County Supervisors appoint new sheriff
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously appointed Undersheriff Chris Clark to take the agency’s lead role, a decision that was backed by several members of the public and the leaders of numerous agencies that addressed the board.
This included both Santa...
Event to honor young LGBT leaders
In the early days of the AIDS crisis, a group of local leaders went to school officials to offer HIV prevention education.
The response they got showed them how much that education—and of LGBT issues in general—were needed.
“They said, ‘you don’t need to do HIV...
Teen arrested in Capitola stabbing attack
CAPITOLA—Capitola Police on Tuesday arrested a Soquel High School student suspected of an off-campus stabbing attack that took place one day earlier on Wharf Road.
According to Det. Sgt. Leo Moreno, police responded to the 1800 block of Wharf Road at about 4:40pm for a...
Outdoor sculpture show opens for 17th year at Sierra Azul Nursery
“Sculpture IS: In the Garden 2023,” an outdoor exhibit of more than 90 sculptures, has just opened at Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens in Watsonville. In its 17th year, the annual exhibit, produced by Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA), features artists from around the Monterey...
Two vying for PVUSD Trustee Area 1 seat
APTOS—This is the second of two articles showcasing the candidates vying for seats on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees.
Last week, incumbent Jennifer Schacher and Olivia Flores had their say.
With four seats up for election, two went uncontested. Daniel Dodge Jr....
Community shows its pride
Elaine Johnson was 15 before she realized that the “aunt” who lived with her grandmother was actually her grandmother’s partner of four decades.
In those days, LGBTQ largely had to live in the shadows, lest they draw scorn from a society not yet evolved enough...
Seacliff State Beach altered ‘significantly’
SEACLIFF—The tidal surge that ravaged Seacliff State Beach on Jan. 5 destroyed much of the park’s protective sea wall, all but destroyed the campground and ravaged the pier so severely that the entire structure is “actively failing” and likely beyond repair.
That was the message...
Watsonville Public Library cancels overdue fines
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Public Library (WPL) opened a new chapter last week by canceling its overdue fine system and forgiving all pending overdue fines.
At a meeting on Aug. 18, the Library Board of Trustees unanimously voted to make the change after library director Alicia Martinez...
Watsonville man stabbed by parolee suspect
WATSONVILLE—A 37-year-old Watsonville man was stabbed in the neck early Monday morning and Watsonville Police were able to round up a suspect within minutes.
Via social media, WPD said Aaron Ibarra, 26, who was recently released on parole, is now facing felony charges following the...
PV’s Lara-Alvarez named Santa Lucia’s top player | All-PCAL football
In 2024, Pajaro Valley senior Benito Lara-Alvarez was primarily on the defensive side of the ball for the Grizzlies.
Prior to the start of this...





















