Local News

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA—In 2013 Galeria Tonantzin, one of San Juan Bautista’s few art galleries, closed its doors after more than 20 years. Its absence, said artist and gallery co-founder Jennifer Colby, has been noticeable in the small community. “I know how much people have missed having...

About Town, Week of Aug. 5

While the Pajaro Valley Arts gallery in Watsonville has remained shuttered during the ongoing shelter-in-place order, its staff and members continue to find ways to stay creative. This has included expanding the organization’s social media presence and moving its latest exhibit, “Campesinos: Workers Of the...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County health officials announced Friday that two more county residents have died of Covid-19 complications, bringing the local death toll to eight. One was a man in his early 60s and the other was a woman in her late 90s. Both...

Several community leaders and community members gathered at MacQuiddy Elementary School Tuesday evening to call on Driscoll’s, Reiter and other companies to stop using toxic pesticides around schools. “Choosing to farm organically is a decision based on hope and a deep understanding of our interdependence...

Amesti Elementary School teacher Rachel Hitchcock was bestowed a special award by the Monterey Bay Aquarium for her efforts in education.

WATSONVILLE—Alternative lenders outnumber mainstream lenders by more than 3-1 in Watsonville. That’s according to a joint report from Santa Cruz Community Ventures (SCCV) and UC Santa Cruz’s Blum Center presented to the public in Watsonville’s Civic Plaza on Tuesday. The report, called “Mamas con Mas,” identified...

Pregnant Mare Rescue on Larkin Valley Road is looking for a new location, a problem compounded by the high cost of land in California.

WATSONVILLE—The city of Watsonville is asking the City Council to deem a troubled housing development off Ohlone Parkway a public nuisance at its July 6 meeting. Pacific Sunshine Garden at 1773 Santa Victoria Ave. has for more than three years failed to make various corrections...

The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday voted to close the crosswind runway at the airport, a move city officials say will open up more of the city for development of housing and commercial space. Airport Director Rayvon Williams told the council that closing the shorter...