Local News

WATSONVILLE—When asked how he and his wife got their start in education, Lowell Hurst responded with a modest, self-deprecating answer synonymous with the longtime politician and educator. “Some people suggested, well, ‘Wendy, you’re bilingual, you’ve got a teaching credential, and, Lowell, we’re really not sure...

The Watsonville Strawberry Festival is returning in full force this year, back to a three-day event for the first time since 2019.  The popular event runs this Friday through Sunday and will include food booths, many featuring strawberry-themed treats, as well as a beer garden,...

A new mosaic mural adorns the exterior front wall of Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance on East Lake Avenue. The 35-by-5-foot art piece was unveiled Wednesday during a ceremony that included local dignitaries and PVPSA officials. The work was created by a body...

WATSONVILLE—Two weeks into the candidate nomination period for the Nov. 8 election, several familiar names have surfaced on city and county “candidate watch” lists. This includes former mayor and councilwoman Nancy Bilicich, who on Monday pulled papers to run for the District 7 seat, which...

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA—In 2013 Galeria Tonantzin, one of San Juan Bautista’s few art galleries, closed its doors after more than 20 years. Its absence, said artist and gallery co-founder Jennifer Colby, has been noticeable in the small community. “I know how much people have missed having...

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved increases to the fees charged for new residential and commercial development within the district. The fees increased from $4.08 to $4.79 per square foot for residential construction and from 66 cents to 78...

Writer, director and actor Steve “Spike” Wong remembers the moment he realized he wanted to tell stories. He was about 5 years old and was riding the Jungle Cruise attraction at Disneyland with his parents. He managed, he said, to convince them that the animatronic...

AROMAS—A large wildland fire in Aromas that started on July 21 charred 104 acres and was 100% contained as of Thursday, Cal Fire spokesperson Cecile Juliette said. At 3:21pm on July 21, two fires broke out behind Graniterock’s AR Wilson Quarry east of Aromas. Cal...

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PVWMA) Board of Directors unanimously approved the College Lake Integrated Resources Management Project Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Addendum at its meeting on July 20. As part of the action, the Board approved an updated version of the project that...

WATSONVILLE—Earth-moving equipment is carving up three lots off of Freedom Boulevard to make way for more than 200 affordable housing units set to be completed by nonprofit developers over the next two years. MidPen Housing is leading projects on Miles and Atkinson lanes that combined...