Local News

El Sistema Santa Cruz/Pajaro Valley, a music education program at Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s Expanded Learning Opportunities program, has been selected from a competitive pool of 550 submissions to present a workshop at the 2024 International Society of Music Education (ISME) Conference in...

This story was updated May 31 at 6:00 p.m. UC Santa Cruz Police called upon law enforcement agencies from several jurisdictions from across the state early Friday morning to dismantle a pro-Palestine encampment and secure the entrance of campus, where roughly 100 students were protesting...

After a contentious meeting on Tuesday, a divided Watsonville City Council approved in concept several amendments to its retail cannabis ordinances, a move intended to ease the regulatory burden for a burgeoning industry already beleaguered by local, state and federal regulations. City officials say the...

For Michelle Martinez Kamalani and her mother, Judy Martinez of Watsonville, Memorial Day meant setting time aside to visit Valley Catholic Cemetery.  With an electric weed-whacker, a whisk broom,  hand clippers and two bunches of fresh flowers, the pair wandered through the rows of flower-festooned...

A 45-year-old man died early Sunday morning when his vehicle careened off of Graham Hill Road near Felton and smashed onto a tree. California Highway Patrol Officer Israel Murillo said the man, who has not been named, was driving a 2009 Nissan Altima north on...

In the wake of a May 25 burglary at his Watsonville cannabis dispensary, Bryce Berryessa installed several new features designed to deter similar crimes from occurring again. According to Watsonville Police Department, 12 armed suspects used an SUV to ram and break open the dispensary’s...

New School Community Day School teacher Bryan Love left a 20-year career in sales and business 14 years ago after a family emergency forced him to take some time off. After working as a substitute for just four days, Love found his new place at...

Todd McFarren, who sat on the Watsonville City Council from 1989–98—including two stints as Mayor—who served as a U.S. Marine sergeant in the Vietnam War, and who as an attorney was known to fight fiercely for the “little guy” during his career spanning three...

Editor's note: This is the final part of reporter Tarmo Hannula's trip to the Sacramento area. Stay tuned to The Pajaronian for his future travel exploits. One the last day of the short road trip my wife, Sarah and I took from Watsonville to Sacramento,...

Nearly 300 people marched the streets of downtown Santa Cruz May 18 to help end homelessness.  The second-annual gathering, organized by Housing Matters, reigned in a coalition of local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and public supporters in the March to End Homelessness. The event began outside Santa...