Local News

Dozens of people came to Community Bridges’ downtown location Sunday, where they received a free eye exam  and, if needed, a pair of prescription glasses. This included an onsite mobile RV that made the glasses onsite. The exams—which organizers estimate at $400-$500—came thanks to VSP Vision,...

The City of Capitola announced Friday that Capt. Sarah Ryan has been named the next Police Chief.  She will be succeeding Chief Andy Dally, who is retiring Nov. 24 after 29 years with the city. “Ryan brings two decades of dedicated service to the community to...

The Watsonville City Council on Oct. 22 unanimously approved two new low-income housing developments that will add 18 units to the city and give some families a chance at home ownership. The developments at 36 Airport Road and Evan Court—both properties are near each other...

The towering mosaic work known as Watsonville Brillante adorns the side of the six-story asking structure on Rodriguez Street in downtown Watsonville. Work is underway to complete the 10th and final phase of the five-year project to set the stage for a ribbon-cutting street party...

LOCAL ART Waverly Liu works on a watercolor painting of the Stockton Bridge in Capitola Wednesday morning. She joined 40 area artists as part of the annual Capitola Plein Air; Artists Paint the Town. From Oct. 21-26 artists fan out around the village to...

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter in Watsonville at 580 Airport Blvd. will be closed to the public until at least Oct. 29 after doctors diagnosed cases of canine parvovirus and feline panleukopenia. Both diseases are highly contagious and can be deadly. Shelter veterinarian Maris Brenn-White...

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Monday appointed Misty Navarro to fill the Trustee VII seat vacated in September by Jennifer Holm. Navarro is an emergency room physician at Salinas Valley Health Medical Center. She lives in Aptos and has children...

A wildland fire broke out in trees and brush flanking northbound Highway 1 north of Buena Vista Drive Monday in Watsonville. The 1pm blaze sent up massive billows of gray and brown smoke that were visible around Watsonville and drew a heavy response from multiple...

For years, Watsonville Public Library’s Main Street location has drawn community members young and old to find their next great book, perform research or to simply sit and read in silence. And soon, people could have another reason to come. The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday...

With election day approaching, voters have several state propositions from which to choose. Below is a brief description of each of them. For a deeper dive, visit voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions. Proposition 2   Public School and Community College Facilities Under Prop. 2, the state would sell a $10 billion...