Local News

SANTA CRUZ—Thousands of curious folks had a one-day window Tuesday to view and smell a blooming corpse flower at the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden. The 4-foot tall flower, sheltered beneath a tent and kept warm with a space heater while being gently...

The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday voted to end public comment via Zoom at its meetings, a decision spurred by two racist 'zoom bomb' calls made anonymously on Oct. 24. The city of Capitola also experienced so-called “Zoom-bombs” around the same time. In the calls, both...

A man who was killed Saturday night in a collision on Highway 101 in San Jose was identified as Watsonville resident Noe Fernandez, 18.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Clerk/Registrar of Voters has opened in-person voting centers throughout Santa Cruz County for the June 7 Primary Election. Voters may cast ballots at any of the following locations:  •Watsonville City Clerk’s Office, 275 Main St., fourth floor •Temple Beth El, 3055...

Today is Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day, is typically a day when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. The holiday has origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia. The festival was largely created to celebrate the coming of spring. At the...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—All of the county’s four city police agencies—and the Sheriff’s Office—have similar policies when it comes to use of force and releasing of information to the public, according to a report released in November by the Criminal Justice Council of Santa Cruz...

APTOS—Local artist and Pajaro Valley Arts exhibit coordinator Hedwig Heerschop recently raised $1,000 during the Open Studios Art Tour for children in Ukraine. Heerschop, a fine art photographer and printmaker, raffled off one of her photograph etchings, depicting a blue and yellow sunflower. She sold...

WATSONVILLE—Covid-19 vaccines are now available by appointment only for residents 75 years and older at the county’s new mass vaccination center at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Residents who are at 95019, 95076 and 95077 zip codes must register at https://mhealthsystem.com/santacruzfairgrounds to schedule an appointment....

The County of Santa Cruz has named multi-media artist Guillermo “Yermo” Aranda as the 2021 Artist of the Year. Every year the Arts Commission presents the award to a local artist for their achievements in performing, visual or literary arts, as well as their contributions...

PAJARO—With hundreds of acres of farmland still underwater Thursday, farmers are unsure how the recent flood will affect their businesses. At the same time, employees are unable to return to work, and many who were evacuated are still unsure if they will have a...