WPD’s top mental health advocate retires after 25 years
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police bade farewell to Master Officer Angel Calderon last week, capping his two-and-a-half decades of service.
At an informal upbeat going-away ceremony, scores of officers, staff and retirees offered plenty of words of praise and thanks—laced with a few quips about ‘where did that...
City asking for public input | Community Briefs
Vote for new public art at Ramsay
The City of Watsonville, Pajaro Valley Arts and Community Arts & Empowerment is asking the public to vote for its preferred artwork to be placed on the entryway of the Community Center at Ramsay Park.
The choices have been...
Digital NEST founder wins prestigious statewide award
WATSONVILLE—Digital NEST Founder and Executive Director Jacob Martinez on Wednesday was named a 2020 recipient of the prestigious James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award.
Since 1937, the James Irvine Foundation has provided more than $1.87 billion in grants to nonprofit organizations in California. James Irvine, a...
County asks public to avoid crowding beaches to slow COVID-19
Santa Cruz County officials are urging the public to avoid crowding the county’s beaches in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
With shelter-in-place orders in place throughout California, non-essential workers are staying home, schools and universities are switching to online classes and some...
PVUSD schools closed until May 5
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved two proposals that will allow the district to fast-track the hiring of three companies to clean and sanitize school property as a way to combat COVID-19, also known as coronavirus.
The trustees also...
Realtors turn to the web to keep sales strong during COVID-19 crisis
WATSONVILLE—While Santa Cruz County’s shelter-in-place order has kept residents in their homes, real estate agents have had to rely on their technical prowess to move their customers into new ones.
Some realtors have turned to Facebook Live, a video feature that allows users to livestream...
COVID-19 Daily Update: 9 people have been hospitalized in Santa Cruz County
Roughly 17 percent of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Santa Cruz County have been hospitalized, according to data released by Santa Cruz County officials on Wednesday.
There were 54 confirmed cases in the county as of late Tuesday. Nine of those county...
Watsonville Airport scores federal grants
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Municipal Airport has been awarded two grants that will allow it to update its master plan and its pavement maintenance management plan.
The grants of $550,000 and $110,000 from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are highly competitive, said Airport Manager Rayvon Williams.
According to Williams,...
Santa Cruz County facing dire financial picture
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County will dip into its budgetary reserves to cover an estimated $20 million deficit in this year’s budget, which stems from revenue losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the request by County Administrative Officer Carlos...
Watsonville native releases reflective new song
Rapper and songwriter Kabwassa has released a new single entitled “In My Head.”
Born and raised in Watsonville, Kabwassa now lives in Los Angeles and has steadily gained a following in California. Much of his music features his hometown, and he often writes about issues...
Prep Athletes of the Week: St. Francis’ Joseph Dayritt, Maya Calfee
The Pajaronian’s Prep Athletes of the Week were selected based on their performances during the week of Sept. 1-7. Coaches and athletic directors are...
