Local News

The city of Watsonville is accepting applications for Social and Community Service Grants for fiscal year cycle 2021-23. The deadline to apply is May 17 by 5 pm. Applicants must fill out the Google form application found here: forms.gle/yfXvWrPDUY9YrwzT8 The city will have $266,000 to fund...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A recent reduction to employees in the Kaiser Permanente corporation—about 200 positions—will not reach Santa Cruz County, a spokesman said Tuesday. One of the largest private employers in California, the company has more than 149,000 employees and 16,000 physicians in the state. In addition,...

WATSONVILLE—Two brothers were arrested Monday and Tuesday—about 30 hours apart—after two dramatic chases involving multiple law enforcement agencies. Daniel and Thomas Smith face multiple felony charges, and are being held in Santa Cruz County Jail without bail after running from officers. The first chase began early...

WATSONVILLE—Do you need help in marketing and promoting your small business? El Pajaro Community Development Corp. is offering free Zoom workshops in Spanish on marketing and promoting your business through May. The first of the workshops, which are free for residents of Santa Cruz, Monterey...

There are about 1,800 nonprofits in Santa Cruz County. These three organizations are sharply focused on teaching the community how to grow, cook and create a healthy diet and lifestyle. Together, they create the ‘three-legged stool’ of nutritional education for young people and adults. Food...

RIO DEL MAR—Nearly 11 months after a fire gutted the historic Seabreeze Tavern and severely weakened the structure, demolition of the building began Tuesday. The work is being conducted by a private contractor, Santa Cruz County spokesperson Jason Hoppin said. It is not clear what...

WATSONVILLE—Planners have identified five sites throughout downtown Watsonville that, if renovated, they believe could become potential economic catalysts for the historic but currently sleepy business corridor. Those plans include the razing of the Old City Hall building and current Watsonville Police Department headquarters between Main...

In the first months of the pandemic, Dientes Community Dental Care was forced to close its clinics throughout  Santa Cruz County. The nonprofit organization, which aims to give people access to high-quality, affordable oral healthcare, had initially not been considered essential. For more than two...

APTOS—The Aptos High girls soccer team notched another shutout with an 8-0 win against Pacific Collegiate School on Saturday afternoon. The Mariners’ defense has not allowed a goal in three straight games, having outscored opponents 20-0 during that span. The Mariners were coming off a 7-0...

APTOS—It took two weeks for Aptos High junior Jaylen Dang and the rest of the girls basketball team to get back into action after quarantining due to Covid-19 testing results. The junior guard picked up right where she left off, scoring a team-high 13 points...