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Watsonville
September 11, 2025

Photo: Suspected car thief nabbed within minutes

A Pacific Gas & Electric worker untangles a guy wire from a tree that was knocked over by a reckless driver Sunday morning on Walker Street. Watsonville Police Sgt. Donny Thul said that around 11:15am a man reportedly stole a red Ford Mustang in...

Jimmy Dutra denies sexual assault allegations

jimmy dutra
WATSONVILLE—Santa Cruz County Supervisor candidate Jimmy Dutra told a group of reporters and roughly two-dozen supporters that allegations of sexual abuse made against him last week are “completely false and untrue,” and stem from a dispute with his late father’s ex-wife over his estate. Dutra...

High surf pummels coastal Santa Cruz County

capitola village high surf
Massive surf pummeled coastal regions of Santa Cruz County, leading to evacuations, road closures and damage Thursday.  High waves surged into Capitola Village, knocking over signs and benches, tearing open business fronts and cluttering the Esplanade with mountains of driftwood, sand and debris. Mary Ann Orr,...

PHOTOS: Mosaics on the move in downtown Watsonville

watsonville brillante rodriguez street parking structure downtown
A new phase of the massive outdoor mural project, Watsonville Brillante, was unveiled recently along the Rodriguez Street side of the six-floor parking structure. Around 60 mosaic panels make up phase seven of the 10-phase project that features themes of Finland, Ukraine, Russia, Norway,...

A blaze of glory: longtime fire reservist dies

John R. Walker Jr., a major fixture in Watsonville’s landscape of firefighting, parades and labor task force, died Jan. 27 of pancreatic cancer. He was 84. Walker  served as a Watsonville Reserve Firefighter for three decades, and left that post as Reserve Lt. Co. No....

Watsonville sales tax measure campaign kicks off

WATSONVILLE—Around 70 people gathered at Jalisco Restaurant on Wednesday to kick off the campaign for the proposed half-cent sales tax measure that will go before voters in the Nov. 8 midterm election. Measure R—placed on the ballot by Watsonville City Council in June—would raise the...

Photo story: Open at last

Barricades were recently taken down where Atkinson Lane meets Freedom Boulevard during construction of the new Tabasas Gardens homes (shown here). The lane had been closed to allow for construction for more than a year.

Free school supplies give kids a boost

watsonville plaza backpacks salvation army school supplies
WATSONVILLE—Around 300 area students were presented with free backpacks loaded with school supplies Saturday thanks to the Salvation Army in Watsonville and a handful of other groups.  By 10am a lengthy line of students and their families lined up at Watsonville Plaza to fill new...

Members’ exhibit hits the walls at PV Arts

Pajaro Valley Arts 40 Years of Inspired Expression Klay Schott
Artwork by more than 130 local artists has filled the walls of the Pajaro Valley Gallery in Watsonville with Pajaro Valley Arts’ first show of the year. “2024, Pajaro Valley Arts: 40 Years of Inspired Expression,” which runs Jan. 17–Feb. 25, spans a wealth of...

Peace and Unity March and Rally hits 30th year

faris sabbah peace and unity march
Close to 70 people gathered Sunday at Romo Park in Watsonville for the 30th annual Peace and Unity March and Rally to remember friends and family who died from street violence.  It stands as the oldest yearly peace march and rally in the state. It...
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County Fair swings its doors open

The Santa Cruz County Fair welcomed the public through its gates Wednesday at noon for the traditional mix of food, entertainment, arts and crafts,...