Local News

WATSONVILLE—Pete Galvan, who devoted the breadth of his career in education to Watsonville High School, will retire this month. When Galvan steps off campus for the last time on Aug. 17, it will be the end of a tenure that began nearly four decades ago. More...

APTOS—Aptos High School’s new principal began her career in education during a stint in the Peace Corps, where in a small mountaintop village in Ethiopia she upended the school’s boys-in-the-front, girls-in-the-back paradigm and learned the influence a good educator can have. “I fell in love...

Slowly and painstakingly, more than 30 students in Elise Jacobs fifth-grade class at Bradley Elementary School trimmed bits of plastic of varying textures and colors, and then glued into place on the mosaic artwork on their desk. Little by little, their menagerie of orcas,...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Rotary welcomed a special guest to its regular meeting Wednesday: John Laird, state senator for California’s District 17. Laird, who was sworn in December 2020, was previously elected for the 27th District in 2002-06. He has served as California Secretary for Natural Resources, as...

WATSONVILLE—Last Thursday Rev. Robin Mathews-Johnson, who has served as pastor of the Watsonville First United Methodist Church since 1999, was given a fond farewell as she moved on to her new assignment at a church in Fresno. The event, organized by her congregation and the...

Keep the umbrella and raincoat handy; here comes another wet storm. The National Weather Service has posted a wind advisory and flash flood watch starting this afternoon through 3 a.m. Wednesday. Rain is likely after 4 p.m. today.

APTOS—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies and Cabrillo College administrators are investigating “offensive racist graffiti” that was found scrawled on a newly-painted restroom wall near the college’s Carl Connelly Stadium, Cabrillo President Matt Wetstein said. The graffiti has since been painted over. Neither school officials nor the...

Live music, dance performances, community altars and family activities will fill the afternoon in Watsonville Plaza Friday during the annual Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration. Hosted by Watsonville Film Festival, the sixth annual event will also feature a free showing of the...

Watsonville Police Officer Alex Zamora received an award Thursday for recovering 12 stolen cars, three of which were occupied.

Steven Allee of Santa Cruz rolled onto the staging area at Ocean Speedway in Watsonville one Friday afternoon, ready to roar around the dirt track in his stock car against several other racers. While the April 12 race marked the fifth year he has taken...