Community Corner

5 Things You Need to Know About Watsonville: June 1

Time to flip those calendars over and get ready for summer, it's June!

It's June today—the end of the school year and the start of summer fun. Here's some news you need to know.

The Aptos High School Technology Fundraising Committee will meet again today in the AHS Career Center.

All interested parties are welcome to attend. Questions, please call Principal Casey O'Brien at 688-6565 or Assistant Superintendent Murry Schekman at 786-1200.

Find out what's happening in Watsonvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

It's 'skeeter season.

According to county Mosquito and Vector Control, the above-average spring rainfall coupled with a few sunny days has created "mosquito factories are anywhere and everywhere."

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The mosquitoes breed in stagnant water: rainwater in buckets, bird baths, tires; water trapped in tarps, clogged roof gutters and boat bilges; unmaintained pools, spas and fish ponds; ditches and marshes become prime habitat for the pests.

Mosquitoes are not only a nuisance, but a public health threat since the insects can carry West Nile virus. California had 111 human cases and six fatalities due to West Nile virus in 2010, according to Paul Binding, manager of the county Mosquito and Vector Control.

To prevent mosquito bites use insect repellent, but to avoid the bugs altogether drain any standing water around your home. If you see standing water that you cannot empty or drain, or if you know of a neglected swimming pool, you can contact Mosquito and Vector Control at 454-2590. The district provides free mosquito-eating fish.

Last week, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District officials announced that next year's budget picture isn't as dismal as it had been.

What may happen is the district sees no real increase in funding, but also doens't take a loss.

So while that doesn't mean shiny new schools, library tech positions were saved and there's a little optimism that earlier in the year may be rescinded this month.

Stay tuned.

There's still time to sign up for summer sports camps at the .

The Y’s Summer Basketball League is June 13-Aug. 13. The league is open to all boys and girls from kindergarten through eighth grade and will instruct players in the basic skills and rules of the game while focusing on teamwork and fair play. Teams will practice once a week in the evening, with games played on Fridays and Saturdays.

Volleyball Camp is 10 a.m. to noon July 11-14. The program is open to boys and girls, grades 5-8, and will focus on the essentials of volleyball and game strategy. The camp finishes with a tournament.

The Y’s youth sports programs encourage and promote healthy and strong kids, families and communities by placing a priority on family involvement, healthy competition and team building. To sign up your child, or to volunteer for Watsonville Family YMCA summer sports programs, call Kristie Agan at 831-728-9622 or send an email to kagan@ymcacentralcoast.org.

And today is National Running Day. Oh yeah, there's a holiday for everything. But get out there while it's still sunny (there's rain in the forecast) to run along the slough trails or take the levee path east from Bridge Street, past  to runt through the strawberry fields.

Also, there are some running deals out there today only.

  • The Dodge Rock 'n’ Roll Half-Marathon on Oct. 2, which takes runners in and around downtown San Jose with bands playing along the way, will yield $13 off a half-marathon. On Wednesday only, it will cost $72, then it will be $85 though July 31, $100 up until Sept. 25, and $125 on the day of the event.
  • The Muddy Buddy on Oct. 9 is a combination running, bicycling and obstacle course team event that takes participants on a 6-7-mile off-road course through Joseph D. Grant Regional Park in San Jose. The teams leapfrog the course taking turns running, riding the bicycle or completing the obstacle. Sign up on Wednesday, and get $20 off your dirty escapade—it'll cost $150 per team every other day after that.


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