Local News

Although there was no Spirit of Watsonville Fourth of July parade this year, Watsonville celebrated Independence Day with the Mayor's Bike Ride and a concert from the Watsonville Community Band in downtown Watsonville.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Between 2014 and 2018, the number of 0-2-year-olds on Medi-Cal who visited the dentist in Santa Cruz County went up 238 percent, thanks to the advocacy of a local group focused on dental health. In addition, visits for 3-9-year-olds went up 31 percent...

SANTA CRUZ—Far West Fungi mushroom farm of Moss Landing is branching out. They recently opened their first-ever store in downtown Santa Cruz.  In the works for the past two years, the new spot will feature about 16 varieties of fresh mushrooms, dozens of dried mushrooms,...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Harm Reduction Coalition of Santa Cruz County (HRCSCC) has received a $100,000 grant, that will allow the nonprofit to expand its services. The grant comes from the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors and is administered by AIDS United in...

WATSONVILLE—Congressman Jimmy Panetta recently announced that eight projects across California’s 20th district totaling $5.9 million have been included in the $1.5 trillion omnibus bill signed by President Joe Biden Tuesday. The funding includes $1 million for the Watsonville Lee Road Trail, a project headed up...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Planning Commission at its Monday meeting will look over plans for a proposed mixed-use apartment complex in downtown. A project from local developers Bill and Neva Hansen, The Residence at 558 Main is a proposed four-story, 50-unit apartment building that, if approved, will...

WATSONVILLE—The organization formed earlier this year to operate and oversee Watsonville Community Hospital is nearing its July 1 deadline to raise enough to make the purchase, but is still $16 million short. If Pajaro Valley Healthcare District (PVHD) is unable to raise the funds, it...

CASTROVILLE—A Castroville man died in a solo vehicle crash Tuesday night when his pickup shot off the road and smashed into several poles. California Highway Patrol officer Jessica Madueño said Daniel Guyton, 26, was traveling eastbound on Highway 156 from northbound Highway 1 at a...

A large mosaic mural was installed this week on an exterior wall at Tabasa Gardens, a new apartment complex at 1482 Freedom Blvd. The 10-by-30-foot mosaic was created by Watsonville artist Kathleen Crocetti and a team of volunteers at Muzzio Mosaic Arts Center. The topic...