November 1, 2019
Tarmo Hannula: Dozens of volunteers showed up at Watsonville’s City Plaza Friday to set up for Diá de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, celebrations in. Olga Fuentes said nine altars were being constructed as the centerpiece for the free activities that get going at 4 p.m.
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Four people were killed and four others were injured by gunfire at a party in Orinda—11 miles north of Berkeley—on Halloween. No one is in custody.
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Eight drivers were hit with unknown projectiles in Prunedale Wednesday night all within 15 minutes. Motorists are reporting shattered windows and other vehicle damage along highways 156 and 101. The California Highway Patrol is now bringing in a special investigator to aid in making an arrest. There have been 40 apparent random attacks in that area over the last few months. The CHP does not know what projectiles are being used.
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The Kincade Fire in Sonoma County wine country has now burned 77,761 acres, including 349 buildings with of those being 140 homes. California has had 6,000 fires this year.
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The 26th annual Peace and Unity March will return to Watsonville’s City Plaza Sunday. The event is a community rally cry to stop the gang-related violence that has ended the lives of dozens around Watsonville. The free event goes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is the oldest continuous peace march in California, according to Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo.
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October 31, 2019:
Tarmo Hannula: Boo! Today is Halloween. All around Watsonville spooky and crazy costumes cropped up all day. The staff at Bay Federal Credit Union went all-out with a Jurassic Park theme that took over the entire Freedom Branch. A scary clown strolled along Freedom Boulevard and various residential homes were decked out with graveyards, skeletons, spooks, ghouls and the like along Lincoln Street and elsewhere around town.
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A rash of fires around California are being blamed on the on again off again power safety shutoffs by PG&E, including one in Oakley and another in Bethal Island. Some believe the massive 75,000-acre Kincade in Sonoma wine country was also caused by electrical lines. About 53,000 homes and businesses continue to be affected by the power shutoffs. The major fires that are burning also include:
• The Easy Fire in Southern California with 1,723 acres burned. It is 10 percent contained.
• The Hillside Fire in Southern California has charred 200 acres and is 50 percent contained.
• Getty Fire in Southern California at 745 acres and 39 percent containment.
• The 46 Fire in Southern California has burned 300 acres and is 5 percent contained.
It looks like most of the 180,000 folks under mandatory evacuations in the Sonoma County Kincade Fire have been allowed to return home and to their businesses. More than 5,000 people still remain under evacuation.
Residents at the Fairfax Senior Center said they felt their lives were threatened during the blackout, some relying on machines for life support.
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Hurray to the Washington Nationals who claimed their first ever victory in the World Series last night against the Houston Astros in a 4-3 triumph. Game seven ended it all in a Nationals win of 6-2.
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Christmas lights started going up on the bandstand in Watsonville Plaza Wednesday as part of a lengthy and elaborate holiday celebration that decks the plaza out for a host of activities. Snow Day, Christmas caroling, Santa’s arrival and more add to the family-oriented fun.
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Tarmo Hannula: Be aware that underground utility work on South Green Valley Road, just south of Freedom Boulevard, has forced officials to close the road altogether between Freedom and Loma Prieta Drive. The work will go on through Thursday.
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Governor Newsom has declared a statewide emergency due to the rash of wild land fire burning round the state. The Kincade Fire in the wine country of Sonoma and Lake counties has so far burned more than 66,000 acres and is only 10 percent contained. Two strike teams from Santa Cruz County had been dispatched to the incident.
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Meanwhile, as part of PG&E’s safety power shut off program, 44,942 customers were without power in Santa Cruz County Sunday and, for some, into Monday. Some 56,000 homes and businesses in the Monterey Bay tri-county area. Another 10,000 customers in Monterey County and 1,400 in San Benito County were also without power.
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In Southern California, the Getty Fire, which broke out early Monday, has now blackened 250 acres. The fire, burning near Hwy 405, has burned at least two homes near the Getty Center. There is a Red Flag warning in affect through tonight due to dry hot Santa Ana winds, some up to 65 mph.
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Johanna Miller: The PG&E outages which have hit large portions of California this week do not seem to be over. There is a possibility of more outages beginning Tuesday morning as another bout of high winds are on the horizon.
Watsonville has not experienced as many outages, however, a couple hundred residents (including my family and I) living in the middle of town experienced one that lasted from Sunday at 2 p.m. until late this morning.
The Watsonville outage was not scheduled; the cause is still unknown.
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Cabrillo College Theater Arts’ “Carrie: The Musical” opened this weekend at the Crocker Theater in Aptos.
The show, based on from the horror novel by Stephen King, was originally adapted for the stage by Michael Gore and Lawrence D. Cohen in 1988. It follows the story of a teenage girl with telekinetic powers who seeks revenge on her abusive mother and bullying classmates.
Cabrillo’s production, directed by Kathryn Adkins, will run until Nov. 10, with evening performances on Halloween at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
For information visit cabrillovapa.com.
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There are plenty of ways to observe and celebrate Día de los Muertos this coming weekend. On Friday at 4 p.m., the Watsonville Film Festival will hold its second annual Día de los Muertos festival and film screening. Come enjoy music, dancing, and bring offerings to honor loved ones. At dusk there will be a screening of Disney/Pixar’s “Coco.”
On Saturday the Senderos organization and the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History will hold its annual Día de los Muertos Community Festival in Downtown Santa Cruz. The event includes face painting, crafts, music, dancing, and processions to Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park and Evergreen Cemetery, where altars will be installed.
For information visit santacruzmah.org and scsenderos.org.
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Quote of the day: “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” —Albert Einstein
