Local animal shelters adapt to COVID-19 changes
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—In the first few weeks of the countywide shelter-in-place order, the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS) saw an unprecedented amount of adoptions.
About 126 dogs, cats and rabbits were adopted, including many animals who had been at the shelter for months.
“People said...
Gas line ruptured on Freedom Boulevard
WATSONVILLE—A construction crew replacing a sewer line ruptured a natural gas line Wednesday morning on the 1400 block of Freedom Boulevard, according to Watsonville Fire Division Chief Corey Schaefer.
The 10am incident prompted Watsonville firefighters and police to shut down a section of Freedom Boulevard...
Local artists puzzled by fees
WATSONVILLE—Paul De Worken left the Watsonville City Council Chambers sad and confused on Oct. 22. A few days later he was in a better mood, but his confusion did not fade.
After the City Council approved a $200 fee for community initiated public art on...
PVUSD to lay off two dozen employees
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a proposal to lay off as many as 24 classified employees, a move district officials say was necessary due to declining enrollment.
Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez told the board that the district has lost...
New development fee will fund public art in Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council approved a new developer fee that it hopes will jump-start an arts renaissance in a city that has for decades struggled to find funding and space for the arts.
If approved at an upcoming second reading, the fee will require developers—both...
Online, local sales buoy Watsonville’s finances during pandemic
WATSONVILLE—Thanks in part to a massive surge in online sales, the City of Watsonville is adding roughly $1.7 million to its 2020-21 fiscal year budget.
The allocation, unanimously approved by the City Council at Tuesday’s virtual meeting, means some departments will bring back positions originally...
Two vying for PVUSD Trustee Area 1 seat
APTOS—This is the second of two articles showcasing the candidates vying for seats on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees.
Last week, incumbent Jennifer Schacher and Olivia Flores had their say.
With four seats up for election, two went uncontested. Daniel Dodge Jr....
WHS student earns top awards for landscaping skills
WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville High School junior with a bright future in professional landscaping has earned top honors for his intimate knowledge of turfgrass management.
Juan Herrera, 17, works for Watsonville-based K&D Landscaping as a turfgrass expert and manager.
A member of the Watsonville FFA chapter, Herrera is...
Police seeking 12-year-old couple on lam
Watsonville police Saturday were looking for a 12-year-old girl who took her mothers car and went on the run with her 12-year-old boyfriend, and...
