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Civil rights activist Dolores Huerta will speak at the Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts in Watsonville on Aug. 12 at 4pm.  She'll be joined on stage by local activists Mireya Gómez-Contreras, co-leader of Esperanza Community Farms, and Ann López, executive director of...

Longtime school board member, coach, mentor and businessman in the Pajaro Valley Willie Yahiro was remembered by close to 250 people Saturday at the Henry J. Mello Center. The event included prayer and homily by Rev. Dan Hoffman, scripture read by  Brooke Uchida, opening hymn...

The staff at Freedom Meat Lockers and Corralitos Market and Sausage Company are in high production mode as they prepare for Thanksgiving. Dave Peterson, president of Corralitos Market at 569 Corralitos Road, said he has 450 smoked turkeys on deck, on top of their in-house...

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...

State and city officials joined around 100 people recently to kick off repairs of the storm-damaged Capitola Wharf.  Attendees spoke about a multi-year journey that led to the groundbreaking ceremony.  “This wharf for 130 years has been an essential part of this community,” said Congressman Jimmy...

Last-minute fine-tuning is underway at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds to throw the switch for two million lights at the fourth annual Holiday Lights drive-thru, which runs Nov. 24-Dec. 24. Event coordinator Dave Kegebein said new additions this year, including tulips and poinsettias, large snails,...

The 40th annual Evening of Wine & Roses unfolded Saturday night at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Put on by the Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, the event serves as a fundraiser in support of health and wellness services for the Pajaro Valley. Guests...

A recent survey of potential voters signals strong support of a property tax that would allow for the purchase of Watsonville Community Hospital’s building and surrounding property, along with upgrades to its facilities. The questions now for Pajaro Valley Health Care District (PVHCD) are how...

Residents in Santa Cruz County will face steep fines for using fireworks this Fourth of July, including at area beaches. “Illegal fireworks can be a threat to public safety, spark wildfires, and be harmful to the environment, vulnerable residents, and pets,” Santa Cruz County spokesman...

A 48-year-old Watsonville man pleaded no contest Wednesday to charges he was intoxicated when he caused a crash in 2021 that killed another man, prosecutors said. Israel Cruz pled no contest to one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and one count of driving...