Local News

WATSONVILLE—Matt Huffaker will leave his position as Watsonville City Manager for the same job in Santa Cruz, Watsonville city leaders confirmed with the Pajaronian Thursday afternoon.  The Santa Cruz City Council, in a press release, said it made a unanimous recommendation for Huffaker to take...

WATSONVILLE—The Santa Cruz County Fair is on the search for a theme for the 2022 edition of the Fair. Manager Dave Kegebein recently announced the return of the annual contest. Kegebein said anyone can submit theme ideas that should reflect the spirit of the County...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—In June, Santa Cruz County voters might be able to state their preference on what has become one of the region’s most contentious issues in the past decade: the future of the county’s 32-mile rail line. On the ballot, voters will be asked...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Animal shelters across California are currently seeing an influx of rabbits and other “pocket pets” being surrendered and put up for adoption.  Erika Smart, program and development manager at Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS), says that the increase in rabbits, guinea pigs,...

Fifth-grade students gathered at tables in Starlight Elementary’s multipurpose room one day in November, laughing with excitement and expectation, as they experienced new foods and recipes.  More importantly, they were discovering new flavors and textures and alternatives to their traditional diet through the “Cooking Club,”...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The OptumServe Covid-19 testing site at Ramsay Park will be moving to the county facility at 500 Westridge Drive in Watsonville on Wednesday.   “I’d like to thank the City of Watsonville Parks and Rec for their partnership the last 21 months, allowing us...

*Note: Erik Chalhoub contributed to this report Watsonville’s Veterans Day Celebration returns to downtown after last year’s in-person event was cancelled due to Covid-19. Veterans and others will begin gathering at 9:30am on Nov. 11 in the parking lot of St. Patrick’s Church, 721 Main St....

Editor’s note: This is the second entry in a multi-part series concerning housing in the Pajaro Valley. For the first part see the Sept. 13 edition of The Pajaronian or click here.   WATSONVILLE—Perhaps one of the biggest reasons why Watsonville struggles to keep up with its growing...

SOUTH COUNTY—The first rainstorms of winter brought more than just moisture. With them came a chance to raise local water levels in alarmingly low aquifers and reservoirs. They also allowed water agencies across the county to put new sustainability projects—like injecting stormwater into underground...

The City of Watsonville FREE curbside pick up of Christmas trees. Jan. 7-11, 2019