Local News

A Watsonville man on probation was arrested Tuesday after he was found with a loaded gun, which was accessible to children, Watsonville Police Sgt. Juan Trujillo said.

SAN JOSE—Watsonville native Matt Mahan has been sworn in as mayor of Northern California’s largest city. The Harvard-educated 40-year-old businessman turned politician grew up on the outskirts of Watsonville in the 1980s and ’90s, just off Amesti Road near Pinto Lake. His mother taught at...

The doors of the new Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services Family Center were officially opened Thursday during a grand opening ceremony at 567 Auto Center Drive.  Community members joined elected officials, and Chamber of Commerce representatives from Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito and Santa...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A lightning storm that began at about 1am Sunday sparked 22 fires across Santa Cruz County, five of which have burned several hundred acres. No communities are currently threatened, and no warnings or evacuations have been given, said Cal Fire spokeswoman Cecile Juliette. The...

Hundreds attended Wednesday’s memorial for Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, who was gunned down while on duty June 6 in Ben Lomond. A miles-long motorcade that started at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and threaded through the county began the day. Hundreds...

Effective Nov. 30, The Pajaronian will close its rented office on Brennan Street and join the company’s other Santa Cruz County publications at its Santa Cruz office at 107 Dakota St. But Pajaronian writers and advertising personnel will continue to work in Watsonville in the...

WATSONVILLE—On April 7, businesses from across the region will come together for the first time in three years at the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture’s annual Business Expo and Job Fair. This year’s theme is “Spring Fling,” celebrating the return of not only...

Five-week event returns tonight to downtown Santa Cruz SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz County Actors’ Theatre is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of its acclaimed 8 Tens @ 8 Short Play Festival, which will be held Jan. 10-Feb. 9 at the Center Stage Theater in downtown Santa Cruz. The...

Roughly 50 people gathered in the cafeteria at Landmark Elementary School Monday night for a forum featuring four candidates running for seats on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees for the Nov. 5 election. Jessica Carrasco, who is running against incumbent Adam...

When classes started on Tuesday for Watsonville Prep School, 180 middle-school students had their own space, a newly renovated building at 18 West Beach Street.  The new space is adjacent to the school's original location in the old Gottshalks building at 407 Main Street, which...