Regional writing contest open to local students
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Students in Santa Cruz County are once again invited to submit entries into a regional writing contest headed by the Palo Alto Humane Society (PAHS).
The Ambassadors of Compassion Story Writing Contest is open to seventh and eighth graders in Santa Cruz, Santa...
Star students prepare for Ivy League trip
WATSONVILLE—Every year, the Watsonville Ivy League Project selects a handful of academically successful students for a weeklong trip to some of the nation’s top universities.
The trip is for some participants a first step away from their hometowns, but for all of them, it is...
Mother’s Day Run moves to Pinto Lake in return to in-person format
WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Shelter Services (PVSS) will hold the 38th Annual Mother’s Day Run & Walk on May 8, returning to an in-person event for the first time since 2019.
The popular community event has been held virtually the past two years due to Covid-19. But...
Photo: Truck flips in 3-vehicle crash
Emergency officials deal with a three-car crash on Elkhorn Road in Las Lomas Tuesday morning.
California Highway Patrol officer Chris Weaver said a female driver of a Mini Cooper was traveling south on Elkhorn Road. Around 8:45am a Ford pickup, with two men aboard,...
Lowell and Wendy Hurst receive Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award
WATSONVILLE—A husband and wife duo, who together spent more than six decades in education and several more years in public service and volunteerism, has been given this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture.
Lowell Hurst, who has served...
Leaders urge ‘yes’ vote on levee-funding assessment
WATSONVILLE—After years of wrangling by local, state and federal lawmakers—and of worries from residents of another catastrophic flood in South Santa Cruz County—the Pajaro River levee has enough money for a long-awaited upgrade that could offer a century’s worth of protection.
But while the construction...
PVPSA CEO Padilla-Chavez named Woman of the Year by Robert Rivas
WATSONVILLE—Assemblymember Robert Rivas has named Erica Padilla-Chavez, the CEO of Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, as Woman of the Year for Assembly District 30.
The March 30 announcement came as part of an annual Women’s History Month observance by the Legislative Women’s Caucus.
“Erica has...
Watsonville City Councilwoman warns: beware of scam
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville City Councilwoman Rebecca Garcia has a warning for her fellow South County residents: beware of scammers posing as PG&E employees.
Garcia says she fell victim to a scam and was cheated out of nearly $300.
She recently received a call with a recorded message telling...
‘I don’t want to see more lives taken’: Two arrested in Watsonville shooting
WATSONVILLE—Two 18-year-olds who Watsonville police believe fatally shot another 18-year-old on April 2 were arrested Tuesday morning on murder charges.
Erick DeHaro and Matthew Madriz were charged with first-degree murder. They were booked into Santa Cruz County Jail without bail.
According to Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman...
Watsonville is in the Heart launches digital archive
Hundreds of visitors flocked to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) on April 9 to celebrate the launch of a new digital history archive.
The Watsonville is in the Heart (WIITH) Digital Archive aims to preserve the histories and contributions of Filipino-Americans...
Casa de la Cultura hosts annual giveaway
Dozens of families lined up along Salinas Road in Pajaro Monday morning, children’s faces peering from backseat windows, as they waited their turn for...






















