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January 16, 2026

Save Our Shores kicks off Coastal Cleanup Month

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—For years Save Our Shores (SOS) has hosted Coastal Cleanup Day, where residents help clean beaches, parks, and other sites across Monterey Bay. Due to Covid-19, the event—usually held the third weekend of September—will not take place in 2020. But that is not...

Serial rooftop burglar arrested, again

fermin sanchez
WATSONVILLE—A man with a history of burglarizing businesses by entering through their rooftops was arrested again on Aug. 25, when he allegedly broke into Cabrillo College’s Watsonville campus, Watsonville Police spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said. Fermin Sanchez, 33, faces new burglary and trespassing charges. He was...

Shelter sites begin to transition as fire recovery begins

CZU Recovery Resource Center
SANTA CRUZ—With the repopulation of a few towns in the CZU August Lighting Complex evacuation zone, the Santa Cruz County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is now shifting attention to the needs of people who have been displaced from their homes. As of Thursday, the fire...

Census workers finding residents where they live

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—With a Sept. 30 deadline to complete the nationwide 2020 Census, the federal agency has its hands full making sure every resident is counted. But that can be difficult when residents have been evacuated due to an emergency such as the CZU August...

State makes deal to boost Covid-19 testing capacity

Watsonville coronavirus
SACRAMENTO—A contract with a San Jose diagnostics company will allow the state to increase its Covid-19 testing capacity up to an additional 150,000, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Aug. 24. Under the deal with Perkin Elmer, the state will be able to process up to an...

Local museums, galleries hold steady during pandemic

In late July, the New York Times published an article which revealed an alarming statistic: About 16% of museums and galleries in the U.S. are at risk to close permanently because of Covid-19. Immediately after, the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH) began...

County supervisors move to streamline rebuilding process

czu august lightning complex fire
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday set the stage for a streamlined process for rebuilding the homes and other structures damaged in the CZU August Lightning Complex fire. The item was part of the consent agenda and therefore garnered no...

Landmark under wraps | About Town

I was out by the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse and Santa Cruz Surfing Museum yesterday and saw the workers from Cardiff Pest Control had the lighthouse wrapped in a  termite extermination tent. It was surreal, to say the least. Loads of folks were stopping...

College Lake project moves forward

pvwma
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency has entered agreements with two engineering firms to help plan for a project that will help the area achieve sustainable groundwater resources by 2040. The College Lake Integrated Resources Management Project will use rainfall runoff to replace a portion...

Commission denies alcohol license, urges council to reject propane facility

watsonville propane storage facility
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Planning Commission at its Tuesday meeting rejected a gas station’s application for a beer and wine alcohol license and also recommended the City Council deny a permit for a proposed large propane storage facility. An Arco AM/PM convenience store currently being constructed adjacent...
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From Our Archives: Getting Ready

These women tidy up the grounds of the Corralitos Women’s Club in preparation for an annual show on May 1, 1957. (Sam Vestal/Pajaronian file)