Local News

CENTRAL COAST—With the start of winter 15 days away, the final remnants of fall have set the stage with a blast of cold wet weather, accompanied by several sessions of strong winds. David King, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service of Monterey, said Watsonville...

Have a recent photo you’d like to share? Send it to us for consideration by emailing it to tnunez@pajaronian.com or mailing it to 21 Brennan St., Suite 14, Watsonville, CA 95076. Please include a brief description of the photo as well as the name...

CENTRAL COAST—A 3.3 magnitude earthquake rumbled through the Central Coast early Friday, shaking some from their sleep. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the temblor struck at 3:35am roughly 2.5 miles north-northwest of Aromas and about 7 miles east of Watsonville. The USGS said there were...

WATSONVILLE—A fire that severely damaged St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish on Oct. 17 was arson, Watsonville Police Department confirmed Tuesday. Church officials say they have video footage of the arson occurring. It was not clear Tuesday afternoon if there is any suspect information. Pastor Jason Simas said in...

BONNY DOON—The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office confiscated an unusually large amount of cannabis and 16 rifles Tuesday at home in Bonny Doon. Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin said Sheriff’s Office personnel assigned to the Cannabis Licensing Office served a criminal search warrant at...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Cal Fire CZU on Sunday evening issued evacuation warnings for swaths of the San Lorenzo Valley, including most of Boulder Creek and various areas of Ben Lomond and Felton that just a few months ago were scorched by the CZU August Lightning...

RIO DEL MAR—Nearly 11 months after a fire gutted the historic Seabreeze Tavern and severely weakened the structure, demolition of the building began Tuesday. The work is being conducted by a private contractor, Santa Cruz County spokesperson Jason Hoppin said. It is not clear what...

WATSONVILLE—The City of Watsonville’s Public Works Department is urging residents to keep any sandbags they received during the recent series of storms through the rest of winter. “We are recommending that people keep them, just in case,” said Marco Diaz, an administrative assistant for the...

WATSONVILLE—A line of students from a variety of Watsonville schools on Wednesday filed through the Youth N.O.W. facility loading their backpacks with school supplies—from paper, tape and paints, to notebooks, pens and glue. “It’s emotional. It’s emotional for my staff, it’s emotional for me …...