Local News

WATSONVILLE—The historic Porter Building in downtown Watsonville will not be sold to the Pajaro Valley Arts Council—it won’t be sold to the owners of this publication, either.  At least not anytime soon. Ongoing discussions between the city of Watsonville and PV Arts around the vacant city-owned...

After 18 months of work by 200 students, Pajaro Valley Unified School District unveiled a small house that will soon be home to someone who needs it. At just 20 by 8 feet, the tinyhome is ready for occupation, and comes equipped with living quarters...

WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency is looking for volunteers to be part of a newly conceived committee focused on groundwater sustainability in the Pajaro Valley. The 17-member Sustainable Groundwater Committee which will meet up to 10 times through fall 2021, will focus on updating PV...

This month at 11 schools across Santa Cruz County, parents, grandparents and children will spend an evening together dancing, singing, storytelling and creating visual artworks under the guidance of professional teaching artists at a Family Arts Night event.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) recently announced nearly $1.4 million in Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to expand local Covid-19 vaccination efforts. Funding will support health centers across the congressional district to administer updated COVID-19 vaccines. Salud Para La Gente...

WATSONVILLE—The City of Watsonville is currently holding a special art contest for local youth, and there is still a week left for pieces to be submitted. The “Thankful Youth Art Contest” aims to inspire young people in the Pajaro Valley to share their creativity through...

The World’s Shortest Parade made its way through Aptos on Tuesday for the Fourth of July. Put on by the Aptos Chamber of Commerce, the parade started at State Park Drive and traveled a short section of Soquel Drive to Aptos Village County Park. The theme...

Less than two years after he was hired to run the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Zeke Fraser announced his resignation from the post. Fraser was hired as CEO/Fair Manager in June 2023.  The 14th District Agricultural Association/Santa Cruz County Fair Board of Directors  has accepted Fraser's...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police Department has several military-grade weapons that it says it only uses in extraordinary circumstances. That armory includes nearly two dozen high-powered rifles, a few shotguns, thousands of rounds of ammunition and dozens of less-lethal and “crowd control” weapons such as flashbangs, rubber grenades...