46.5 F
Watsonville
February 17, 2026

Crews hope to patch Pajaro River levee breach by end of Monday

pajaro river levee breach flood
PAJARO—A secondary breach of the Pajaro River near the Pacific Ocean Monday has helped relieve pressure from the levee and lower floodwaters in Pajaro. Crews are working 24/7 to make emergency repairs to the primary breach of the levee near Murphy Crossing Road that has...

Shooting suspect nabbed within minutes

WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville man was taken into custody on suspicion for firing off two shots from a handgun near Watsonville High School as classes were letting out Tuesday. The suspect has since been identified as Rene Alamillo, 27, according to WPD’s spokeswoman Michelle Pulido. Watsonville Police...

Watsonville, Capitola city council meetings assailed by ‘Zoom bombs’

Watsonville city council
The Watsonville City Council will stop allowing virtual comments during its public meetings for the rest of the year after it received two anonymous calls filled with racist language and expletives during the Oct. 24 meeting. Both were from anonymous callers, one insulting Jewish people...

Grant expands Lift Line services

lift line
Community Bridges’ Lift Line transportation program is expanding its door-to-door services to all Santa Cruz County residents with disabilities thanks to a state grant from the California Public Utilities Commission Transportation Network Company’s Access for All program. It will be a first-of-its-kind program without...

Watsonville’s Measure R overwhelmingly supported in early results

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville’s half-cent sales tax increase had formidable support from voters in initial results released by the Santa Cruz County Elections Department. As of Wednesday morning, Measure R had amassed 64.67% of the 3,151 votes tallied. The general tax measure only needs a simple majority for...

Labor Day gathering returns to downtown Watsonville

jimmy kelly labor day romo park
Live music, information tables, food and speeches was the tune of the day in Romo Park in downtown Watsonville at the annual Labor Day gathering Monday.  Put on by the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council, the event showcased the essence of Labor Day—to pay tribute...

Driscoll’s gets new CEO as Reiter steps down

Soren Bjorn
Driscoll’s berry company on Tuesday announced Soren Bjorn as the company’s new CEO.  Bjorn previously served as president of Driscoll’s of the Americas. He will assume the role in January and oversee the company’s global day-to-day operations, the company announced in a press release. J. Miles Reiter,...

Briefs: Elks Lodge holding car show

Watsonville elks lodge car show
The Watsonville Elks Car and Truck Show will take place Saturday from 10am to 3pm at 121 Martinelli St. The show will feature music by DJ Marshall Jaurigi and tri-tip sandwiches. Judging will take place at 2pm. All money raised will go to the...

Photo: Art and Wine in the village

capitola art and wine festival
Jerald O’Brien, founder of Silver Mountain Vineyards, pours a glass of 2013 Pinot Noir for Michelle Novicio on Sunday during the 39th annual Capitola Art and Wine Festival. The weekend affair drew thousands to Capitola Village.

Final chapter for Kelly’s Books

After 12 years of running Watsonville’s only bookstore, Kelly Pleskunas will hang up her closed sign at Kelly’s Books for the last time Nov. 4. “I want to send a heartfelt thank you to all the customers who have supported me these past 12 years,”...
7,695FansLike
4,949FollowersFollow
2,895FollowersFollow
LEVEE MONEY The Pajaro River meanders through a course of trees and brush near downtown Watsonville.

Padilla, Schiff secure $54M for Pajaro River Levee

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla announced Tuesday that he and Sen. Adam Schiff secured $54 million in federal funding for the Pajaro River Flood Risk...