Heavy weather tramples county
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Heavy rain and winds have led to numerous mud and rock slides, toppled trees and flooding around the county. Power and communication lines have also been torn to the ground with dozens of road closures being reported.
The National Weather Service said heavy...
Watsonville officials: prepare for incoming storm
WATSONVILLE—As Watsonville residents on Monday shoveled mud from their homes and assessed damage from the storm that wrought havoc and destruction across Santa Cruz County, City officials were urging residents to prepare for the next deluge expected on Wednesday.
“Prepare for flooding, and prepare for...
International Women’s Day: a conversation with Watsonville’s Mayor and Vice-Mayor
When Vanessa Quiroz-Carter and Maria Orozco were sworn in late last year as Watsonville’s Mayor and Vice-Mayor, it was only the second time in the city’s history two women have held the roles.
The first was in 2019, when Rebecca Garcia and Trina Coffman-Gomez sat...
Two vying for PVUSD Trustee Area 1 seat
APTOS—This is the second of two articles showcasing the candidates vying for seats on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees.
Last week, incumbent Jennifer Schacher and Olivia Flores had their say.
With four seats up for election, two went uncontested. Daniel Dodge Jr....
Watsonville’s senior community gets flood update
Watsonville City officials hosted a community meeting Monday evening to address unresolved issues and “misinformation” from an April 11 City Council meeting regarding storms and floods that hit the Central Coast at the close of the year and into 2023.
The two-hour meeting, at Ann...
‘This is what democracy looks like.’ Hands off protest draws thousands to Watsonville Plaza
Thousands of people gathered in Watsonville Civic Plaza Saturday afternon, holding signs and chanting in protest of the Trump Administration’s policies.
Similar “Hands Off” protests occurred in cities throughout the U.S.
One of the protestors shouted "This is what democracy looks like," a chant that was...
Stepping up for veterans
Cold autumn rain did not dissuade a group of roughly two-dozen veterans who gathered Monday morning at Natural Bridges State Park for a 10-mile walk to Britannia Arms restaurant in Capitola.
The annual Journey for Change Veterans Day walk, launched about two decades ago, is...
Briefs: Elks Lodge holding car show
The Watsonville Elks Car and Truck Show will take place Saturday from 10am to 3pm at 121 Martinelli St.
The show will feature music by DJ Marshall Jaurigi and tri-tip sandwiches.
Judging will take place at 2pm.
All money raised will go to the...
Parker, Bilicich deadlocked for Watsonville City Council seat
WATSONVILLE—The race for the District 7 seat on the Watsonville City Council has been the tightest contest in all of Santa Cruz County this general election.
Current District 7 representative Ari Parker and former Watsonville mayor Nancy Bilicich are separated by a mere 10 votes,...
Sergeant retires after nearly three decades with Watsonville Police
A festive farewell lunch Dec. 21 set the tone for the final day of duty for Watsonville Police Sgt. Mike Ridgway as he set his sails toward retirement.
As part of the departure, a 911 dispatcher delivered a statement over the police radio: “This is...
Man arrested after trying to kidnap girl
A Castroville man is facing kidnapping charges after he allegedly grabbed a 10-year-old girl who was walking home Friday.
Salvador Hernandez-Saldivar, 61, was charged with...