County Supervisors reject term limits
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rejected a proposal to set term limits on their positions, saying that the current system of letting voters decide who fills the seats is sufficient.
The proposal by 4th District Supervisor Greg Caput would...
Artists create memorial for those lost to Covid
Two local artists have teamed up to create a memorial sculpture honoring Watsonville residents who have died of Covid-19, and are asking for the community to get involved.
Kathleen Crocetti and Monica Galvan have been working together for the past year after being selected by...
Testicle Festival returns to Estrada Deer Camp for 14th iteration on Aug. 27
WATSONVILLE—The Young Farmers and Ranchers (YFR) will host the 14th annual Testicle Festival at Estrada Deer Camp in Watsonville on Aug. 27.
The annual event is a fundraiser for YFR, a program of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau. Guests are invited to enjoy live...
PHOTO: Bomb Squad responds to suspicious device
Watsonville police and Santa Cruz County Sheriff's deputies team up with the county Bomb Team Thursday morning after a suspicious device was found at the door of the County Courthouse in downtown Watsonville before 8am, said WPD spokeswomen Michelle Pulido. s were evacuated, dozens...
144-unit Hillcrest Estate breaks ground
WATSONVILLE—Major groundwork has begun on the 144-home Hillcrest Estate subdivision situated on an 11.27-acre hilltop between Ohlone Parkway and Walker Street above Watsonville Slough.
“It’s a great boon that we are going to get an additional 144 units for Watsonville residents,” said Watsonville Community Development...
Gas line ruptured on Freedom Boulevard
WATSONVILLE—A construction crew replacing a sewer line ruptured a natural gas line Wednesday morning on the 1400 block of Freedom Boulevard, according to Watsonville Fire Division Chief Corey Schaefer.
The 10am incident prompted Watsonville firefighters and police to shut down a section of Freedom Boulevard...
Update on homelessness shows mixed results from county efforts
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County has reduced homelessness among families by 59% compared to 2019, even as overall homelessness in the county increased by 6%.
That’s according to preliminary results of the county’s biannual Point-In-Time (PIT) count released Aug. 5 by the Housing for Health...
Cidery, brewery celebrate anniversaries with event series
WATSONVILLE—Two local businesses are celebrating their anniversaries by offering community events throughout the month of August.
Santa Cruz Cider Company (SCCC) and The Slough Brewing Collective are neighbors, both located off of Hangar Way in Watsonville. Since the brewery first opened in 2020, the two...
As hospital sale nears, nurses share concerns, Health Trust partnership falls through
WATSONVILLE—The sale of Watsonville Community Hospital to a nonprofit that would bring local leadership to the 127-year-old institution after two decades of corporate ownership is entering its final stretch, with roughly $6 million still needed to close the deal.
In a meeting on Aug. 4,...
PHOTOS: Strawberry Festival takes over downtown Watsonville
The annual Watsonville Strawberry Festival returned to its three-day format from Aug. 5-7.
Hospital purchase ‘is going to happen’
WATSONVILLE—Through a series of contributions and donations, the Pajaro Valley Health Care District (PVHCD) has gathered together enough money to purchase Watsonville Community Hospital,...
