Local News

WATSONVILLE—A new community center is set to open in Watsonville on Wednesday, with the goal of supporting local at-risk youth and their families. The Luna y Sol Familia Center at 15 Madison St. is a program of the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council on Jan. 17 unanimously approved the construction of a new self-storage facility to be located in the long abandoned, weed-choked parking lot between Watsonville Municipal Airport and the Community Hospital. Located at 70 Nielsen St., the facility—called Crocker’s Lockers—will offer 1,072...

Artist Kendra Morrison currently has an exhibit showing of her unique tinted woodburning with collage art pieces at the Santa Cruz County Building.

SANTA CRUZ—A man was shot multiple times early Saturday morning on the west side of Santa Cruz. The victim was reportedly walking on the 100 block of West Cliff Drive at 2:34 a.m. when he was confronted by another person, said Joyce Blaschke, Community Relations...

LA SELVA BEACH—After more than four decades as pastor of La Selva Beach Community Church, Rev. Jane Grady retired Sunday in a special service with her congregation. Grady arrived at La Selva Beach in 1980, fresh out of seminary and ready to serve a new...

Try This is a weekly column that celebrates local businesses — especially eateries, watering holes, coffee shops and the like. Food: Jack’s Cigars Sandwiches Since The Pajaronian moved downtown to Brennan Street in July I have enjoyed the wide range of businesses and other outlets that are now...

TARMO HANNULA A dead humpback whale washed ashore at Rio Del Mar State Beach Monday. California State Parks Ranger Joseph Carr Ritchie said the male humpback was about 13 years old. Researchers are looking into the cause of death while California State Parks is looking...

WATSONVILLE—Major work is underway at the Valley Public Cemetery to make way for hundreds of garden crypts. The move is part of the Pajaro Valley Public Cemetery District’s needed expansion to create more land for burials, said Bob Tanner, Pajaro Valley Public Cemetery District Board...

WATSONVILLE—The City of Watsonville’s Public Works Department is urging residents to keep any sandbags they received during the recent series of storms through the rest of winter. “We are recommending that people keep them, just in case,” said Marco Diaz, an administrative assistant for the...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville police are again warning the public to be careful with their credit and debit cards after an investigator found two card skimmers at a gas pump. Credit card skimmers are often installed on gas pumps by criminals to steal account information. They can be...