Local News

Tarmo Hannula: Reporter Todd Guild and I covered the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day march in downtown Santa Cruz this morning. I was glad to see more than 1,500 people participating in the march, waving signs, chanting and glad-handing bystanders. • Three men are in...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council at its Tuesday meeting will weigh a 45-day ban on the approval of new drive-thrus. The ban will need ⅘ approval, meaning six of the seven council members will need to vote yes in order for it to pass. If passed, the...

APTOS—A man was taken to a Bay Area trauma center Sunday afternoon after the car he was in crashed into a ditch along Valencia Road, causing a collision that drove a large branch through the windshield. According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver of...

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WATSONVILLE—Last year, Pajaro Valley Arts’ annual “Take Aways: Art To Go!” fundraising exhibit earned a record-breaking $43,000. The organization hopes to once again top itself in 2020. “This is our one big fundraiser of the year,” said Chris Miroyan, who is co-curating this year’s exhibit with...

Supervisor Caput elected Board Chair The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously elected Greg Caput as the Board Chair for 2020, and Supervisor Bruce McPherson as Vice-Chair.  “I’m honored by the trust placed in me by my colleagues on the Board,” Caput said. “As...

WATSONVILLE—The First Baptist Church on Madison Street has a new parking lot, complete with state-of-the-art, dimmable lights. The project came thanks to efforts of church members. Pastor Jeff Eitzen said the new lot, with 49 spaces, two of which are handicap spots, was built on...

"Try This" is a weekly column that celebrates local businesses — especially eateries, watering holes, coffee shops and the like. • Tarmo Hannula FUN: First Friday I’ve trumpeted my excitement about the monthly First Friday event in downtown Santa Cruz in this column before, but I feel a...

Special events 8 Tens @ 8 Short Play Festival (Jan. 18-Feb. 9)  The annual 10-minute play festival celebrates its 25th anniversary as the longest-running and most respected short play festival in the U.S. Sixteen awarded-winning short plays, from the annual international playwriting contest, are performed and...

WATSONVILLE—Three organic Pajaro Valley farms will be featured in the 2020 EcoFarm Conference bus tour Wednesday—and a handful of seats are still available. Participants will visit Lakeside Organic Gardens, JSM Organics and Coastal Sun Cannabis/Moon Berry Farm during the tour, which kicks off the...