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Watsonville
December 24, 2025

Watsonville Hospital board approves budget, showing improved financial picture

Watsonville Hospital
Just two years ago, Watsonville Community Hospital was saddled with a $30 million debt and was facing bankruptcy and possible closure. But on Wednesday, the Pajaro Valley Health Care District (PVHCD) Board of Directors—the agency that oversees the publicly owned hospital—heard a budget report which,...

County Supervisors get two new members

felipe hernandez justin commings santa cruz county board of supervisors
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors reached a milestone Thursday when the first African American person in its 172-year history was sworn in to the District 3 seat before a large audience that packed the chambers. During the same ceremony, Felipe Hernandez...

Pajaro flood victims get a helping hand

pajaro valley shelter services flood donation
PAJARO VALLEY—A growing list of helping hands during the flood crisis that struck Pajaro recently continues to dole out badly needed goods and services. On Saturday the staff at Pajaro Valley Shelter Services in Watsonville invited 100 families from Pajaro to help themselves to new...

A “jewel in the community:” Ramsay Park project moves forward

In a little more than a year, Ramsay Park in Watsonville will boast a new dog park, a new multi-use synthetic sports field, a new state-of-the-art nature center and new lights for its pathways, parking lots and athletic fields. Plans also include an all-inclusive playground,...

PVUSD teachers ask for raises, district looks to shrinking budget

PVUSD
WATSONVILLE—A plethora of teachers addressed Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s Board of Trustees Wednesday night, asking for pay increases they say would help them live in Santa Cruz County and help the district retain its educators. District officials, meanwhile, say there is not enough in...

Outdoor sculpture show opens for 17th year at Sierra Azul Nursery

hedwig heerschop pajaro valley arts scuplture is sierra azul nursery and gardens
“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...

Veterans, Second Harvest Food Bank work together to ease hunger

ernie soto jan graff veterans second harvest food bank
People come together every Wednesday at the Veterans Memorial Building (VMB) in Santa Cruz to serve the community.  Many military veterans can’t afford the food they need. The Santa Cruz American Legion Post 64, part of a nationwide veterans’ service organization, and nonprofit Second Harvest...

Supervisors signal support for tenant protection rules

Watsonville evictions
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—One woman lost her job and couldn’t pay rent, and then found herself in a battle with her landlord, who didn’t believe her story and threatened eviction.  A family financially affected by the Covid-19 pandemic found themselves battling a landlord who raised their...

County declares local disaster

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County officials on Tuesday declared a local emergency in the wake of the atmospheric river winter storm on Dec. 30 and 31 that ravaged roads and infrastructure and caused widespread flooding. The Board of Supervisors will consider the declaration during their...

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)...
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Letters to the Editor Dec. 12-26

Praise for Watsonville Fire Chief Lopez In 1996, I took my New School students to the Watsonville Fire Department on Second Street for an educational...

ICE becomes an autocratic tool