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November 1, 2025

Briefs: Benefit show for Pajaro flood victims; prom drive underway

fruition-beers
Drag show raises funds for Pajaro flood victims A Drag Queen & Burlesque benefit show to raise money for the Pajaro community affected by the recent flood will take place on April 2 from 1-7pm at Fruition Brewing, 918 East Lake Ave. in Watsonville. The event...

Longtime Wildcat becomes Principal

Joe Gregorio first set foot on the Watsonville High School campus in 1987 as an E.A. Hall Middle eighth-grade student, there to watch the freshman football team play. He had already attended Mintie White Elementary School, and went on to graduate from Watsonville High in...

Driver dies after chase, plunge off West Cliff Drive

A Santa Cruz man died May 10 when the SUV he was driving plunged over a cliff and crashed onto the rocky shoreline on the west side of Santa Cruz County after he briefly fled from police. California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo said the...

Watsonville’s senior community gets flood update

watsonville community flood meeting
Watsonville City officials hosted a community meeting Monday evening to address unresolved issues and “misinformation” from an April 11 City Council meeting regarding storms and floods that hit the Central Coast at the close of the year and into 2023. The two-hour meeting, at Ann...

Fire at Circle Church possibly arson

circles church
Santa Cruz Fire Department investigators believe that a fire that broke out Tuesday inside the former Garfield Park Church was deliberately set, the department announced on Facebook. According to SCFD, firefighters responded to multiple calls of smoke and flames seen at the now-closed church—also known...

Live Oak School District to decide fate of senior programs

meals on wheels ray cancino community bridges live oak
LIVE OAK—Officials from Meals on Wheels and Senior Network Services are asking the community to make its voice heard about an impending decision by the Live Oak School District (LOSD) to evict the organizations from the building they have called home for nearly five...

North County Fire District welcomes new firefighters, recognizes promotions

north county fire district firefighters
CASTROVILLE—The North County Fire District swore in five new firefighters on Tuesday and held a badge pinning ceremony for three who have recently been promoted. During the ceremony at the Castroville Public Library, five new firefighters who have recently filled vacant positions received their badges:...

Jimmy Dutra denies sexual assault allegations

jimmy dutra
WATSONVILLE—Santa Cruz County Supervisor candidate Jimmy Dutra told a group of reporters and roughly two-dozen supporters that allegations of sexual abuse made against him last week are “completely false and untrue,” and stem from a dispute with his late father’s ex-wife over his estate. Dutra...

Watsonville man arrested in Jan. 22 homicide

watsonville police homicide sunnyhills drive
WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville man has been arrested for fatally shooting Armando Saldana on Jan. 22 in an apartment complex on the 200 block of Sunnyhills Drive.  The suspect, 29-year-old Felipe Jimenez, was tracked down by detectives in San Jose and arrested on murder charges Monday night,...

Child dies crossing Highway 101 in Prunedale

sirens
PRUNEDALE—A 7-year-old girl was killed April 7 when she was struck by a car on Highway 101 near Prunedale. California Highway Patrol officer Jessica Madueño said the girl was apparently trying to cross the highway just before 11pm when she stepped into the path of...
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Music in the Plaza

Calles Libres returns to Watsonville after a 7-year hiatus

The public is invited to the Calles Libres (Free Streets) community celebration on the streets of downtown for a car-free festival honoring Día de...