Rainbow Conference brings LGBTQ+ youth, families together
Hundreds of LGBTQ+ students, their families, educators and allies from throughout the Central Coast will gather at Watsonville High School Sept. 26 for the Rainbow Conference, a day organizers say is designed to build community, share resources and celebrate young people.
For Katherine Figueroa, 15,...
Council approves $2.8 million Measure Q spending plan
The Watsonville City Council on Sept. 8 unanimously approved a five-year plan for spending roughly $2.8 million in Measure Q funds, but rejected a proposal to spend $40,000 on another study of water quality problems at Pinto Lake.
Instead, council members directed the money toward...
Measure N brings new equipment to Watsonville Community Hospital
On Tuesday, Watsonville Community Hospital announced the installation of new MRI and CT imaging systems, purchased with funding from the Measure N bond, both of which will be available for patient use later this month.
The new equipment replaces the aging equipment that was increasingly...
From the fields to Silicon Valley
Some of Martin Vargas-Vega’s earliest memories are of waking up in the strawberry and raspberry fields around Watsonville.
His immigrant parents picked berries, and when Vargas-Vega was young, the fields essentially served as daycare. His relatives worked nearby, as did the families of other children...
Capitola Art & Wine Festival returns this weekend
The Capitola Art & Wine Festival returns to Capitola Village this weekend, bringing two days of art, wine, food and entertainment to the seaside community.
Hosted by the Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce, the free annual festival will run from 10am-6pm Saturday and 10am-5pm Sunday.
Thousands of...
Hundreds celebrate Labor Day in Watsonville
Hundreds of people listened to live music, enjoyed food and heard speeches Monday at the annual Labor Day picnic at Romo Park in downtown Watsonville.
Put on by the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council, the event showcased the essence of Labor Day—a tribute to the...
Amber Alert issued for 14-year-old in Baby Angelita investigation
The California Highway Patrol has issued an Amber Alert for a 14-year-old girl connected to the investigation into the death of a newborn found near Watsonville last month.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office announced Saturday that it is searching for Diana Galvez Ortega and her...
Community briefs—September
Holy Eucharist Catholic Church wine tasting and auction
Holy Eucharist Catholic Community will host a wine tasting and auction Sept. 27 from 3-6pm at 527 Corralitos Road.
The event will feature pours from local wineries along with gourmet appetizers. Tickets are $70 per person, and attendees...
Navarro looks to keep Trustee Area 7 seat, facing one challenger
Two candidates are seeking the Area 7 seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees, representing La Selva Beach, Rio del Mar and adjacent Central Coast communities.
Misty Navarro
Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Misty Navarro says voters can look at her...
Dodge faces recent grad in PVUSD TA 4 election
Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Daniel Dodge Jr. is seeking a third term on the school board, facing a challenge from a recent district graduate who says the board needs a stronger connection to the students and employees affected by its decisions.
Dodge, a...
Supervisors reject proposal to give voters say over AI data centers
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rejected a proposed ordinance that would have allowed voters to have a say when companies...




















