Supervisors approve half-cent sales tax for March ballot
Santa Cruz County residents will consider a half-cent sales tax on the March 5 ballot which, if approved by a simple majority, will fund wildfire protection programs, as well as public safety, road and park improvements and other services.
The Santa Cruz County Board of...
Grant expands Lift Line services
Community Bridges’ Lift Line transportation program is expanding its door-to-door services to all Santa Cruz County residents with disabilities thanks to a state grant from the California Public Utilities Commission Transportation Network Company’s Access for All program. It will be a first-of-its-kind program without...
PHOTO: Volunteers offer a helping hand on College Road
Volunteers help remove stacks of sandbags Saturday at the flood-stricken College Road neighborhood as part of a large-scale cleanup. The one-day event, which drew more than 100 people, was organized by Supervisor Felipe Hernandez and his Chief of Staff Ramon Gomez. Numerous members of...
Philanthropist, publisher Rowland Rebele dies
Rowland Rebele, a publisher and philanthropist who wanted to give away all of his money before he passed away, died Saturday at the age of 93.
“Reb,” as he liked to be called, served in the U.S. Navy and attended Stanford University before embarking on...
Bill would tighten rules on gun ownership in California
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The shooting that killed a man in Boulder Creek on Jan. 28 followed two mass shootings in California, which themselves came amidst a flurry of gun violence across the U.S.
In response, several Democratic lawmakers have teamed up with Gov. Gavin Newsom to...
Watsonville cements sister city status with Portuguese city
WATSONVILLE—The City of Watsonville solidified its Sister City affiliation with Velas, a historic port town on the western coast of São Jorge Island in Portugal, at its Tuesday night City Council meeting.
Watsonville Mayor Ari Parker and Vasco Cordeiro, the President of the European Committee...
Fire officials bracing for late fire season
Wildfires in the county’s unincorporated regions have stayed relatively low for this time of year, with just 71 vegetation fires so far in 2023 in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, compared to 107 for the same time period last year.
That’s according to Nate...
Financial help available for California storm victims, but it can be difficult to get
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Soon after President Joe Biden declared a major disaster for the areas of California besieged by a series of atmospheric river storms on Jan. 9—a move that allowed victims to request financial help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency—Watsonville resident Amy Thomas...
A century of wedding dresses: Pajaro Valley Historial Association opens new exhibit
The Pajaro Valley Historical Association (PVHA) is set to open a new exhibit showcasing the wedding dresses of local women from 1890 to 1990 at PVHA’s Bockius-Orr house.
PVHA board member Virginia Avila and office administrator Jodi Frensley spent more than 100 hours together curating...
Q&A: Jose Camacho on providing youth with cultural opportunities
The community is invited to attend the Celebration of Arts and Culture on Sept. 16 at 7pm at the Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts. Presented by Activities 4 All, Ballet Folklórico Ollin, Esperanza del Valle, Estrellas de Esperanza, Grupo Folklórico Los...
Prep Athletes of the Week: St. Francis’ Joseph Dayritt, Maya Calfee
The Pajaronian’s Prep Athletes of the Week were selected based on their performances during the week of Sept. 1-7. Coaches and athletic directors are...
