Public sounds off about former Santa Cruz County Fair CEO Kegebein’s termination
WATSONVILLE—Nearly 100 people filled the Fine Arts Building at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Tuesday to attend the Fair’s Board of Directors meeting.
While Fair Board meetings don’t normally draw a large audience—former CEO Dave Kegebein says some days saw nobody in attendance—a growing number...
Photo: CHP hosts annual Adopt-a-Family program
California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murrillo (left), on behalf of the Santa Cruz area CHP, presents a hefty load of Christmas gifts to Selena Frutos and her kids, Julie Rodriguez, 5, Jade Duarte, 2, and Joseph Valencia, 10, as CHP officer Sam Courtney (rear)...
Obon Festival draws hundreds
The annual Obon Festival unfolded at the Watsonville Buddhist Temple Sunday. Hundreds of people enjoyed dance and Taiko drumming performances, traditional Japanese food, arts, crafts, a raffle and more.
For Buddhists, the Obon Festival is a time to honor deceased ancestors by inviting them back...
Santa Cruz County Fair efforts blooming
Every year, as the fleeting summer days pass, staff and volunteers at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds prepare for the coming fair, which is at once a community celebration of the region’s agricultural bounty and an embrace of autumn.
The first step in the Herculean...
PVUSD Superintendent search moves forward
A total of 18 people have so far applied for Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s superintendent position that opened in June when Michelle Rodriguez left for another district.
That was according to Eric Andrew of Glendora, Calif.-based Leadership Associates, the search firm that the Pajaro...
Police seek information on vehicle suspected in Capitola armed robbery
CAPITOLA—The Capitola Police Department is asking for the public’s help to identify the owner or location of a vehicle involved in the robbery of an armored truck Wednesday in Capitola.
The vehicle is a black 2010-2015 body Toyota Tacoma SR5. Identifying features include: slight lift...
Briefs: Mayor’s bike ride; Son con Son performance
Go for a bike ride with the mayor
Friends of Watsonville Parks and Community Services invites the public to join Watsonville Mayor Eduardo Montesino for a short, scenic and family-friendly bike ride along the Pajaro River levee on Saturday from 10am to 11am.
The ride will...
Local students participate in American Legion civics program
WATSONVILLE—Three students from Watsonville recently took part in a weeklong summer program in Sacramento that teaches young people to be part of their local and state governments.
The program—called Boys State—is sponsored by the American Legion. The event includes such activities as mock legislative sessions...
Rains prompt evacuation warnings
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County officials on Saturday morning issued evacuation warnings for residents in the Felton Grove neighborhood (FEL–E008), and Paradise Park in Santa Cruz (CRZ–E081).
The warnings came as heavy rain and wind overnight drenched the County, toppling trees and power lines and...
A century of wedding dresses: Pajaro Valley Historial Association opens new exhibit
The Pajaro Valley Historical Association (PVHA) is set to open a new exhibit showcasing the wedding dresses of local women from 1890 to 1990 at PVHA’s Bockius-Orr house.
PVHA board member Virginia Avila and office administrator Jodi Frensley spent more than 100 hours together curating...
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...




















