Nonprofit helping the community help itself
APTOS—In her more than two decades of working with nonprofit organizations, C.J. Runyon spent eight years with Walu International, which among other things helps provide hand-washing stations to rural communities in Papua New Guinea and Nicaragua, where poor sanitation leads to a myriad of...
FEMA extends Disaster Recovery Centers in Santa Cruz County
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Though the Disaster Recovery Center at Ramsay Park in Watsonville closed up shop Feb. 10, services are now offered at Watsonville City Hall.
Starting Thursday, Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Watsonville and Felton were extended to continue providing recovery services to residents impacted...
Police quickly arrest armed robbery suspects
WATSONVILLE—Two teens were arrested Aug. 11 on suspicion of armed robbery just minutes after they fled a business on Freedom Boulevard.
Noe Rocha, supervisor of the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team, said officers initially spotted two suspicious teens who appeared to be tucking something into...
Golf tourney to boost WHS athletics
The ninth annual Watsonville High Alumni Golf Tournament is slated for June 16, an event that is designed to raise funds for the school’s athletic program.
El Pájaro CDC partners with Staff of Life
El Pájaro Community Development Corporation (El Pájaro CDC) has entered into a partnership with Staff of Life, a natural foods market that recently opened its new store in the East Lake Shopping Center.
El Pájaro CDC, which aims to support small business entrepreneurs by...
4 arrested, gun recovered in Highway 1 chase
Four men were arrested early Tuesday morning following a high-speed car chase that started in Watsonville.
California Highway Patrol officer Sam Courtney said the ordeal began when a CHP officer tried to pull over a black 2017 Hyundai Tucson on southbound Highway 1 north of...
Castroville man dies in late-night crash
CASTROVILLE—A Castroville man died in a solo vehicle crash Tuesday night when his pickup shot off the road and smashed into several poles.
California Highway Patrol officer Jessica Madueño said Daniel Guyton, 26, was traveling eastbound on Highway 156 from northbound Highway 1 at a...
Braga steps down as girls’ basketball coach at St. Francis
WATSONVILLE—St. Francis High School girls’ basketball coach Randy Braga—who led the Sharks to three-straight Central Coast Section Division V championships—will not make a return to the sidelines this year.
Athletic Director Adam Hazel issued a press release March 24 stating that Braga stepped down from...
PV Quilt Show returns to fairgrounds Feb. 26-27
WATSONVILLE—Twice a month, a group of local quilt makers gathers inside the Codiga Center & Museum at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds to create quilts for the community.
The Apple Piecers, as they call themselves, are a nonprofit that makes up to 200 quilts per...
State gives Central Coast counties green light to open dine-in restaurants, barbershops
WATSONVILLE—The California Department of Public Health approved Covid-19 County Variance Attestation forms for both Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, the counties announced Saturday morning.
The acceptance will allow the neighboring counties to advance further into Stage 2 of the state's so-called resilience roadmap.
Restaurants can now...
Thousands attend No Kings rallies
Thousands of people crowded into Watsonville Plaza and surrounding streets Saturday as part of the nationwide No Kings protest against President Trump, his administration...