Local News

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture recently announced the recipients of the 2020 Pajaro Valley Chamber Foundation Scholarship. Local high school students Antonio Hueso-Fernandez and Jessica Rodriguez-Reyes were each awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Hueso-Fernandez is a graduating senior at Aptos High School and will...

WATSONVILLE—Joining forces with others around the nation, a protest against anti-Asian violence unfolded at the City Plaza Friday. About 40 people waved homemade signs reading “#Stop Asian Hate,” among other things, at passing motorists and pedestrians in downtown Watsonville. “Today we came to show our solidarity...

Fundraiser benefits Monarch Services The Stronger Together Fundraiser for Monarch Services-Servicios Monarca, taking place Oct. 22 at the Aptos High School field, is an event meant to honor survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. The fundraiser begins at 9am with a 1K fun...

WATSONVILLE—For the owners of The Slough Brewing Collective in Watsonville, beer is much more than just a drink, or a lucrative business—it’s a community. The brewery, formerly Elkhorn Slough Brewing Company, even reflects this in its motto: “Beer is people.” “Beer is a way of bringing...

When he was in school, Brandon Gruber occasionally found himself in the role of the underdog, and occasionally the target of bullies.

No injuries were reported in this solo-vehicle crash early Tuesday morning. Watsonville Police Sgt. Mike Ridgway said a motorist accidentally stepped on the gas instead of the brake pedal in her Honda sedan around 6:30am. Her car plowed through a fence as shown here...

With foundation work completed and now in its framing stage, 72 new affordable apartments by MidPen Housing are going skyward at 139-141 Miles Lane. The Watsonville City Council approved the development in 2020, a joint project between MidPen and Encompass Community Services, which is being...

WATSONVILLE—Two relative newcomers to Watsonville politics will face off for the vacant District 2 seat in a special election slated for Dec. 7. Francisco “Frank” Barba and Vanessa Quiroz-Carter turned in the paperwork required to run for office just before the deadline on Monday evening....

Freedom Rotary Past President Yesenia Parra passes the gavel to new President Ron Ince during the club's meeting at the California Grill on Tuesday.

In a tiny, cramped classroom on Pajaro Valley High School’s sprawling campus on Tuesday, a group of students was taking turns on a makeshift stage expressing various emotions and personalities as dictated by their drama teacher. One by one, the students met their challenges to...