Thanks for supporting Birding Fest
The Monterey Bay Birding Festival thanks The Pajaronian for printing and distributing an attractive and informative program guide for this year’s festival held in Watsonville.
Birdwatchers from 14 different states and from the length and breadth of California, together with lots of local enthusiasts, came together to celebrate and learn about birds. They selected from 54 events throughout the three-day weekend, including field trips, workshops, and lectures. Highlights included a Family Day with visiting owls and hawks; watching golden eagles flying above UCSC’s Arboretum and condors soaring above Big Sur, the delights of ducks and wading birds close by at Pinto Lake and Pajaro Dunes, and an exclusive nighttime visit to Elkhorn Slough in search of owls.
Participants enjoyed two evening receptions: “A Taste of the Valley” featuring food from some of Watsonville’s finest restaurants and, new this year, the “Give for the Birds” reception, where participants were introduced to local nonprofit organizations dedicated to educating youth about birds, wildlife and habitat conservation.
Joining The Pajaronian as a major sponsor for the festival was: the City of Watsonville, Best Western Rose Garden Inn, Big Sur Food & Wine Festival, Elkhorn Slough Foundation, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, KSCO, Mas Mc (McDonalds Watsonville), Santa Cruz Bird Club, Santa Cruz County Bank, Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz Roasting Company, The Bird School Project, Watsonville City Library, Kitayama Brothers Inc., California Pajarosa Floral and the many Watsonville restaurants that supported the Taste of the Pajaro Valley reception.
The festival was produced by a supporting cast of hardworking volunteers, without whom, the festival could not take place. We offer a hearty thanks to all of the volunteers, donors, and participants. Already, we are planning the 15th festival in Fall of 2020.
Sonia Deetz, VP of Monterey Bay Birding Festival
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Homelessness
One of the foremost news stories of the present day is that of “the homeless.” The homeless, it seems, garner more interest and fascination, than those not homeless. But are these people we see in all public places really homeless? Just because they are visible, why do we automatically assume they are homeless?
A true homeless person is not visible. They are sleeping on a friend’s couch, in a friend’s garage, some coop up in a vehicle out of public view. A true homeless person is actively seeking a permanent home.
The people we see laying and squatting in and around our public edifices are not homeless at all. They have the largest home of all.
What I have observed in walking around Santa Cruz in the last 10-15 years is not a problem of homeless people, but of people who are at home right ‘where-they-are.’
Many feel so at home where they are that there is no self-consciousness about their state of dress. I cannot help but to notice this because many of these “homeowners” place themselves in positions where body parts we normally cover up in public, are, in their case, graphically exposed and sure to be seen. I’ve noticed such individuals outside the post office, in Starbucks, inside and outside the public library — all over town. It is disgusting.
These where-they-are “homeowners” are cunning and rebellious. They steal, they charge their phones in the library, they spread out their lunch and kick off their shoes in the Research Room there, as if they are in their living room. I have seen all this. They are off and on in the park around the county building dealing and doing drugs. It goes on and on.
Homelessness is not the problem. It’s a human problem.
Charles Birimisa, Watsonville
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A toast to Watsonville
A toast to our town. It was great to read in the paper that Watsonville was recently named City of the Month by the California State Library’s California History Section. Fabulous! I also enjoyed seeing the article’s photo of downtown Watsonville in 1890. You know, Watsonville looked good. It was no “one horse and a buggy,” and our town was already blossoming like a spring rose. Peace and love.
Mike Bobeda, Watsonville
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Editor’s note: The Pajaronian welcomes letters. Letters and columns may be dropped off or mailed to The Pajaronian, 21 Brennan St, Suite 14, Watsonville, CA 95076. Letters and columns may also be sent via email to [email protected]. Letters should be less than 300 words, and columns are no more than 700 words. All letters and columns must be signed and have an address and phone number for confirmation purposes. We reserve the right to edit and condense all submissions.
