Lutheran pastor to retire after 18 years in Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—After 18 years at the helm of the Lutheran Community Church of Watsonville, and 40 years total as an ordained minister, Rev. Susan Birkelo will soon retire.
Born in Minnesota, Birkelo’s family moved to San Diego when she was still in kindergarten. After school, she...
Pilot program provides free menstrual products at County buildings
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County launched a pilot program on April 8 to provide free menstrual products in restrooms in select county facilities, including at the Watsonville center on Freedom Boulevard.
The program aims to assist low-income residents who struggle to afford menstrual products, said...
Photo: At least 200 call for peace, justice after deadly shooting
People take part in an anti-violence rally Sunday in Watsonville's City Plaza as part of a memorial for Feliciano Martinez Perea, 18, who was shot and killed on April 2 at his home on Riverside Drive.
Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said officers...
Photo: Falling tree limb hits 4 teens, no major injuries reported
Watsonville Firefighters and paramedics treated four teen girls that were struck by this tree limb that crashed to the ground in the City Plaza around 4:30pm Friday.
The pine tree limb split from the tree trunk and fell during the peak of the weekly...
Photo: PV Chamber Business Expo returns
Visitors file past various tables Thursday at the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture’s Spring Fling Business Expo and Job Fair.
Held at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 82 businesses, organizations and agencies set up information tables to meet and greet the public,...
Gonzales city manager tabbed as Watsonville’s next chief executive
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council will consider appointing Rene Mendez, the current chief executive for the city of Gonzales, as Watsonville’s new city manager during its Tuesday evening meeting.
Mendez has three decades of experience in state, county and city government and has spent the last...
Planning Commission approves downtown performing arts studio
WATSONVILLE—In 2020, Arts Council Santa Cruz County formed the Watsonville Stewardship Committee for the Arts to bring resources, build spaces and improve access to the arts for South County residents.
That group of artists, teachers, political leaders and city of Watsonville staff spearheaded the creation...
Woman accused of selling tobacco products, alcohol to minors
SANTA CRUZ—A Santa Cruz woman was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of using social media to sell vape products and alcohol to minors.
Martha Espinoza, 41, was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail, but was not in custody on Thursday morning, jail records showed.
The Santa Cruz...
New downtown Watsonville art studio opens first major exhibit
WATSONVILLE—Gina Arnold knew for years that her father was an amateur artist. He would say that he went out to paint every weekend, and he had an office full of paints. He even sent out hand-painted Christmas cards every year.
But Arnold had no idea...
WPD gains four new officers
WATSONVILLE—Four new officers, including two that grew up in Watsonville and graduated from Pajaro Valley High School, have recently joined the Watsonville Police Department and are in uniform and on the streets.
Edgar Rivera-Aguilar, Nico DeVillires, Nancy Villicana and Mathew Morales are now in the...
Santa Cruz County celebrates with parades
Thousands of people attended Fourth of July parades in Watsonville and Aptos Friday, lining sidewalks aliog main streets to see hundreds of participants. Below...
