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Watsonville
March 1, 2026

Photo: Traffic blocks go up at Kmart property

kmart building
A crew from Vacant Property Security installs one of several traffic blocks in the parking lot of the former Kmart on Freedom Boulevard. On Oct. 12, the Watsonville City Council started the process of declaring the abandoned property a public nuisance due to illegal...

Community voices support for PV Arts Porter Building pitch

Porter Building watsonville
WATSONVILLE—More than two dozen community members at Tuesday night’s Watsonville City Council meeting showed resounding support for the Pajaro Valley Arts Council’s planned rebuild of the historic Porter Building, a City of Watsonville-owned property at the gateway of downtown. And a competing proposal from...

Brothers slice into downtown: Plans for pizzeria in historic downtown building

Two Watsonville brothers — one a trained chef and the other a community organizer — plan to reopen a shuttered downtown restaurant to serve New York-style pizza and mugs of craft beer.

Melee over food cart captures community attention

Linda Garcia hot dog
SANTA CRUZ—A recent clash between a Santa Cruz restaurant owner and a mobile hot dog vendor has drawn countywide attention, forcing one restaurant to close its doors and prompting demonstrations that have drawn hundreds of supporters. According to Santa Cruz Police spokeswoman Joyce Blaschke, the...

First business opens in Aptos Village

Sereno Group, a commercial and residential realtor, was the first business to open its doors in the Aptos Village Project.

PHOTO: Watsonville business park takes shape

Watsonville business
Work continues on a new business complex on the 1000 block of Main Street under the direction of the Santa Cruz Seaside Co. Construction is expected to wrap up by the end of the year, with businesses Chipotle, The Habit Burger Grill, Charter Spectrum,...

Five Star Catering offering holiday gift boxes

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville’s Five Star Catering is currently offering a curated gift box for the holidays. The Holiday Local’s Box supports eight Santa Cruz County businesses that have been negatively affected by the pandemic.  Products include handmade Pecan Snowballs from Edith Meyer Wedding Cakes, fair trade organic...

Local winery honors Watsonville legend “One-Eyed Charley”

If you’ve ever strolled through Pioneer Cemetery in Watsonville, you might have come across the final resting place of Charley Darkey Parkhurst, a stagecoach driver, farmer and rancher who has become a local legend since their death in 1879. Born Charlotte Darkey Parkhurst, Charley was...

Fat Boy Burgers opens 

Fat Boy Burgers and Grill recently opened its doors at 1467 Freedom Blvd. and was swarmed with hundreds of customers looking to dine on its tasty offerings, which include burgers, crinkle-cut fries and milkshakes.

Sears to close Capitola location

Sears Holdings announced this week that it will close dozens of stores throughout the U.S., including the location in the Capitola Mall.
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Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah addresses about 150 high school students at the start of the Santa Cruz Countuy Youth Civics Summit at Cabrillo College.

Students learn the power of the vote at Civics Summit

On Friday, about 150 high school juniors from across Santa Cruz County cast their first ballots on three issues that, if passed, would dramatically...