Stevenson

Sydney Holland (Sr.), Stevenson

Tatum LeTowt (Jr.), Stevenson

Molly McAfee (Sr.), Stevenson

Second Team

Lucy Erikson (Sr.), Aptos

Claire Bonyange (Sr.), Carmel

Anna Rasmussen (Jr.), Carmel

Cameran Roxas (Jr.), Carmel

Kealani Sagin (So.), Carmel

Zoé Kantmann (So.), MVC

Bella Myers (Fr.), MVC

Katelyn Torres (Sr.), Monterey

Lilly Isabell (Jr.), Salinas

Natalie Lopez (So.), Salinas

Ashby Weeks (Jr.), Soquel

Caroline Bufkin (So.), Stevenson

Brennecke Daley (Jr.), Stevenson

Sam Rianhard (So.), Stevenson

Charlotte Schipper (Jr.), Stevenson

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Neci Hoeptner (Sr.), Aptos

Violet Frew (Sr.), Carmel

Ella Jackson (Sr.), MVC

Olivia Vasquez (Sr.), Santa Catalina

Tallulah Halterman (Fr.), Santa Cruz

Ale Sanchez (Jr.), Salinas

Ella Vicar (So.), Soquel

Anna Bates (Fr.), Stevenson

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team

Santa Cruz

Pajaro Valley High junior Hemeria De La Torre and St. Francis High junior Nevaeh Padilla each received some of the highest honors in the Pacific Coast Athletic League for their stellar play on the field during the 2026 softball season.

De La Torre was named the Santa Lucia Division’s Offensive Player of the Year, while Padilla was recognized as Defensive Player of the Year in the same division.

According to the Max Preps website, De La Torre finished batting a .679 average (38 for 56) with 14 doubles, three home runs, a pair of triples, 37 runs batted in, 31 runs scored and 14 stolen bases.

“Her numbers were just through the roof,” Pajaro Valley head coach Daisy Ortiz said. “It came down to one coach, and said he picked her because every time their defense faces her, they have to move back, and they’re scared of the hard hit balls.”

Padilla took pride in herself on her foot and glove work as a short stop for St. Francis this past spring campaign.

“Just the all-around game,” St. Francis head coach Luis Padilla said. “She really works hard at it all the time. Always asking for more grounders, always working on the little things.”

Luis Padilla mentioned the coaches within the Santa Lucia Division were quick to acknowledge his daughter’s throwing range inside the diamond, and quick jump on a pop fly in the shallow outfield. 

“It can be a bang-bang play, we just gotta dive, get up and make that throw,” Luis Padilla said. “Understanding the defensive side of the ball.”

De La Torre, along with teammates senior Olivia Contreras and freshman Anabell Ybarra, each earned All-PCAL First Team honors in the Cypress Division. St. Francis junior Sophia Madrigal, freshman Valerie Ballesteros and Padilla also earned all-league first team honors. 

Below is a complete list of this year’s All-PCAL softball teams. 

Pacific Coast Athletic League 2026 all-league softball teams Gabilan Division Individual Awards

Most Valuable Player: Denae Lee (Sr.), Monterey

Co-Pitchers of the Year: Kiersent Jara (Sr.), Palma; Sidney Esparza (Fr.), Hollister

First Team

Kiersten Jara (Sr.), Palma

Bella Machuca (Jr.), Salinas

Sidney Esparzara (Fr.), Hollister

Denae Lee (Sr.), Monterey

Mulan Hunkin (Fr.), Palma

Gigi Rossi (Sr.), Salinas

Ashlee Io (Sr.), Hollister

Reese Amaral (So.), Palma

Brianna Hernandez (Sr.), Palma

Madalyn Rodriguez (Sr.), Hollister

Anaiyah Brown (Sr.), Monterey

De’zeyer Fa’agai (Sr.), Hollister

Isabella Hernandez (So.), Salinas

Second Team

Avery Chavez (Sr.), Hollister

Nicole Seal (Jr.), Monterey

Kai Manglona (Fr.), Monterey

Jenna Deese (Jr.), Monterey

Alex Giammanco (Sr.), Pacific Grove

Izzy Turner (So.), Pacific Grove

Jasmine Booker (Sr.), Pacific Grove

Analysia Rocha (So.), Palma

Brynn Baxter (Fr.), Palma

Michaela Singh (Jr.), Palma

Mia Espinoza (Sr.), Watsonville

Esperanza Sigala (Jr.), Watsonville

Isabella Ruiz (So.), Watsonville

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Abby Butler (Jr.), Hollister

Keira Parakash (Sr.), Monterey

Destiny Buckels (So.), Pacific Grove

Ashlyn Urmanita (So.), Palma

Yareli Alcaraz (Sr.), Salinas

Layla Romero (So.), Watsonville

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship teams

Hollister, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Palma, Salinas and Watsonville

Mission Division Individual Awards

Offensive Player of the Year: Micah Smith (Jr.), Alisal

Defensive Player of the Year: Aubrey Jones (Jr.), Alisal

Pitcher of the Year: Abigail Walker (Fr.), Alisal

First Team

Aubrey Jones (Jr.), Alisal

Micah Smith (Jr.), Alisal

Aubrey Jones (Jr.), Alisal

Abigail Walker (Fr.), Alisal

Amaris Perez (Jr.), Alvarez

Lily Beals (So.), Carmel

Stella Becker (Fr.), Carmel

Annabella Schroeder (Fr.), Carmel

Olivia Tringali (Fr.), Carmel

Iliana Perez (Sr.), North Salinas

Irie Williams (Sr.), North Salinas

Alizah Carrillo (Jr.), King City

Avery Munoz (Jr.), King City

Second Team

Chloe Rubulcalva (Fr.), Alisal

Aaliyah Ruiz (Jr.), Aisal

Brooklyn Smith (Fr.), Alisal

Alexia Meza (Sr.), Alvarez

Makayla Delrosario (Fr.), Alvarez

Delilah Herro (Fr.), Carmel

Avery Houston (So.), Carmel

Taelyn Munoz (Fr.), King City

Crystal Paramo (Sr.), King City 

Clarissa Corona (Sr.), North Salinas

Audri Palmer (Sr.), North Salinas

Andria Leyba (Jr.), Soledad

Delylah Ocamop (Jr.), Soledad

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Ciara Manu (Fr.), Alisal

Lizbeth Ramirez (Jr.), Alvarez

Lily Beals (So.), Carmel

Kaylin Arvizu (Sr.), King City

Jazmyn Montevilla (Fr.), North Salinas

Cayden Lopez (Sr.), Soledad

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team

Carmel

Cypress Division Individual Awards

Offensive Player of the Year: Samantha Scharton (Sr.), North Monterey County

Defensive Player of the Year: Maira Hall (So.), Stevenson

Pitcher of the Year: Chloe Zavala (Jr.), Greenfield

First Team

Arianna Jimenez (Sr.), NMC

Ariana Makela (So.), NMC

Samantha Scharton (Sr.), NMC

Nya Ascenscion (Fr.), NMC

Sophia Felix (Sr.), Rancho San Juan

Bella Garcia (Sr.), RSJ

Delylah Magadaleno (Sr.), RSJ

Maria Hall (So.), Stevenson

Nadia Patel (Sr.), Stevenson

Maddy Dalhamer (Fr.), Stevenson

Chloe Zavala (Jr.), Greenfield

Marianna Camarena (Sr.), Gonzales

Addison Boles (So.), Monte Vista Christian

Second Team

Sophia Oritez (So.), NMC

Baliegh Messerli (Jr.), NMC

Chelsey Misner (So.), RSJ

Sophia Tate (Fr.), RSJ

Audriana Zapata (Fr.), RSJ

Ava Alvarado (Jr.), MVC

Addison Silva (Fr.), MVC

Juliana Lopez (Sr.), MVC

Ashley Dalhamer (Jr.), Stevenson

Kobie Crutcher (Sr.), Stevenson

Kaylie Villarreal (So.), Stevenson

Hana Camarena (Fr.), Gonzales

Camila Lara (Fr.), Greenfield

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Kamora Winfield (Fr.), Stevenson

Lexy Tamayo (Jr.), Greenfield

Sofia Calomeni (Sr.), MVC

Bello Soto (Sr.), RSJ

Alitzel Mauro (Jr.), Gonzales

Marley Watson (Jr.), NMC

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team

Greenfield

Santa Lucia Division Individual Awards

Offensive Player of the Year: Hemeria De La Torre (Jr.), Pajaro Valley

Defensive Player of the Year: Neveah Padilla (Jr.), St. Francis

Pitcher of the Year: Kalia Bates (Fr.), Marina

First Team

Kalia Bates (Fr.), Marina

Lanae Rodriguez (Fr.), Marina

Jaz Rodriguez (Sr.), Marina

Bailey Hostetter (Jr.), Marina

Anaiya Barreto (So.), Marina

Sophia Madrigal (Jr.), St. Francis

Neveah Padilla (Jr.), St. Francis

Valerie Ballesteros (Fr.), St. Francis

Olivia Contreras (Sr.), Pajaro Valley

Hemeria De La Torre (Jr.), Pajaro Valley

Anabell Ybarra (Fr.), Pajaro Valley

Adele Ramirez (So.), Santa Catalina 

Hope Yoshiyama (Jr.), Santa Catalina

Second Team

Lyla Manglona (Jr.), Marina

Maya Gallo (Sr.), Marina

Maya Chavez (Fr.), Marina

Isabel Quenga (Sr.), Marina

Virginia Escobar (Sr.), Pajaro Valley

Myah Diggs (Fr.), Pajaro Valley

Nadia Renteria (So.), Pajaro Valley

Alexia Duron (Fr.), Pajaro Valley

Talia Moakler (Jr.), St. Francis

Alyssa Padilla (Fr.), St. Francis

Bella Vargas (Jr.), St. Francis

Chloe Wigdahl (So.), Santa Catalina

Isabella Jodlowski (Fr.), Santa Catalina

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Anaiya Barreto, Marina

Olivia Contreras, Pajaro Valley

Lydia Ostos, Santa Catalina

Sofia Villanueva, Seaside

Talia Moakler, St. Francis

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team

Pajaro Valley

Capitola police are asking for the public’s help after a Soquel man was arrested in connection with an investigation involving children at Capitola Beach.

Derek Martin Johnson, 63, was arrested June 6 after a concerned citizen reported that a man appeared to be taking photographs of juveniles in a public area, according to Capitola police. While photography in public is not illegal, police said the report involved children and prompted an investigation.

During the investigation, officers interviewed witnesses and obtained digital evidence. Johnson was arrested on suspicion of possessing obscene matter involving minors and booked into Santa Cruz County Jail, police said.

Johnson was not in custody as of June 11, jail records show. Court records show he was charged June 6 with possession of child pornography and production of child pornography, both felonies. He also faces a sentencing enhancement based on a prior serious felony conviction.

Police said the investigation remains active and emphasized that an arrest is not evidence of guilt.

Investigators are asking parents or guardians who believe their child may have been photographed, or anyone who saw the suspect taking photographs of children at Capitola Main Beach on June 6, to contact the Capitola Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit at 831.475.4242.

Santa Cruz County Court records indicate Johnson has a prior criminal case dating to 1998 that included charges of burglary, sexual battery, oral copulation with a minor, forcible sexual penetration with a foreign object and rape by force or fear. He is listed on California’s Megan’s Law website.

Two people died in a two-car crash Sunday night at the intersection of East Lake Avenue and Casserly Road. 

California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo said the crash happened around 8:45pm between a white Infiniti sedan and a gray Toyota sedan.

According to Murillo, a 19-year-old man from Watsonville was driving west on East Lake Avenue in the white Infiniti east of Casserly Road at an undetermined speed. A man in his 20s was a passenger.

Meanwhile, a 19-year-old man from Capitoila was driving east in a 2026 Toyota Camry in the intersection at an undetermined speed, with a 17-year-old girl as a passenger.

The two in the Toyota died that ended up crushed beneath a large billboard sign on the dirt shoulder. Two others in the Infiniti suffered major injuries. One of them was picked up by CALSTAR air ambulance at a staging area at the nearby Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds while the other was taken by American Medical Response ambulance to an out of county trauma center.

MAJOR IMPACT Two people died in this Toyota that collided with an Infiniti before plowing through a large sign (at right). (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

A swarm of firefighters struggled for close to an hour to extricate injured people from the Infiniti. One young man they hoisted from the caved in sedan appeared to be conscious and was able to answer questions.

About an hour into the rescue operation, Murillo said it was too early to say what led to the crash and what direction the vehicles were traveling, and it was unclear whether drugs or alcohol were involved. 

The heavily travelled intersection was strewn with car parts, including two bumper sections, license plates, shattered glass, paneling and engine parts. Firefighters had to saw the roofs off of both vehicles in order to access the victims.

East Lake Avenue (Hwy 152) was shut down in both directions for hours. Scores of motorists trying to get to Gilroy and Morghan Hill  from Watsonville had to turn around and head to Highway 129.

Cal Fire, who headed up the rescue operation, was joined by Watsonville Fire while the CHP had about eight officers working the scene.

This story will be updated.

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday in Watsonville, Encompass Community Services celebrated the opening of a new Si Se Puede behavioral health campus on Miles Lane, an $18 million investment aimed at expanding addiction treatment and recovery services in South Santa Cruz County.

The project includes a 30-bed residential treatment center and an outpatient treatment facility serving adults and transition-age youth. 

The broader campus also includes 72 units of supportive housing developed in partnership with MidPen Housing. The project broke ground in June 2024 and received approximately $14 million in funding from the State of California.

Encompass CEO Kim Morrison said the new center will allow the nonprofit to serve hundreds more people each year through substance use treatment, mental health counseling and housing support services. She described the campus as a place where people will begin recovery journeys, restore their health and rebuild their lives.

Former Encompass CEO and current Santa Cruz County Board Chair Monica Martinez, who spent nearly a decade shepherding the project, called the center one of the defining accomplishments of her career. 

Martinez said the vision grew from a recognition that the former Si Se Puede facility was aging and no longer reflected the dignity and quality of care community members deserved. 

She recounted years of fundraising challenges, including an unsuccessful first attempt to secure state infrastructure funding before eventually winning $10 million through California’s Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program and later securing an additional $4 million for withdrawal management services.

“This community deserves to have a space that’s beautiful, that treats them with dignity and respect,” Martinez said.

Jorge Gutierrez, Si Se Puede program manager and one of the program’s original counselors, reflected on the program’s history. Founded in 1981 with county funding, Si Se Puede initially served 23 clients and was built around bilingual and bicultural treatment for the Watsonville community. Gutierrez said the new facility represents both a continuation of that mission and a major expansion of services, including residential treatment and withdrawal management beds.

JOB COMPLETE Monica Martinez, former Encompass CEO and Santa Cruz Supervisor, talks of the history of the rebuilding of Encompass Community Services. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian) 

Joseph Luna, a program graduate who later worked at Si Se Puede, shared his personal recovery story. Luna entered the program in 1991 and credited it with helping him reunite with his family, maintain long-term sobriety, build a career and purchase a home. “Recovery will save your life,” he told attendees. “It saved my life.”

U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren said she helped secure $900,000 in federal funding for furniture, fixtures and equipment through congressional appropriations. She said the center will provide culturally competent care for thousands of people seeking recovery in the years ahead.

Watsonville Mayor Kristal Salcido emphasized the importance of culturally responsive treatment services for the city’s predominantly Latino population. She said addiction affects people from all backgrounds, but access to treatment that reflects patients’ language and culture is not always available.

Gray Clark, behavioral health medical director for the Central California Alliance for Health, noted that the Alliance contributed $2.5 million toward construction. She said the campus creates a comprehensive continuum of care by combining housing, medication-assisted treatment, withdrawal management, residential treatment and outpatient counseling services in one location.

“I’m so glad I was able to come out here today and see it,” she said. “We supported this particular project because we wanted to expand access to treatment and recovery services for our members. We wanted to increase residential treatment capacity, reduce wait times, and create a continuum of care in one environment.”

My proposal for Renaissance High School students 

Last year in a PVUSD Board Meeting I opposed moving Renaissance High School to Pajaro Valley High School in order to move Ceiba students to the current Renaissance High School site.  After I supported Ceiba continuing to operate on their current site  In 2023, 2024, and 2025,  I have advocated  in the Board meetings of both PVUSD and Ceiba for restructuring Ceiba to help financially struggling PVUSD schools .

I was surprised when I heard  the idea  of moving the students of Renaissance High School to the site of Duncan – Holbert School and the students of the latter school to an elementary school because of  safety concerns about the water.  I thought it was too rushed.  

I would like to ask the students of Renaissance High School whether you would consider moving to the site of Lakeview Middle School temporarily until a suitable site is found. You might remember that the students of Pajaro Middle School moved to the site of Lakeview Middle School for one school year at the time of the devastating flood in 2023. 

Takashi Mizuno

Watsonville

The Establishment Clause is the first of two religion clauses in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”

This clause forbids our government from establishing an official religion, and also prohibits government actions that unduly favor one religion over another, preferring religion over non-religion, or non-religion over religion. As a general matter, the Supreme Court has long recognized that the Establishment Clause’s prohibition of laws “respecting an establishment of religion” not only prevents the government from establishing an official religion, but also bars other types of support “respecting” an establishment.

The “Establishment of Religion” clause, at a minimum, means that neither a state nor the federal government can set up a church, neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. (See e.g. “Everson v. Board of Education ” (1947)).

In short: the amendment appears to have been firmly cemented in constitutional law.

Enter the Trump Administration, Project 2025 and Christian Nationalism. Christian Nationalism is a political ideology which advocates for a legal and cultural fusion between Christianity and a nation’s government. In the U.S., its adherents believe the country was founded on Christian principles, that the government should actively promote these values, and that Christianity should hold a privileged place in public life. It excludes some Americans following other religious traditions, or those who are not religious at all.

The explicit aim of Project 2025, which has guided much of the early work of the Trump administration, is to infuse biblical principles across the federal government. Calls to protect Christianity, make America more Christian, and align this country with the Bible are all common phrases associated with Christian Nationalism. It is generally understood that conservative Christians behind this point of view form the bedrock of President Trump’s Republican support.

A prominent—though awkward—focus of the movement’s pursuit of its objectives has been its insistence on removing the concept of empathy, a deeply-rooted Christian value, from our government’s decision making process.

The conflict surfaced prominently during Mr. Trump’s high profile clashes with Pope Leo XIV, which centered on questions of empathy and leadership, specifically sparked by the Pontiff’s vocal opposition to the war in Iran, mass deportation and military conflict.

The debate over empathy has become a prominent focal point for many Christian Nationalists. The latter’s critique is rooted in some specific ideological, cultural and theological beliefs. Among others: The fear of moral compromise—the thought that untethered empathy can blur the lines between right and wrong, that fully identifying with someone’s pain might lead to condoning or validating actions the Bible defines as sin, i.e. LGBTQ+ rights, abortion access, etc.; Priority of objective truth – the belief that truth, defined by biblical scripture must always take precedence over feelings, which may replace scripture as the ultimate moral guide; and “Woke politics,” the thought that empathy may be weaponized as a progressive political tool.

The Trump administration has gone “all in” in support of Christian Nationalist ideology, and has actively worked to expand religious expression in public life and loosen restrictions on faith organizations. Some key policy and cultural actions include: establishing Executive branch task forces like the White House Faith Office, the Religious Liberty Commission and a task force to eradicate anti-Christian bias. Efforts also include targeting  LGBTQ+ and gender identity issues, curbing abortion access and engaging in cultural battles with universities, the Smithsonian Institution, and Public Broadcasting all the while singling out opposition to DEI programs. These moves, while celebrated by the religious right, eroded the separation of church and state.

To some the growing prevalence of Christian Nationalism in our government is innocuous, harmless. However, the movement’s objective no longer simply focuses on the defense of liberty, it targets the accumulation of power. As such, it endangers constitutional values, impregnates governmental policy, and provides a justification for the lack of empathy in our government’s pursuits. It is using its enhanced influence to impose its will on Christian organizations it identifies as “woke” or opposed to President Trump’s agenda, as exemplified by its role in defunding religious groups that have been providing life saving care to many of the most vulnerable people in the world.

If we are not careful, while we appear intent on demolishing a theocratic regime in the Middle East, we could end up gradually easing into the semblance of one right here.

Two Santa Cruz County supervisors and several local community organizations have joined a regional coalition of elected officials and advocates reaffirming support for immigrant communities as the Bay Area prepares to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The joint statement, released Monday, was signed by supervisors Felipe Hernandez and Monica Martinez, along with representatives from Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, The Watsonville Law Center and YARR (Your Allied Rapid Response) of Santa Cruz County. MariaElena De La Garza of Community Action Board and Adriana Melgoza of The Watsonville Law Center were among the local signatories.

The statement said the region’s diversity is one of its strengths and acknowledged concerns among immigrant families amid ongoing immigration enforcement actions.

“As we welcome the world to the Bay Area for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we want to send a clear message: everyone belongs here,” the statement reads.

The coalition said the international soccer tournament presents an opportunity to bring people together and urged residents to avoid spreading fear or misinformation. The statement encouraged community members to use local Rapid Response Networks for verified information and resources.

The statement was signed by supervisors and community leaders from counties throughout the Bay Area and Central Coast, including Santa Clara, Monterey, San Mateo, Alameda, Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Contra Costa and Solano counties.

Watsonville residents will have two opportunities this month to help shape the future of public safety services in the city.

The Watsonville Police and Fire departments are hosting community town hall meetings to gather public input on priorities for emergency response, public safety services and community programs.

City officials said feedback from the meetings will help guide future planning efforts as Watsonville works to strengthen public safety and community services.

The meetings are scheduled for:

• June 24 from 5:30pm to 7pm

• June 29 from 3:30pm to 5pm

Both meetings will be held in the Community Room on the top floor of Civic Plaza, 275 Main St. in Watsonville.

The city will provide pizza, childcare and Spanish interpretation services. The first 50 attendees at each meeting will receive a free bicycle helmet for children. Participants are asked to know their child’s helmet size before attending.

Advance registration is required. Residents can register online at https://bit.ly/4vjx7AV.

According to city officials, the meetings are intended to bring community members and public safety leaders together to discuss current needs and future priorities for Watsonville’s police and fire services.

On May 8, the staff of Pajaro Middle School formally declared a vote of no confidence in Principal Nicole Killian in a letter to Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) Superintendent Heather Contreras. 

According to the letter, the decision was reached following an affirmative majority vote of 14 out of 17 full-time certificated union members, as well as an additional anonymous affirmation from classified staff. 

The vote was primarily attributed to Killian’s alleged failure to provide a safe school environment for students and teachers, as well as to a lack of communication and transparency.  

“Pajaro Middle School has long been a school with a foundation of collaboration between the administration and both classified and certified staff,” reads the letter to Contreras. “Nicole Killian has not only ignored this foundation, but dismantled it.”

Killian has been the full-time principal at Pajaro Middle School since the fall of 2024. She previously served as the principal at Main Street Elementary for one year during the 2023-24 school year.  

“The District takes all reports related to school operations and safety seriously,” said PVUSD Public Information Officer Alejandro Chávez in a statement to the Pajaronian. “We remain confident in the site leadership’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe, supportive, and positive learning environment.”

Chávez maintained that the events were not newsworthy and that “there’s nothing there,” and declined to answer specific questions about the allegations against the district, principal Killian, or the events on campus. 

Killian and Superintendent Heather Contreras did not respond to requests for comment. 

Complaints about Killian’s leadership at Pajaro began to emerge only a few months after she took the role of principal, said Brandon Diniz, president of the Pajaro Valley teachers union. With teachers and staff citing a lack of student discipline and communication. 

Throughout the 2024-25 school year, the concern across the site continued to grow, said Tim Powers, one of the two PVFT site representatives and a teacher at Pajaro Middle School.

These concerns grew, especially after a notable incident in which a teacher was allegedly kept in the dark about a physical threat a student had made against them, which the district intercepted via an internal language-monitoring algorithm. 

“What the student wrote was said to have been, ‘change my grade or else.’ So pretty vague,” said Powers. “When the teacher finally got Ms. Killian to show the actual statement written by the student, the statement was ‘change my grade or else I’ll shoot you.’”

According to Ben Waite, the other PVFT site representative and a teacher at Pajaro Middle School, it wasn’t until five days after the incident that Killian finally showed the teacher the original message, and that the staff member who was threatened initially learned of it the same day from another staff member. However, this incident was not officially reported in a grievance to the district.   

According to the letter to Contreras, five staff members filed a grievance against Killian in the 2024-25 school year. 

During that time, Killian didn’t have a vice principal, said Diniz, “as a result of that first grievance, they did assign a vice principal to the school site.”  

At the beginning of the new school year, the staff were hopeful for change, explained Powers, adding that he and Waite additionally spoke with Killian and set up regular meetings with the principal for the 2025-26 school year to address on-site issues as they arose. 

However, despite these meetings, Powers and Waite felt that the concerning behavior and leadership remained unchanged. 

“We brought up several times to her like, ‘hey, we need to get better about the communication, about what’s going on with students and discipline, and follow up,’” said Powers, “and that continued to not stick.”

Throughout, the incidents on campus—along with the lack of communication and disrespect towards teachers—continued, alleged Diniz, who also described multiple incidents in which he alleges that Killian downplayed the severity and disregarded the Ed. Code procedures.

There was one such case where a student threatened another student with a kind of homemade dagger, said Diniz, “when the student brandishes a dirk, dagger, or knife Ed. Code requires the principal to recommend that student for expulsion, and she [Killian] just basically covered it up.” 

Around the fall of 2025, Powers and Waite were approached by a few staff members to conduct a vote of no confidence. 

Powers maintains that, throughout the process, staff remained willing to attempt to work with Killian.

“We were initially reluctant at that point to pursue that,” said Waite. “We probably held out the longest in terms of trying to work with her.” 

For Powers, this changed in March, referring to a lockdown mentioned in the letter to Contreras, during which Killian was allegedly unresponsive to multiple radio calls during a police chase on March 5, which had prompted the school to initiate a lockdown. 

An event that Powers referred to as “the final nail in the coffin.” 

“At this point, there was a lack of trust,” said Powers. “The breakdown causes us to kind of retreat internally and try to solve problems with students more so than we should. And so over time, it impacts our ability to even teach on a regular schedule.” 

Finally, in early May, Diniz said he informed Contreras of the plan for the vote of no confidence. 

“[Contreras] gave me the assurance on May 5 that she was going to remove her as principal,” said Diniz. “She said not to even go through with the vote [of no confidence] because she hears us and she’s willing to act. ”  

The site decided to continue to move forward with the vote regardless, said Diniz. 

It was then that PVUSD Area III Trustee Gabriel Medina learned about the vote when the resolution letter to Contreras landed in his inbox a few weeks ago. 

“It doesn’t feel like the district is doing their due diligence,” said Medina. “I’m hoping that it gets addressed. But the way that I’ve seen leadership kind of take these complaints, I’m not going to be holding my breath.”

However, according to Diniz, on May 22, following an unsuccessful meeting with district representatives, Contreras began to walk back on the promises. Following that, the union decided to make the events and the vote of no confidence public, said Diniz. 

Since then, Diniz, Waite and Powers feel that there has been no progress, instead “only doubling down by the superintendent,” according to Diniz.

“It just sort of has spiraled to the point where we feel there’s no future for that site under Principal Killian, and she’s lost her staff,” said Diniz. “Trust is lost in buckets, but earned in drops, and she has lost buckets’ worth of trust with that staff.”

Santa Cruz County plans to support a lawsuit challenging a proposed federal immigration enforcement facility near Gilroy by joining an amicus curiae brief alongside Santa Clara County and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, county officials announced Thursday.

The lawsuit seeks judicial review of a facility that public records indicate is intended to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. Plaintiffs contend the project moved forward without required local review and permitting processes.

Although the proposed facility would be located in neighboring Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County officials said its effects could extend throughout the Central Coast region.

“Santa Cruz County communities are deeply connected to those throughout the region,” Board of Supervisors Chair Monica Martinez said in a statement. “Our immigrant families deserve transparency, public accountability and compliance with established legal processes.”

Martinez said the county’s participation is consistent with ongoing efforts to understand and prepare for the impacts of federal immigration enforcement activities.

Supervisor Felipe Hernandez said many residents are experiencing uncertainty and fear related to federal immigration enforcement actions.

“We have a responsibility to understand and prepare for the impacts these actions may have on local families, schools, healthcare systems and community organizations,” Hernandez said. “Our participation reflects that commitment.”

County officials described the move as a continuation of broader efforts by the Board of Supervisors to address the local effects of federal immigration policies. In January, the board established the S.H.I.E.L.D. (Safeguarding Health, Inclusion, Essential Services and Local Defense) Ad Hoc Subcommittee, which developed an ordinance prohibiting the use of county property for immigration enforcement activities and policies intended to protect residents accessing healthcare, education, public benefits and other services.

The county said additional information about its immigration preparedness efforts is available through the County of Santa Cruz website.

Field workers harvest a strawberry crop along San Andreas Road in Watsonville in 1954.

Watsonville Fire Battalion Chief Almita Schaefer hung up her helmet June 4 on her final day as a firefighter with Watsonville Fire Department.     

The Watsonville native has spent her adult life helping others, a reflection of how her family brought her up. 

After attending the now shuttered Moss Landing Middle School and graduating from Watsonville High School in 1994, she worked for 10 years as a paramedic, and then switched over to be a firefighter in 2007. 

She said she initially hoped to be a doctor, but a stint volunteering in a hospital emergency room convinced her that being a paramedic was more fitting.

“I decided I wanted to do something as well as medical,” she said. “I found that on calls I was only able to assist in one dynamic, and I wanted to do more.”

“Since Watsonville is my hometown I pursued it here,” she added. She is the first full time woman to hold positions of firefighter/paramedic, Captain and Battalion Chief. 

“This career has been more than I could have ever asked for,” she said. “Any good recipe, anything worth enjoying has a lot of ingredients. It takes years and years for this particular moment to come to a point where I feel like it’s complete, where I feel like it’s not just something I’m doing. I started for a different reason. And I’m happy to say that I’m leaving with that accomplished.”

She added that she is leaving with “a continued sense of family. Being able to be welcomed by the fire department, the fire family at that age was really, really important to me. And through the years, that’s been the constant thread, that anytime I need something, they’re here for me. No one second guesses me here, or puts me down and it isn’t a competition.”

She says that one of the most “inspiring and special things” about being a firefighter is that no matter where you go on the fire engine or the fire truck, “someone’s always waving at you. I love to be friendly and so that was probably one of the most special things that this career gave me.”

She also noted that there have been “some really amazing women before me that were in the reserve program. Nobody signs up because they’re short or tall or gender or a certain kind of cultural background. That’s not what we sign up for: We sign up to help people and each other in that time of need. From week one, this department has always said, ‘She’s one of our family and that’s what we’ll always think of her as.”

The City of Watsonville invites the public to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a full day of community activities, and events. 

The day begins July 4 with the Spirit of Watsonville Parade at 12:30pm that runs along Main Street from Street from Patrick’s Church, 721 Main St., to First Street. This year’s parade will once again feature a flyover by the West Coast Ravens. Street Closures include Main Street between Freedom Boulevard and 1st Street, along with adjacent streets, closed from 8:30am to 4:30pm. 

The Fire in the Sky Open House at the Watsonville Municipal Airport opens at 11am.

The schedule includes: 

11am – Community Car Show with Dynometer
4:30pm – Gates Open to the Public
6:00pm – Skydive Aircraft Departures
6:20pm – Skydive Jump and National Anthem Performance
6:30pm – Flyover (tentative)
8:30pm – Fireworks Show Begins

As summer edges in, the folks at Corralitos Market & Sausage Co. and Freedom Meat Lockers are dealing with rising meat prices as the industry and customers across the nation adjust to higher costs, soaring gas prices and more.

“I feel like the prices have gone through the roof,” said Sarah Lewis, general manager at Freedom Meat Lockers. “And to top it off, I feel like there’s a big supply and demand shift happening right now. Even with skirt steak; we’re trying to get the product that we like and are really comfortable with that we want to serve our customers. And then we get a sample case from a new company and it is simply not what we want, so we send it back. It’s harder to find the level of quality that we want at a reasonable price.”

Lewis added that the price hike is “denting into what products” are out there.

“We’re fortunate enough to have wonderful suppliers, and they’re doing the best they can to get us the price we feel comfortable with,” Lewis said. “It’s challenging. We’ve been running into a lot of folks trying to get that quality that customers want with the price that they can afford,” 

Victor Silva at Freedom Meats said that ”everything’s going up.”

“Everything across the board—beef, pork products or chicken, chicken breast. For example, we’re charging 50 cents less than what we paid. Who else does that?”

In response, one adjustment the company offers, Lewis says, is the business’s ever-changing Variety Bag for $99. 

“It easily has $120 to $150 worth of products,” she said. “It’s one way to get people high quality stuff that they can use, but that won’t break the bank. And it’s easier on the customer because it means fewer trips to the store. So buying in bigger numbers saves you.” A typical bag features chicken, skirt steak, ribs, Cornish game hens, ground beef — a list that changes each month.

One big plus, Lewis added: “We won Best of Show for our Italian mozzarella basil sausage. That’s something folks are coming in and asking for. It was at the California Association of Meat Processors. It won best out of the entire convention.  Also new at the counter is our marinated butter chicken thighs. And we have a brand new marinade, mango habanero. We think it’s sensational.”

Meanwhile, at Corralitos Market & Sausage Co., owner  Dave Petersen, said he has been adjusting to spikes in meat prices.

 “My first highest cut of meat is filet mignon,” he said. “Now number two, unbelievably, is skirt steak. Number three is prime rib. It used to be vice versa. Prime rib was a cheaper cut, but now it’s supply and demand because they’re shipping it overseas.” 

READY TO GRILL Dave Petersen, owner of Corralitos Market and Sausage Co., shows a tomahawk steak and their new whiskey bourbon marinade. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)

He explained that a butcher can only get about four pounds of skirt steak out of an 800-pound “hanging, dressed beef.” 

“And people don’t realize that,” he said. “They think there’s 20, 30, 50 pounds of skirt steak there. But there’s not. And so people are saying ‘you guys are charging so much money.’ It’s not us. That’s the way it is; it’s the whole chain.’”

He added that meat companies are also tacking on higher gasoline prices by charging a “fuel fee” just for a delivery. This is brand new. And you’re seeing that everywhere, too. Cause your cereal, spices, whatever—everything gets here by gas.” 

Petersen added that in earlier times, people would come in and “it’d be nothing to buy 20 pounds of skirt steak for a family party. Well, you can’t do that anymore. And it’s just not me. It’s everywhere.” 

Peterson said that on the upside, he’s featuring a new Harbinero pineapple sausage.

“We also had a chicken mango and we’re doing that one with a Harbinero too; it almost sounds hot, but it’s really not. It’s just got a nice kick to it.”

He said that he’s just introduced new pork riblets.

“They are so easy to grill,” he said. “And we’ve got a whiskey bourbon marinade that we came up with. It’s really, really good.”

Corralitos Market & Sausage Co. is at 569 Corralitos Road in Corralitos, and Freedom Meat Lockers is at 160 Hi Grade Lane in Watsonville.

The annual list of All-Pacific Coast Athletic League baseball teams was released June 1, which included 14 players from the four high schools in Watsonville.

St. Francis High junior Nicky Fantl and sophomore Noah Magan both earned all-league first team honors in the Gabilan Division, while teammate freshman Angel Urabe Chavez and Monte Vista Christian junior Mikie Melenudo each earned second team honors.

Watsonville High senior Mathew Silva and junior Jeremiah Mendez, along with Pajaro Valley senior Steve Martinez each earned All-PCAL First Team honors in the Cypress Division.

Watsonville’s Brody Barto and Mauricio Estrada, and PV’s Roy Sanchez-Diaz each earned all-league second team honors.

St. Francis sophomore Jacob Fonseca, MVC junior Chris Bautista, PV’s JC DeLuna and Watsonville’s Timothy Ruelas each were named to the Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team in their respective division.

Below is a complete list of the 2026 All-PCAL baseball teams.

Pacific Coast Athletic League 2026 all-league teams Gabilan Division Individual Awards

Most Valuable Player: Matt Maxon (Sr.), Carmel

Co-Pitchers of the Year: Zach Gonzales (Jr.), Palma and Johnny Money (Jr.), Monterey

First Team

Matt Maxon (Sr.), Carmel

Alex Hirschfield (Jr.), Carmel

Dean Brian (So.), Carmel

Sean Carr (Sr.), Carmel

Matt Alioto (Sr.), Palma

Zach Gonzales (Jr.), Palma

Rocco Razzeca (Sr.), Palma

Jordan Quezada (Sr.), Hollister

Braden Barone (Sr.), Hollister

Ethan Sanchez (Sr.), Soledad

Noah Magana (So.), St. Francis

Nicky Fantl (Jr.), St. Francis

Johnny Money (Jr.), Monterey

Second Team

Kenny Sanchez (So.), Carmel

John Beretti (Sr.), Carmel

Wyatt Bakker (Sr.), Palma

Damien Lopez (Jr.), Palma

Dylan Rocchi (Jr.), Palma

Ami Lopez (Jr.), Hollister

Layton Smith (So.), Hollister

Evan Mendoza (Jr.), Hollister

Connor Rose (Sr.), Monterey

Angel Urabe Chavez (Fr.), St. Francis 

Zachary Velasquez (Sr.), Salinas

Juan Esparza (Jr.), Soledad

Daniel Valenzuela (Sr.), Soledad

Mikie Melenudo (Jr.), Monte Vista Christian

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Michael Melnick (Sr.), Carmel

Aiden Veliz (Sr.), Palma

Aiden Velarde (Sr.), Monterey

Jacob Fonseca (So.), St. Francis

Gavin Rainey (Sr.), Salinas

Daniel Garcia (So.), Soledad

Chris Bautista (Jr.), MVC

Jordan Quezada (Sr.), Hollister

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team

Soledad

Mission Division Individual Awards

Most Valuable Player: Angel Barajas, Alisal

Pitcher of the Year: Jacob Hall, Stevenson

Offensive Player of the Year: Brody Edmunds, Pacific Grove

First Team

Huck Blanton, North Monterey County

Cecil Short, Rancho San Juan

Brody Edmunds, PG

Jacob Hall, Stevenson

Angel Barajas, Alisal

Andrew Jeska, PG

Reggie Bell, Stevenson

Phinn Thomas, Stevenson

Brody Gates, NMC

Roman Garcia, Alvarez

Aiden Munoz, RSJ

GP Serato, Alisal

Fabian Gonzalez, Alvarez

Second Team

Josiah Ramos, Alisal

Jonah Karsa, Stevenson

Ryder Allen, NMC

Issac Ortiz, RSJ

Daniel Saldana, RSJ

Kenny Pajas, Greenfield

Issac Sanchez, PG

Julian Valadez, RSJ

Taj Davis, PG

Northrop Kirk, PG

Cody Victoriano, Alvarez

Xavier Estrad, Alisal

Julian Barajas, NMC

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Francisco Hernandez, Greenfield

Kai Clarkson, PG

Brady Mugan, Stevenson

Benny Vera, RSJ

Fredy Torres, Alisal

Devin Pedersen, Alvarez

Jayden Harris, NMC

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team

Pacific Grove

Cypress Division Individual Awards

Most Valuable Player: Josh Degroodt, North Salinas

Offensive Player of the Year: Jacoby Chavez, King City

Pitcher of the Year: Joel Pina, King City

First Team

Joel Pina, King City

Jacoby Chavez, King City

Joaquin Sabala, King City

Josh Degroodt, North Salinas

Julian Gabriel, North Salinas

Johnny Benabides, North Salinas

Markus Camacho, North Salinas

Mathew Silva, Watsonville

Jeremiah Mendez, Watsonville

Kaleb True, Marina

Noah Villalobos, Gonzales

Steve Martinez, Pajaro Valley

Gabriel Rodriguez, Seaside

Second Team

Roman (RJ) Ayon, King City

Dylan Conatser, King City

Pablo Aguirre, King City

Ernesto Aguirre, KIng City

Andres Cervantes, North Salinas

Izaiah Gonzalez, North Salinas

Esteban Solorzano, North Salinas

Brody Barto, Watsonville

Mauricio Estrada, Watsonville

Leonel Alvarado, Marina

Juan Arriola, Gonzales

Roy Sanchez-Diaz, Pajaro Valley

Gabriel Moulton, Seaside

Richard Chamberlin All-Sportsmanship Team

Axel Chavez-Torres, King City

Julian Gabriel, North Salinas

Timothy Ruelas, Watsonville

Liam Sampaolo, Marina

Moises Castro, Gonzales

JC DeLuna, Pajaro Valley

Mason Flynn, Seaside

Elgie Bellizio All-Sportsmanship team

Seaside

The Ray Myers era is officially under way at Pajaro Valley High this week after he was formally introduced as the new head football coach Tuesday afternoon.

The longtime local defensive coordinator was already in full spirits by sporting the green, silver and black colors at Grizzly Stadium prior to a meeting with some of the incoming players.

“Being a coach basically is just an extension of the classroom,” Myers said. “It’s just another chance for me to teach and help impact people’s lives. Not just in the classroom, but on the field, too. It’s a great opportunity for that.”

Myers, 42, will replace Casey Neligh after he was pink-slipped by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District following three seasons (2023-25) at the helm.

Neligh led the Grizzlies to the program’s first-ever winning season after they finished with a 6-4 overall record. They were runners-up in the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Santa Lucia Division with a 5-1 record in league play.

Pajaro Valley Athletic Director Joe Manfre said he opened the position not thinking he’d find somebody extremely qualified for the position in such a short period.

That’s when Myers’ name popped up on the EDJOIN website.

“I was like ‘holy moly,’” Manfre said. “The Myers name carries a lot of weight in the city of Watsonville and Santa Cruz County.”

Myers has been a physical education teacher at Pajaro Middle School for the past 18 years. He received his master’s degree in strength and conditioning, and taught a weightlifting class for the Cabrillo College football team the past four years.

Myers played his first three years of prep football at Monte Vista Christian in Watsonville, followed by his senior season at Gilroy High and two years at Cabrillo College.

In 2007, Myers got his first gig as a defensive line coach at Soquel High under his dad, Ron, who spent 47 years on the football sidelines, and was the mastermind behind the Black Death defense at Watsonville High in the 80s.

“I think it’s kind of cool that Ray’s wanted to step into that space, and make a name for himself a little bit, too,” Manfre said.

Myers was promoted to defensive coordinator for six more years until he jumped ship with his dad for his second stint at Watsonville from 2014-19.

He took two years off during the Covid-19 pandemic before making a return to his alma mater at Cabrillo College as a defensive line coach for four years (‘22-25).

Myers now will have a chance to lead a program for the first time in his career, and he’s bringing his mentor, Ron, along for the ride as one of his assistant coaches. 

“I feel like [Ray Myers] brings a wealth of knowledge, and he’s a teacher too. He knows how to deal with kids,” Manfre said. “I think it’s going to be a really good fit.”

Myers will become a physical education teacher at Pajaro Valley, and run a weightlifting class for the football team. He said a benefit to being an on-campus coach is having contact with players for constant grade checks.

Myers also mentioned building relationships with teachers on campus is critical because he wants to make sure students are passing classes outside of athletics.

“The goal for us, and it always has been, is if you play four years of football you’re going to be able to graduate to be eligible to do that,” Myers said. 

Myers can already see the bigger picture, which starts with recruiting as many student-athletes as possible to join the Grizzly football program.

After that, he’s hoping to create a pipeline to send those same players to the next level whether it’s at Cabrillo or another school of their choice. 

“I want it to be a positive experience for them,” Myers said. “I want to have that positivity spread to the school. [Casey Neligh] did a great job with the program. I’m not inheriting a program that is down, it’s a program that is on its way up, and he’s done a really good job of getting the place ready.”