Local News

WATSONVILLE—Two teens were arrested Aug. 11 on suspicion of armed robbery just minutes after they fled a business on Freedom Boulevard. Noe Rocha, supervisor of the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team, said officers initially spotted two suspicious teens who appeared to be tucking something into...

WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Pride (PVP) will hold its annual in-person march and celebration Sunday at the Watsonville YWCA, for the first time since 2019. PVP, an organization aiming to support South Santa Cruz County’s LGBTQ+ community, had been holding Pride events in Watsonville since 2016. Throughout...

WATSONVILLE—Through a series of contributions and donations, the Pajaro Valley Health Care District (PVHCD) has gathered together enough money to purchase Watsonville Community Hospital, ending months of nail-biting in which the fate of the 127-year-old institution hung in the balance. PVHCD will close escrow on...

CENTRAL COAST—Officials at Pacific Gas & Electric are warning the public of emerging phone and email scams where impostors demand immediate payment for a SmartMeter deposit to avoid disconnection of service. PG&E spokesperson Mayra Tostado said that in recent weeks, PG&E has received dozens of...

WATSONVILLE—Around 300 area students were presented with free backpacks loaded with school supplies Saturday thanks to the Salvation Army in Watsonville and a handful of other groups.  By 10am a lengthy line of students and their families lined up at Watsonville Plaza to fill new...

Whether it is due to shifting climates, labor challenges, rising material costs or simply new trends, the landscape industry is evolving.  However, one thing that has not changed is high demand.  “The demand for landscaping continues to climb with no real signs of slowing down,” said...

WATSONVILLE—As thousands of students throughout Pajaro Valley Unified School District bid farewell to their summer and prepare for a new year, educators and school employees are readying classrooms, sharpening pencils and honing their lesson plans. Such back-to-school preparations have always been a normal part of...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rejected a proposal to set term limits on their positions, saying that the current system of letting voters decide who fills the seats is sufficient. The proposal by 4th District Supervisor Greg Caput would...

Two local artists have teamed up to create a memorial sculpture honoring Watsonville residents who have died of Covid-19, and are asking for the community to get involved. Kathleen Crocetti and Monica Galvan have been working together for the past year after being selected by...

WATSONVILLE—The Young Farmers and Ranchers (YFR) will host the 14th annual Testicle Festival at Estrada Deer Camp in Watsonville on Aug. 27. The annual event is a fundraiser for YFR, a program of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau. Guests are invited to enjoy live...