‘Dire’ deadline approaching for hospital purchase
WATSONVILLE—The organization formed earlier this year to operate and oversee Watsonville Community Hospital is nearing its July 1 deadline to raise enough to make the purchase, but is still $16 million short.
If Pajaro Valley Healthcare District (PVHD) is unable to raise the funds, it...
Covid-19 treatments available at testing locations
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County now has several Covid-19 Test to Treat sites available to the community, including the three OptumServe testing sites, which are available to anyone regardless of insurance or documentation status. Test to Treat sites allow individuals to get tested, be...
Esperanza del Valle returns to Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—For the first time in 10 years, Watsonville’s Esperanza del Valle (EDV) will be returning to the Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts for a weekend of dancing, music and cultural celebration.
The nonprofit folklórico dance group was founded in Watsonville in 1980...
Pilot program weighs notification of pesticide use
WATSONVILLE—A new pilot program to inform residents of hazardous pesticide applications at area farmlands, under the umbrella of the Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, will go into motion in August.
The program was outlined by Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo at a community meeting at...
Watsonville Brillante to host community celebration
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Brillante, an ongoing mosaic mural project in downtown Watsonville, has officially reached its halfway point. Organizer and artist Kathleen Crocetti says that volunteers recently finished the six thousandth of 12,000 square feet of mosaic.
In celebration, Crocetti’s organization, Community Arts & Empowerment, will be...
Officials launch affordable housing project
WATSONVILLE—A large crowd of nonprofit, city and county officials gathered Wednesday to break ground on a development on Freedom Boulevard that will house 53 low-income families.
“I’m pleased we’re able to offer affordable housing here to fulfill Watsonville’s downtown specific plan, to provide a range...
Taylor’s Office City closing doors
A little more than seven decades ago, as the nation recovered from World War II and Main Street America flourished, Taylor’s Office City opened its doors in Watsonville and henceforth became the city’s preferred destination for all manner of office supplies.
On June 30, the...
Watsonville Band members score scholarships
WATSONVILLE—Two Watsonville Community Band members, trombonist Samuel Waite and bass clarinetist Yazlyn Estrada, have been awarded full scholarships to the Fresno Pacific University Summer Music Camp in June.
Both students are graduates of the WCB Youth Band and now play with the adult unit. The...
Students learn cooking skills during after-school program
WATSONVILLE—Thanks to Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s Extended Learning Program, students at Cesar Chavez Middle School are learning unconventional but practical skills, like how to make pasta, homemade salsa, enchiladas nopales, and seasoned fruits and vegetables.
The class, Fitness For Life (which is under the...
Pastor retires after 42 years at La Selva Beach church
LA SELVA BEACH—After more than four decades as pastor of La Selva Beach Community Church, Rev. Jane Grady retired Sunday in a special service with her congregation.
Grady arrived at La Selva Beach in 1980, fresh out of seminary and ready to serve a new...
PVUSD Trustees to revisit teacher layoff vote
A little more than one week after voting to eliminate roughly 80 teacher positions, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will...
