Shakespeare adaptation celebrates Hispanic culture
APTOS—When tasked with choosing a production for Cabrillo College Theater Arts Department’s Fall 2022 season, Abel Cornejo knew he wanted to find something that celebrated Hispanic culture.
After a long search, however, Cornejo still hadn't found just the right play. That’s when he had the...
Group sparks conversation about valley’s pesticide use
WATSONVILLE—A newly formed community group with the vision of reducing the use of pesticides in the Pajaro Valley is taking on international berry giant Driscoll’s.
The Campaign for Organic and Regenerative Agriculture (CORA) recently sent a letter to Driscoll’s CEO Miles Reiter calling for the...
Watsonville Public Library cancels overdue fines
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Public Library (WPL) opened a new chapter last week by canceling its overdue fine system and forgiving all pending overdue fines.
At a meeting on Aug. 18, the Library Board of Trustees unanimously voted to make the change after library director Alicia Martinez...
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...
Man receives 35-to-life sentence for 2018 shooting death
SANTA CRUZ—A Santa Cruz man who shot a male victim to death in 2018 was sentenced on Oct. 6 to 35 years to life in state prison.
Miguel Castañeda, 43, was convicted in May of killing Victor Vasquez Lopez, 36, of Santa Cruz.
The dispute that...
Briefs: First United Methodist Church’s 170th; Soroptimist Fall Fantasy fundraiser
First United Methodist Church celebrating 170th
Watsonville First United Methodist Church is celebrating 170 years on Oct. 22. A church service and luncheon will mark the occasion.
The congregation was established when Rev. D.A. Dryden conducted a marriage ceremony on the banks of the Pajaro River...
Photo: Mural memories at the Watsonville Library
Watsonville Public Library is currently showing an exhibit of archived photographs of community murals throughout the city's history. The display was put together by Marisol Medina-Cadena with the help of local organizations and educational institutions. To view the accompanying digital archive, visit bit.ly/3CTF0Va.
Photo: ‘Open for Everyone’
The Queer, Trans, & Allied Student Summit of the Central Coast presented its Fall 2022 event on Oct. 8 at Watsonville High School. The student-led event, themed “The Umbrella is Open for Everyone,” included workshops, a resource fair and more for LGBTQIA+ youth, allies...
Jimmy Dutra denies sexual assault allegations
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...
Temporary CEO leading Fairgrounds
WATSONVILLE—Santa Cruz County Fair Board President Don Dietrich has taken over as CEO in the wake of the Oct. 4 dismissal of Dave Kegebein, and says he’ll stay at the helm as the Board recruits a replacement.
It is unclear how long that could take,...
Mariners continue historical run into the NorCal playoffs | Girls water...
After capturing the program’s first-ever Central Coast Section title, Aptos was looking to keep this season’s magical run alive.
Junior Adelaide Friedley recorded four goals...