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Watsonville
February 18, 2026

PHOTO: Officials tour flood-damaged neighborhoods in Watsonville

mark strudley
Mark Strudley (center), Flood Control Division Manager of Santa Cruz County Department of Public Works, joins other officials in touring a College Road neighborhood recently to assess recent flood damage. Included in the tour were representatives from the offices of Senator Alex Padilla, Assemblyman...

Hundreds relocated from unpermitted housing in Royal Oaks

A property owner in Monterey County is facing dozens of citations and nearly $60,000 in fines after more than 200 people were found living in several unsafe “greenhouse-like” structures. Officials discovered several greenhouses on the 1100 block of San Miguel Canyon Road in Royal Oaks...

Salvation Army shutters its shelter

On Saturday morning, 48-year-old Gerardo Gutierrez was one of about a dozen men sitting in the day room at Salvation Army’s Watsonville location, quietly watching an old Vicente Fernández film playing silently on a television mounted to the ceiling. The men—most of them homeless—had stayed...

Addressing the underlying causes of food insecurity

The causes of food insecurity are complex, but research suggests that health, housing and employment are key factors.  Feeding America—the country’s largest hunger relief organization—reports that annual healthcare costs for food-insecure adults are on average $1,834 higher than food-secure adults. Food insecurity, as defined by...

Boulder Creek shooting victim ID’d

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BOULDER CREEK—The 18-year-old who was killed Saturday at a party at a Boulder Creek residence—Rowan Parham—was described as a man who loved his friends and family, a sentiment that was returned by the people who knew him. “Anyone that knew Rowan, knew that he was...

Farmers market opens for season at Ramsay Park

ruvalcaba nursery ramsay park el mercado farmers market
El Mercado farmers market is up and running at Ramsay Park every Tuesday from 2-6pm. Market Manager Jesus Madrigal said about a dozen vendors, from prepared food to fresh produce and other goods, were on hand Tuesday alongside information tables from hosts and sponsors. Ana...

PV Arts’ annual Members Exhibition opens Jan. 18

Every year, local arts organization Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA) hosts an annual Members Exhibit, where its members have the chance to showcase their artwork to the community. This year’s show, dubbed “New Beginnings,” opens on Jan. 18 and will include the work of 95 local...

New program offers dental care, hygiene kits to seniors

dientes grey bears
Dozens of volunteers at Grey Bears were busy Thursday morning around two long tables loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables—along with other pantry staples—making packages to be delivered to seniors throughout Santa Cruz County. The large warehouse was filled with laughter and lively chatter more...

Free school supplies give kids a boost

watsonville plaza backpacks salvation army school supplies
WATSONVILLE—Around 300 area students were presented with free backpacks loaded with school supplies Saturday thanks to the Salvation Army in Watsonville and a handful of other groups.  By 10am a lengthy line of students and their families lined up at Watsonville Plaza to fill new...

Driscoll’s gets new CEO as Reiter steps down

Soren Bjorn
Driscoll’s berry company on Tuesday announced Soren Bjorn as the company’s new CEO.  Bjorn previously served as president of Driscoll’s of the Americas. He will assume the role in January and oversee the company’s global day-to-day operations, the company announced in a press release. J. Miles Reiter,...
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LEVEE MONEY The Pajaro River meanders through a course of trees and brush near downtown Watsonville.

Padilla, Schiff secure $54M for Pajaro River Levee

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla announced Tuesday that he and Sen. Adam Schiff secured $54 million in federal funding for the Pajaro River Flood Risk...