Local News

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday placed the updated half-cent public safety sales tax on the March 3 ballot. The vote was as contentious as the hour-and-a-half discussion. The decision passed 4-3, with Mayor pro-tem Rebecca Garcia and councilmembers Trina Coffman-Gomez and Ari Parker dissenting. Those...

APTOS—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies issued misdemeanor citations at five mid-county businesses after employees allegedly sold alcohol or tobacco to minor decoys, Sheriff’s Lt. Greg Lansdowne said.  The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Alcohol and Tobacco Compliance Unit conducted the Nov. 7 decoy operation at...

Santa Cruz Police shut down the Water Street Bridge in Santa Cruz Monday for about 90 minutes where a woman reportedly waved a knife at people early Tuesday. The incident was coupled with an unrelated major water main break and flooding.  Around 1 p.m. the...

Plaza decoration begins; tree lighting set for Nov. 24 WATSONVILLE—Downtown Watsonville was bustling with activity Tuesday morning as a 30-foot Blue Spruce arrived, carefully wrapped and attached to the back of a large tow truck. Workers from Auto Care Towing meticulously attached ropes and pulleys to...

PRUNEDALE—The California Highway Patrol is seeking the public’s help in locating the person, or persons, responsible for several reported incidents of objects striking vehicles traveling on highways 156 and 101 in the Prunedale area. Since February the CHP has 38 confirmed cases where vehicles have...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday will provide direction on major proposed modifications to the City’s cannabis laws, including the possible addition of multiple dispensaries. According to the staff report prepared for Tuesday’s meeting, the City is recommending the addition of two retail licenses as...

WATSONVILLE—As the steeple bells of St. Patrick’s Cathedral struck 10 Monday morning, a group of former military members began a march from the church’s parking lot to the Watsonville Veterans Memorial Building, a tradition that heralds in the annual Veteran’s Day ceremony. Dozens of people...

The Goat Hill Fair got its start on a small goat farm on the Highway 17 summit. The vintage antique fair was so popular that it outgrew its first home in two years. Now housed at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in May and November,...

WATSONVILLE—When a former member of the military dies, the Freedom Veterans of Foreign War Post 1716 Honor Guard is there to honor them with a rifle salute of three ceremonial volleys. The service similar to the 21-gun salute is a military-style way to honor veterans...

Try this is a weekly column that celebrates local businesses — especially eateries, watering holes, coffee shops and the like. Tarmo Hannula Food Blaze Pizza I had a late lunch recently at a new (for me) pizza spot on the West Side of Santa Cruz—Blaze Pizza, 1901 Mission...