Featured

Thania Banda sorts fresh flowers at California Pajarosa in Corralitos Wednesday as the flower industry steps up for Valentine’s Day orders. Valentine’s Day is Tuesday.

Corralitos artist Sylvia Valentine is gearing up to show her original nature photography in the annual Open Studios Art Tour. Her photography stems from her travels with her husband around the United States, Bali, New Zealand, Thailand, Canada and Mexico.  “Many of my favorite photos are...

WATSONVILLE—With police vehicles leading the way—their emergency lights flashing bright in the late-morning sun—a squad of Boy Scouts, U.S. Naval Sea Cadets and military veterans marched down East Lake Avenue Friday to kick off Watsonville’s annual Veterans Day ceremony. The parade ended at the Henry...

WATSONVILLE—Second Harvest Food Bank’s efforts to aid Pajaro flood victims received a boost Wednesday when Staff of Life Natural Foods and Smart Chicken donated more than four tons of chicken.  With the Smart Giving Program, Staff of Life Natural Foods and Smart Chicken donated over...

A new 800-foot mural is in the making on a retaining wall along Main Street between Pennsylvania Drive and Clifford Avenue. With a theme of Pajaro Pollination, artists from the Made Fresh Crew of Santa Cruz started the project Aug. 15 and brushed on the...

​​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...

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...

APTOS—Beth McCullough and her son Journey Legen came to the emergency shelter at Cabrillo College in Aptos on Thursday night when the shelter in which they were hoping to stay in Santa Cruz filled up. Originally from Bakersfield, both are homeless. They were among 10...

For decades, voters on election day went to their respective polling places—roughly 160 in Santa Cruz County—where they would be handed a ballot for the candidates and races specific to their districts. It was a time-honored tradition, and—for one day—a community gathering spot, with many...

APTOS—Cabrillo College’s gallery in Aptos has opened its first exhibition of the year, “Dialogues,” featuring abstract artwork by Jonathan Parker and Stephanie Robison. Parker’s paintings are composed of shapes cut from painted or colored fabrics sewn together. Robison combines carved stone with soft, needle-felted wool....