Local News

WATSONVILLE—During a recent cleaning of her house, Aromas author and artist Joyce Oroz discovered a set of acrylic paintings tucked away in a corner of her attic.  She had painted the pieces about 20 years prior and almost forgotten about them.  “I knew I couldn’t just...

WATSONVILLE—Wherever he is touring in the world, Santana lead singer Andy Vargas makes sure to let everyone know about his hometown of Watsonville. “I’ve always been proud to be from Watsonville,” Vargas said.  “I tell people that they’ve probably ate our berries or drank our...

Mayor for a Day contest opens Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be the Mayor of a city? Now is your chance to be Mayor for the Day with Watsonville Mayor Francisco “Paco” Estrada.  To be considered, submit a one-page essay to...

Editor’s note: This is the first half of a two-part series about Watsonville High graduate Joanne Buob Martin, class of 1962. WATSONVILLE—Joanne Buob Martin was part of Watsonville High’s 1962 graduating class, the largest class to date, with 355 seniors. It was also the graduating...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville police on Thursday released photos of two men suspected of using stolen credit card information to steal money at an ATM. Investigators believe the suspects were using manufactured cards with information lifted by card skimmers, devices often installed on gas pumps to steal credit...

WATSONVILLE—A disabled man whose only means of transportation was stolen twice in the past two years–and returned to him the first time by good Samaritans–was reunited with it again last week. John Zurr’s Raleigh Tristar tricycle was stolen last week outside the Dollar Tree in...

Special events Fall Dance Concert (Nov. 22-24) Dance students at Cabrillo College will come together this weekend for three days of performances at the Crocker Theater, 6500 Soquel Dr., Aptos. Groups from Cabrillo, including jazz and modern to Folklorico, will perform. Shows will be held on Friday...

APTOS—Nonprofit workers in Santa Cruz County are two times more likely than the general public to require the very social services they help provide. That’s according to a recent survey conducted by the Human Care Alliance (HCA), a coalition of nonprofit agencies from around the...

WATSONVILLE—The future of Santa Cruz County’s syringe services program was in the community’s hands this week. In two meetings held by the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency in Santa Cruz on Nov. 14 and Watsonville on Tuesday, officials asked attendees to outline what questions...

WATSONVILLE—For years the Employment Development Department (EDD) has had an employee stationed in downtown Watsonville to help South County residents receive unemployment services.  That will change on Monday.  The EDD is removing its lone employee from the Workforce Development Board’s (WDB) 18 W. Beach St. location...