5 Things You Need to Know About Watsonville: Weekend Edition

The tragic officer-involved fatal shooting at Big 5 Sporting Goods on Tuesday has been the focus all week, but other news has happened around the Pajaro Valley. Here are some of the noticias that have been neglected.

The Watsonville City Council decided Tuesday to fund most of the nonprofits that rely on the city for their budgets.

The change came after . City staff revised some budgets and made it possible to fund most of the groups, to the tune of $250,024. The majority of that goes to social services, with about 10 percent directed to community agencies.

The programs range from food banks to support for seniors and daycare to drug treatment. Several people made final pleas for their funding; others thanked the city council for taking their group off the chopping block.

"Thank you for partnering with us," said Leticia Mendoza, executive director of the .

However, some groups still saw cuts. For example, Dientes, a low-cost and free dental program, had it's budget cut 50 percent.

“We have to learn to do less with less … and I’m sorry I have to tell you that," City Councilman Manuel Bersamin said.

Councilman Lowell Hurst acknowledged that everyone is doing important work.

"I’m not insensitive to all the various needs in the community," he said, calling it “a somber occasion … to look at this list and try to decide.”

On a sad note, Jerry Beyersdorff, the former head of the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, died Monday night. Beyersdorff was a businessman in the community, a member of the Rotary Club and key in several great local events, including the Birding Festival and the Strawberry Festival.

"He was a hard worker and always wanted to make things happen," said Renee Mello, a local Realtor and Beyersdorff's sister-in-law and. "I personally will miss that little gleam in his eye and that smile he got when he was up to something."

Beyersdorff had been ill. He died with his family around him. Mello said he wasn't in any pain. 

"We have lost a very special man," Mello said.

In case it slipped past you, both the police union and the firefighters union now have two-year contracts and no layoffs are planned.

 just before Tuesday night's council meeting.  a week ago. Both will take pay cuts and future employees will have fewer pension benefits.

Three women with deep ties to Watsonville will be among the speakers at today's sold-out TEDx event at Cabrillo College in Aptos.

Gina Castañeda, a juvenile probation officer who created to save teenage boys from gangs; Ann Morhauser, founder of ; and Lori Butterworth, founder and former Executive Director of   will present their thoughts on the theme "Engage!" during the day-long event aimed at sharing good ideas.

For those who didn't get a ticket, you can watch TEDx Santa Cruz live on your computer or head north to Santa Cruz, where there will be viewing parties at the Digital Media Factory and Cruzio.

And don't miss the circus this weekend! Circo Osorio pitched its big tent at the Thursday and will be performing through Monday.