Carmageddon: Highway 1 closed for 24 hours
The California Highway Patrol closed north and southbound lanes of Highway 1 in Soquel Saturday at 7pm to make way for Granite Construction crews to demolish the 1948 Capitola Avenue bridge above the highway.
The closure and carefully crafted detour between Bay/Porter and Park Avenue...
El Sistema awarded $50,000 by the Lewis Prize for Music
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—El Sistema Santa Cruz/Pajaro Valley has been awarded $50,000 by the Lewis Prize for Music, which will help further the nonprofit’s work in bringing music education to local students.
El Sistema was named one of 10 finalists for the Lewis Prize for Music’s...
Pajaro Valley Unified: De Serpa jumps ahead, Schacher barely trailing
WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Area 1 incumbent Kim De Serpa took an early–and significant–lead as early results poured in, showing a 66.1% lead over her opponent Natalain Schwartz.
In a small gathering at Cantine Winepub, De Serpa said she was looking forward to...
Santa Cruz County animal shelter employees demanding changes
Dozens of Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter employees briefly walked off the job on Nov. 30 to conduct an informational picket highlighting what they describe as untenable working conditions and inadequate pay, with no support from their management.
The issue is exacerbated by a recent...
Officials maintain ‘zero tolerance’ for illegal fireworks
“Safe and sane” fireworks are now on sale in Watsonville, but the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) is reminding everyone to do their part to have a safe holiday and help prevent fires and injuries caused by fireworks.
So-called “safe and sane”...
Leaving his stamp: Local post office worker retires after 34 years
After 34 years at the U.S. Post Office in Watsonville, Jimmie Nartates wrapped up his career as a window clerk Monday beneath a large gold banner, “Happy Retirement.”
With signs posted about his work station by fellow workers, such as “Welcome to 7-day weekends,” and...
Big rig tears off hydrant, geyser erupts in downtown Watsonville
A powerful geyser of water blasted into the sky at Main and West Beach streets for more than five hours Monday after a big rig knocked over a fire hydrant just past 10am.
The stream of water gushing from the ground was so strong that...
Flooded creek tears away chunk of Soquel’s Main Street
SOQUEL—More than 1,000 Soquel residents are trapped in their neighborhood after raging waters tore away a huge chunk of Main Street early Thursday morning.
According to Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin, the damage began around 3am, as Bates Creek, which flows under North Main...
Elkhorn Slough, other natural areas, receive $71M grant for climate resilience
Elkhorn Slough, the vast natural area south of Watsonville that serves as a transition zone between land and sea and is home to myriad species of birds—as well as water and land animals—got a boost last week with a $6 million award.
The money from...
Withe the continent in disaray, Europe’s populists embrace Trump
Following the U.S. election, many celebrated a significant electoral victory. Many simply exhaled. Others are showing signs of frustration and despair. A significant segment...
