Local News

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police bade farewell to Master Officer Angel Calderon last week, capping his two-and-a-half decades of service. At an informal upbeat going-away ceremony, scores of officers, staff and retirees offered plenty of words of praise and thanks—laced with a few quips about ‘where did that...

Two local veterans organizations will be honored during the Skillicorn BBQ on April 3, an annual fundraiser for the Boy Scouts of America.

A new mosaic mural adorns the exterior front wall of Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance on East Lake Avenue. The 35-by-5-foot art piece was unveiled Wednesday during a ceremony that included local dignitaries and PVPSA officials. The work was created by a body...

Watsonville activist Omar Dieguez and a group of community leaders announced a hunger strike and started the movement with a protest outside of Driscoll’s headquarters Tuesday in Watsonville.  About 50 people were protesting the use of toxic pesticides near homes and schools in Watsonville and...

WATSONVILLE—About two dozen organizers packed into the Watsonville civic offices on Monday afternoon to turn in the signatures needed to put an extension of a landmark ballot measure before Watsonville voters next year. Measure U, approved by voters in 2002, put restrictions on where, when...

WATSONVILLE—Drive-thrus got the green light at Tuesday night’s Watsonville City Council meeting. By a 5-2 vote the council rejected a 45-day ban on new drive-thrus, stating there is no current and immediate threat to public health, safety or welfare and that their approval should be...

Studio Judy G, an art venue in the heart of downtown Watsonville, is aiming for the exit.  Following an April 1 goodbye party owner Judy Gittelsohn describes as a “wake,” the gallery, workshop, classroom and art hub will close permanently. “I’m going into private practice,” she...

Around 300 people joined the peaceful “March Towards Love and Courage” Monday evening from the London Nelson Community Center to Santa Cruz City Hall as part of Juneteenth.  Juneteenth, which celebrates the emancipation of slaves in the United States, was designated a federal holiday in...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Starting today and running through Oct. 22, Disaster CalFresh food benefits may be available to residents impacted by the CZU August Lightning Complex wildfires.  Santa Cruz County is one of six wildfire-impacted counties (the others being Monterey, San Mateo, Solano, Lake and Yolo)...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County has moved to the “Widespread,” or Purple, tier of state’s Covid-19 reopening plan, which carries with it the most serious restrictions on businesses and services, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in a lunchtime press conference Monday. The increased restrictions mean that...