Leaders celebrate Pajaro River Levee funding
WATSONVILLE—Within the next two or three years, crews will begin work on rebuilding the Pajaro River Levee, giving 100-year flood protection to residents beset by years of devastating floods, and putting an end to a chapter in a South County story most would agree...
Council approves big contracts for Freedom Blvd., planning work
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council approved a trio of contracts for significant impending roadway and planning work on Nov. 15.
The largest contract of the four is a $4.2 million agreement with Gilroy-based McKim Corporation for the long-awaited reconstruction of Freedom Boulevard between Alta Vista Avenue...
Cabrillo engineering class conducts survey for former department chair
WATSONVILLE—In 1961, two years after Cabrillo College in Aptos was established, Rich Hart was hired by the school to start its brand new Engineering department.
Hart would go on to be chair of the department as well as its sole instructor for 34 years, teaching...
Traditional dance performances arrive in Watsonville, Aptos
Students in the local dance class, Estrellas de Esperanza, taught by Ruby Vasquez, hosted an information session for the public Wednesday evening to learn about a Mexican holiday tradition called La Rama.
Maestro Claudio Naranjos Vega traveled from Vera Cruz, Mexico, to run the class...
PHOTO: Stolen car recovered following chase in Watsonville
Watsonville Police collect evidence Wednesday morning on Riverside Drive where a man crashed a stolen Honda sedan into a building following a pursuit that started in Aromas. According to police radio traffic, San Benito County Sheriff's deputies called for assistance from Watsonville Police as...
Surfers celebrate Juneteenth in Santa Cruz
About 150 people plunged into the Pacific Saturday at Cowell’s Beach for the third annual Liberation Paddle Out celebration of Juneteenth.
With the aid of around two dozen experienced surfers and other supporters, the crowd fitted themselves with wetsuits, took in a brief surf lesson...
Santa Cruz County Supervisors approve ordinance banning force against kids
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance that would prohibit companies forcibly transporting children. Also under the ordinance, families could sue transport companies that use force against their children for $10,000, plus legal costs.
The issue came to...
Mural honors Filipino community
A large mosaic mural was installed this week on an exterior wall at Tabasa Gardens, a new apartment complex at 1482 Freedom Blvd.
The 10-by-30-foot mosaic was created by Watsonville artist Kathleen Crocetti and a team of volunteers at Muzzio Mosaic Arts Center. The topic...
Winds, rain lash region
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The first day of spring blew its way into the Central Coast Tuesday, toppling trees and power lines across roadways and buildings across the county.
Winds estimated as high as 80 miles per hour are pounding the region, causing chaos on the roadways...
Santa Cruz County Supervisors move forward on housing element update
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday took a close look at an upcoming update to the housing element of the county’s general plan, a move required of jurisdictions every eight years.
Central to the update is the state-mandated Regional Housing Needs Allocation...
NorCal Champions: Mariners cap off remarkable season with Division III title...
Aptos senior Sofia Contreras last week missed her departure to go on a cruise ship with her family for a trip of a lifetime...