State seized enough fentanyl to potentially kill North America, twice
CALIFORNIA—In 2022, authorities in California say they seized 28,765 pounds of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
The Department of Drug Enforcement said it is enough to kill hundreds of millions of...
Off the beat: Watsonville Police Capt. Tony Magdayao retires
Note: Reporter Tarmo Hannula contributed to this story
WATSONVILLE—After nearly three decades with the Watsonville Police Department, Capt. Tony Magdayao has dipped his toes into the quiet waters of retirement.
Magdayao was 30 when he joined the department, closing a career that began when he was...
A profile in public service: Lowell Hurst
By DREW ROGERS
CONTRIBUTED TO THE PAJARONIAN
Purely by happenstance after moving here in 2018, I met Lowell Hurst during his last month as Watsonville’s mayor (his third stint). Affable with a booming, cheery voice landing truth bombs and jokes equally, his Midwest openness and disdain...
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...
Photo: CHP hosts annual Adopt-a-Family program
California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murrillo (left), on behalf of the Santa Cruz area CHP, presents a hefty load of Christmas gifts to Selena Frutos and her kids, Julie Rodriguez, 5, Jade Duarte, 2, and Joseph Valencia, 10, as CHP officer Sam Courtney (rear)...
CHP Maximum Enforcement Period begins tonight
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—As people venture out for the Christmas holiday, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is preparing for a busy travel weekend in Santa Cruz County.
The CHP will kick off a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) beginning at 6:01pm today and will continue through 11:59pm Monday. Â
During...
Supervisors strengthen protections for mobile home parks
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 14 unanimously approved a new ordinance meant to add affordability protections for people who live in mobile home parks, and to help mediate when tenants dispute rent increases.
The new ordinance ties future rent...
Memorial honors those who died while homeless
By Aiyana Moya
SANTA CRUZ—A soft chorus of voices, coming from the Santa Cruz Threshold Singers, welcomes guests as they walk into the Santa Cruz County Vets building Dec. 21 where the annual Homeless Memorial is taking place.Â
This year marks the first year since the...
Farm Bureau receives awards
The Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau (SCCFB) was honored with five County Activities of Excellence Awards, and was a finalist in the statewide Innovator Awards at the California Farm Bureau’s 104th meeting in early December.
A local delegation of five attended the annual meeting in...
Cabrillo scholarship created in memory of plane crash victim
APTOS–The family of Stuart Camenson, who died in a plane collision at Watsonville Municipal Airport on Aug. 18, has created a permanent endowed scholarship for Cabrillo College students in his honor.
The Stuart Camenson Memorial Endowed Scholarship aims to support those studying within Cabrillo’s Visual...
Protest, film target pesticide regulations
About 40 people gathered outside the CineLux Green Valley Cinema in Watsonville Friday to protest new regulations by the Department of Pesticide Regulation regarding...