5 Things You Need to Know About Watsonville: April 16

It’s the weekend, so read the five things you need to know to stay up-to-date about what’s going on in the community. Who knows, it may even help your day go by faster!

This weekend is the Open Studios art tour in San Benito County, and you don't have to go far to take part. There are some great artists out in Aromas worth checking out.

• Stained glass artist Linda Bjornson and quiltmaker Louise Coombes will be showing their work at 189 Carr Ave.
• Jennifer Colby will be display "innovative paintings and prints in garden studio" at 2895 Rancho Rea Rd. 
• Gail Mutoza is showing her unique silver and mixed metals jewelry at 603 Carpenteria Rd.
• Steven Snyder will show local landscape photography printed canvas at 18503 Candance Ln.

This event is a self-guided tour of artists' studios and features the work of local potters, painters, sculptors, jewelry makers, weavers and glass artists.

The man killed when on Tuesday afternoon was Jesus Gonzalez Jr, the Coroner's Office reported.

Gonzalez, 63, was westbound on the two-lane highway around 3:30 p.m. when, for unknown reasons, his truck veered into the eastbound lane and flipped off the highway. He was driving a truck loaded with two tanks of dolomite, essentially dry cement, acccording to the CHP.

The crash happened about seven miles east of Watsonville. No one else was hurt. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

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Pajaro Preparatory Academy, a new charter school, was on Wednesday night. Mitch Barlas, who is trying to establish the school, said will submit an application to the Satna Cruz County Office of Education within the week.

"Many parents have called and are upset and disappointed in PVUSD's decision," Barlas said in an email. "... They have called our voicemail and left very heartfelt messages pleading that we don't give up."

Pajaro Prep would serve elementary school students, focusing on children of migrant workers and other underserved populations. The curriculum is bilingual.

The school board passed on Pajaro Prep, citing concerns that the school doesn't offer unique programming, among other things.

Barlas said they want to open the school with kindergartners and first graders in August.

"So on behalf of the families, we will march forward," Barlas said.

The city's Community Redistricting Advisory Committee will hold its first meeting to redraw the city council district boundary lines in Watsonville. U.S. Census figures showed the city's population has shifted so the seven city council districts must be altered.

The meeting is at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Civic Plaza Community Room, on the fourth floor at 275 Main St.