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WATSONVILLE—Work is underway at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in preparation for the annual Holiday Lights drive-thru light show. Born out of the 2020 Covid lockdowns as a way for the community to celebrate the season safely, the event invites families to drive though colorful...

County Fair seeks theme The Santa Cruz County Fair announced the return of the annual fair theme contest. The fair invites the community to submit theme ideas that would reflect the spirit of the County Fair in a few words. The theme should reflect the spirit...

A new art show has opened at Studio Judy G, 430 Main St., in downtown Watsonville. “Men in Nature/Taking Off” is a joint show of paintings by Judy Gittelsohn and photographs by her cousin, Danny Georges.  They grew up together in Portland, Ore., and spent...

Nearly three decades ago, 9-year-old Jessica Cortez and her brother Jorge, 16, were gunned down by gang members as they walked to a nearby panaderia on Salinas Road for a treat. Nobody has ever been arrested, and while police do not know why the gang...

WATSONVILLE—With two seats on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District up for election, the makeup of the board could see a shift as political newcomers Natalain Schwartz and Olivia Flores challenge incumbents Kim De Serpa and Jennifer Schacher, respectively. Two seats—occupied by Daniel Dodge Jr....

A Dodge pickup came to a rest on its side against a utility pole early Tuesday morning on the 100 block of Carlton Road. California Highway Patrol officer Sam Courtney said the male driver was traveling eastbound on Carlton just after 7am at an...

A major upgrade on a section of Freedom Boulevard, between Alta Vista Avenue and Green Valley Road, is in its final stage. The months-long job included fresh asphalt, multi-modal bike lanes, new curbs, sidewalks and gutters (in places), new ADA ramps, a bus pullout at...

Santa Cruz County officials are considering a plan to borrow money to help pay for costs of the CZU fires, the Covid pandemic, the storms and floods from early 2023 and other federal disasters that have beset the county. County staff will return to the...

Homeless services advocates from Monterey and Santa Cruz counties are considering placing a small community of modular tiny homes in a church parking lot in Watsonville, aimed at reducing the number of people camped out along the Pajaro River. The project comes thanks to an...

Santa Cruz County Supervisor Greg Caput announced Sept. 14 that he is endorsing Felipe Hernandez to succeed him in the November election. Hernandez, a former Watsonville mayor and current Cabrillo College trustee, is facing current City Councilmember Jimmy Dutra in the race to fill the...