Supervisors approve fines for health violations, including facemasks
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a temporary ordinance that will allow law enforcement officials to issue tickets to people violating county health orders, including not wearing a face covering where it is required.
Under the new county...
Watsonville’s virtual recreation center hopes to keep residents active, connected, informed
WATSONVILLE—The City of Watsonville was one of the first municipalities in the Monterey Bay to close down its network of recreational centers to slow the spread of COVID-19.
It was also one of the first to reengineer its recreation department for the shelter-in-place era, which...
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...
Older adults staying creative while at home
WATSONVILLE—When health officials on March 16 laid out new orders for all Santa Cruz County residents to stay at home as a precaution against the spread of the novel coronavirus, it was meant for everyone. For some Pajaro Valley seniors, the blanket 24/7 rule...
Jobless claims decline as coronavirus cases ease
By Patricia Cohen, of The New York Times
New claims for unemployment fell last week, the government reported Thursday, the latest sign that the labor market’s recovery, however slow and unsteady, is continuing.
“The numbers look encouraging on the face of it,” said Gregory Daco, chief...
Program matches bicycles to essential workers
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Amidst the ongoing health crisis, essential workers who do not own cars have remained reliant on public transportation and carpooling—two options that are both limited and not always safe.
Bike Santa Cruz County (BSCC) hopes to alleviate that dependence. In June, the organization...
Local organization raises $80,000 for young people and families
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Founder and executive director of FoodWhat Doron Comerchero said he is constantly impressed by the strength and resilience of the young people his organization serves.
The food justice nonprofit announced on July 30 the allocation of $80,000 for those currently enrolled in its...
County dipping into reserves to cover Covid-19 deficit
SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz County Chief Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios told the Board of Supervisors Monday that it should spend $20 million in reserves to fill a deficit for the 2019-20 fiscal year caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
That move will be a sizable slice of...
County, UC Santa Cruz partner to further expand Covid-19 testing
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A partnership between UC Santa Cruz and the County of Santa Cruz—and funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act—will allow the county to expand its Covid-19 testing capacity to as many as 800 tests per day, county spokesman Jason...
Newsom’s budget focuses on Covid relief, allocates $90 billion to education
SACRAMENTO—California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday submitted his budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year to the State Legislature, a $227.2 billion package that prioritizes vaccines for all Californians, and gives $90 billion to K-14 education.
Newsom says that the state now has a $15 billion...
County remembers people who died while homeless
The number of people who died while homeless this year saw a sizable decline from last year, when Santa Cruz County honored 121 people...
