National Agriculture Day scholarship, contest winners announced
WATSONVILLE—For years the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau (SCCFB) and the Agri-Culture organization have hosted the National Agriculture Day Spring Luncheon. However, due to the current COVID- 19 pandemic, the March 18 event was postponed, and its future remains uncertain.
Despite this, the two groups...
Covid-19 cases surge despite regional lockdowns
CENTRAL COAST—An estimated 10 million people took to the skies over the Christmas holiday despite being urged by health officials, law agencies and politicians around the country, and locally, to stay at home and not continue to spread the coronavirus through gatherings.
Despite regional lockdowns...
Pesticide use discussed in community meeting
WATSONVILLE—A group of residents from Watsonville's senior neighborhoods gathered at the Pajaro Village Club House last week to hear a presentation on pesticide use, and on an upcoming pilot project to notify residents on nearby applications.
Hosted by the Center for Farmworkers Families, Safe Ag...
Restaurants, shops can operate outdoors with city approval
WATSONVILLE—Restaurants and retail stores in city limits can now operate outdoors thanks to an emergency order signed by City Manager Matt Huffaker on Friday.
Businesses looking to take advantage of the alfresco option would need to receive approval of a Temporary Covid-19 Encroachment Agreement from...
Pajaro River levee project gets huge boost from feds
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro River levee restoration is one of four projects nationwide receiving funding from the federal government, with $67 million from President Joe Biden’s administration coming to help with the long-awaited renovation.
Biden made the announcement on Tuesday. The funding is part of the Infrastructure...
Watsonville Film Festival receives grant from California Arts Council
WATSONVILLE—The California Arts Council (CAC) recently announced the allocation of a record-breaking $30 million—the largest investment in the council’s 40-plus year history. A total of 1,534 grants have been awarded to nonprofit organizations and government programs across the state in support of the arts.
Watsonville...
Santa Cruz County Fair canceled
WATSONVILLE—Every year on the outskirts of Watsonville, late summer brings the intoxicating aroma of fried food, along with the sweet summer cacophony of carnival rides, livestock and giant, jubilant crowds.
But those voices will fall silent this year at the Santa Cruz County Fair, after...
Marching for peace: Hundreds take part in second annual Martin Luther King Jr. march
Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Santa Cruz Monday morning to participate in Santa Cruz’s second annual Martin Luther King Jr. march.
K9 officer helps find loaded handgun; man arrested
A man was arrested late last month on multiple felony charges after he ditched a loaded gun and ran from Capitola Police.
The incident began...
