Local News

Watsonville firefighters battled a blaze that started in the attic of a residence at 21 Authur Rd. Tuesday around 1:47 p.m. The house was deemed a public nuisance on May 14, and Watsonville City officials ordered the property abated on May 28. The single-family home...

WATSONVILLE—Jesus Montejano is eager to put his skills to use for the community he calls home. After recently graduating with honors from Cabrillo College’s business program, Montejano has set his sights on transforming a restaurant located next to the iconic Five Mile House on the...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council today will decide whether to sell the Resetar Parking Lot in downtown Watsonville to the Ow family for $542,850. The sale is part of the consent agenda of today’s Council meeting. Items on the consent agenda typically pass without deliberation, though...

SANTA CRUZ — The woman accused of stabbing her husband to death inside their residence in the Aptos hills in August is now allowed to see her children for supervised visits. That was the agreement reached Friday by prosecutors and defense attorneys in the case...

WATSONVILLE — Watsonville police on Oct. 18 arrested a man suspected of stealing a wheelchair ramp used by a young girl to enter and exit her home. The Santa Cruz County Auto Theft Reductions and Enforcement Task Force (S.C.A.R.E.) arrested Pedro Villanueva, 27. He has been...

Special events Empower Watsonville Conference (Oct. 19) Empower Watsonville is a conference organized by high school students, for high school students. The conference is sponsored by Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance (PVPSA). Based on an open workshop format, the event will start with a formal...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday will make a decision on the Downtown Complete Streets Plan, a project that proposes sweeping changes to the corridor’s structure. According to the report from city staff, the plan presented at Tuesday’s 6:30 p.m. meeting will include:  Pedestrian improvements •...

“Try This” is a weekly column that celebrates local businesses — especially eateries, watering holes, coffee shops and the like. TODD GUILD Food Pizza My Heart There are few foods as easy as pizza to feed a busy family, particularly on a school night. That’s why we found...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — This weekend will mark the third and final phase of the annual Open Studios Art Tour, a free self-guided tour of area art studios.  While the public was invited to view artists’ work in North Santa Cruz County Oct. 5 and...

WATSONVILLE—Kaiden Gowen is just 8 years old, but he already has a three-year racing career under his belt, and a handful of local and state championship wins to show for it. He competes in quarter midget racing, which uses vehicles that are one-quarter the size...