Santa Cruz County health officials urge public to get vaccinated
SANTA CRUZ—A group of high-ranking medical care providers and officials on Thursday gathered at Santa Cruz’s Emeline health complex, a press conference convened to get a single message out to the public.
“We want to drive home the importance today of everyone eligible in our...
Watsonville Strawberry Festival returns this weekend
The Watsonville Strawberry Festival will return Sunday to downtown, bringing with it a full day of strawberry delicacies, live entertainment, artisan vendors and more.
Like most events in 2020, South County’s premier festival was canceled in response to the pandemic. And for a while, the...
15-year-old killed in double stabbing on Marin Street
WATSONVILLE—A 15-year-old boy died from stab wounds late Aug. 7 on Marin Street in Watsonville and two teen males have been taken into custody.
Watsonville Police Department spokesperson Michelle Pulido said police took a 17-year-old male into custody Monday night on suspicion of homicide.
On Monday...
Santa Cruz County health officer says mask order won’t change behavior
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Saying that she has not yet seen reliable data that a countywide masking mandate would alter personal behavior or lower Covid-19 cases, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said she does not plan to issue a new order any time...
Watsonville’s Diamond Technology Institute wins top award
WATSONVILLE—Diamond Technology Institute (Diamond Tech) in Watsonville has been awarded a top award for its programming promoting college and career readiness.
The school is the recipient of a Gold Medal for its work with the Career Choices series curriculum and My10yearPlan.com. The school’s Career Choices...
Watsonville is in the Heart to host Community Call Out
WATSONVILLE—On Aug. 28, Watsonville is in the Heart will host a Community Call Out event.
Join organizers to share family artifacts, documents, vintage photographs and oral stories from the Manong Generation of the Pajaro Valley, to be preserved in the digital archive and a 2022...
CZU Lightning Complex Fires hit one-year anniversary
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — Monday marked the one year anniversary of the CZU Lightning Complex Fires that raged through 86,509 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains, killed one man, burned close to 1,500 buildings and stacked up a tab of $2.4 billion in insured...
Watsonville City Council approves development as possible litigation looms
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council approved a proposed 21-condo development across the street from the Watsonville Municipal Airport that could face litigation from the Watsonville Pilots Association (WPA).
The project would redevelop a steel fabrication business at 547 Airport Blvd. that has stood for at least...
Santa Cruz’s Charlie Hong Kong serves lunch to local farmworkers
WATSONVILLE—About two dozen farmworkers settled in on picnic tables at a Lakeside Organic Gardens field Wednesday for a fresh, healthy lunch featuring the very crops they harvest.
The meal was prepared by Charlie Hong Kong, a Santa Cruz Asian fusion restaurant that was Lakeside’s first...
Watsonville man sentenced for double-fatal DUI crash
SALINAS—A Watsonville man who was driving drunk when he killed two people last year will spend eight years and eight months in prison, Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni announced.
Joel Gonzalez, 22, pleaded no contest to two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated...
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...

















