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Watsonville
September 11, 2025

‘A tastebud explosion:’ Santa Cruz County Fair opens

santa cruz county fair
After four months of being raised by a Watsonville High School student, Stinkers the pig is ready for market. The 252-pound Hampshire cross was lazing in her pen Wednesday, soon after the Santa Cruz County Fair opened and after she waddled with a third-place ribbon...

Nonprofit health providers celebrate 100th day in new facilities

Capitola Road Health and Housing Campus
Santa Cruz Community Health (SCCH) and Dientes Community Dental recently celebrated their 100th day of care at their new facilities on Capitola Road.  This duo joined forces to provide a comprehensive range of health services to low-income patients on a new 3.7-acre health and housing...

Santa Cruz County Health Officer announces retirement

gail newel
Santa Cruz County Health Officer Gail Newel on Thursday announced that she will be retiring in June. Newel was appointed to the position in July 2019. During that time, she led the county through the Covid pandemic, considered to be the largest public health crisis in...

Holiday Lights returns to Fairgrounds Nov. 25

WATSONVILLE—Work is underway at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in preparation for the annual Holiday Lights drive-thru light show. Born out of the 2020 Covid lockdowns as a way for the community to celebrate the season safely, the event invites families to drive though colorful...

PHOTO: Crab Feed returns in-person at fairgrounds

santa cruz county fairgrounds foundation crab feed
Guests line up for the annual Crab Feed dinner at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. After operating as a drive-thru due to the pandemic, Saturday marked the first in-person sit-down dinner, combined with a silent and live auction, in two years. Auctioneer and former...

County’s plan for aging seeks community input

Santa Cruz County is presenting a Master Plan for Aging (MPA) survey residents can take that will help county leaders craft a plan to meet the needs of its rapidly growing senior population. When it is complete, the county’s MPA—called “Age Well Santa Cruz County”—will...

College Lake work kicks off

college lake
Work has begun on the College Lake Integrated Resources Management Project on Holohan Road in Watsonville.  The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PV Water) Board of Directors approved contracts to construct the project on Feb. 1.  Heavy equipment has been on the scene clearing away a...

New program offers dental care, hygiene kits to seniors

dientes grey bears
Dozens of volunteers at Grey Bears were busy Thursday morning around two long tables loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables—along with other pantry staples—making packages to be delivered to seniors throughout Santa Cruz County. The large warehouse was filled with laughter and lively chatter more...

Photo: Ag fields underwater

Flooded agriculture fields reflect stormy skies and hoop house frames on a farm off of Riverside Drive in Watsonville. Evacuation orders for neighborhoods along the creeks and Pajaro River were downgraded to warnings this morning, but officials are asking the public to stay alert...

Light rain, on and off into Saturday

weather rain windshield east beach street
While talk of an approaching atmospheric river stole the headlines at the close of last week, the low pressure system that carried that news has now significantly weakened. Sarah McCorkle, meteorologist with the National Weather Service of Monterey, said folks on the Central Coast will...
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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,...