Local News

WATSONVILLE—Since February, a small group of women has been hard at work, learning the detailed world of the beauty industry in Watsonville’s new—and Santa Cruz County’s only—cosmetology program. The new program began with just six students, although Watsonville/Aptos/Santa Cruz Adult Education Director Nancy Bilicich expects...

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro River levee restoration is one of four projects nationwide receiving funding from the federal government, with $67 million from President Joe Biden’s administration coming to help with the long-awaited renovation. Biden made the announcement on Tuesday. The funding is part of the Infrastructure...

WATSONVILLE—Since the state opened its Covid-related rental assistance program roughly a year ago, 889 Watsonville residents who have fallen behind on their monthly payments have submitted an application for help. But only around half of those people have received funds, putting them in a precarious...

WATSONVILLE—Annie Morhauser, whose Watsonville-based studio, Annieglass, has become a cornerstone of the Santa Cruz County arts community, has been named the 2022 Artist of the Year by the Santa Cruz County Arts Commission. She has been making her glassware in Santa Cruz County since 1983....

WATSONVILLE—A new community center is set to open in Watsonville on Wednesday, with the goal of supporting local at-risk youth and their families. The Luna y Sol Familia Center at 15 Madison St. is a program of the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County...

WATSONVILLE—A new exhibit will soon open at Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA), aiming to explore people’s relationship with their ancestors, the natural world and themselves.  “Alma Sagrada: Cultivando Ritmos Naturales” (Sacred Soul: Cultivating Natural Rhythms) opens on April 6 in partnership with the Amah Mutsun Tribal...

APTOS—A lawsuit against Pajaro Valley Unified School District by the family of a 17-year-old Aptos High School student who was stabbed to death in August is proceeding, and will likely be filed in the coming weeks. Charles “Tony” Piccuta, the attorney representing the family, declined...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police Department officers arrested two Watsonville men who they believe stabbed another Watsonville man multiple times on the 300 block of Clifford Avenue. Officers arrested Adrian Campos, 23, and Eric Pray, 39, on March 25. They were charged with attempted murder and booked into...

The Watsonville Vaccine Center at old City Hall in downtown Watsonville will close on March 27. Thanks to the combined effort from the City of Watsonville, Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, Community Action Board and Community Bridges, the Watsonville Vaccine Center administered more than...

The 20th Annual César E. Chávez Community Awards, which honors community members and businesses that empower Watsonville youth, will be held virtually on March 28. This year’s special guest speaker will be Dolores Huerta, legendary leader and celebrated Latina activist. Huerta worked alongside César...