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Watsonville
October 15, 2025

Dance performance hits the Mello

The 17th annual Cultural Caliente! Dance Concert, which serves as a scholarship fundraiser, will feature a wealth of dances including hip-hop, folklorico, modern, cha cha, tango, on top of a mix of local dance groups. It runs Friday at the Mello Center, 250 East Beach St., at 7 p.m.

Local Toys for Tots co-founder retires

Toys for Tots
WATSONVILLE—After 33 years behind the wheel of the Toys For Tots program in the Pajaro Valley, coordinator and co-founder of the Santa Cruz County chapter, Delilah Valadez, handed out her final batch of toys on Dec. 4. Although Toys For Tots will continue, Valadez says...

Longtime teacher, volunteer Diane Severin dies

Diane Severin
Diane Severin’s teaching career at Watsonville High School spanned more than five decades. She is described as a fierce advocate for equal rights and a loyal friend. She stayed deeply involved in the community throughout her life, took up skeet shooting at 60 and...

Photo: Local church installs series of icons

Rev. John Juno Song, pastor at the Watsonville First United Methodist Church, shows off one of ten new "icons" recently installed in the church's sanctuary. Icons are traditionally Eastern Orthodox works of art placed into churches through a dedication ceremony. Song said he has...

Coffeeville keeps brewing | About Town

Tarmo Hannula I stopped by Coffeeville in the East Lake Village Shopping Center this morning and was relieved to see them running daily hours. Now they’re making clever use of their Dutch door, which enables them to offer walk-up window service. Their barista Aliyah Piñon...

County remembers people who died while homeless

The number of people who died while homeless this year saw a sizable decline from last year, when Santa Cruz County honored 121 people at its annual Homeless Memorial. Still, the 75 chairs at the center of the cavernous Portuguese Hall in Santa Cruz—each empty...

Survey predicts Santa Cruz County tourism will return

santa cruz county tourism covid-19
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The county’s tourist hotspots—along with its restaurants and hotels—can expect a slight uptick in business this summer from Californians seeking to hit the road for short road trips, according to a survey released Wednesday by Visit Santa Cruz County (VSCC). This prediction is...

Watsonville to hold May 12 rail planning meeting

The city of Watsonville is inviting the community to a workshop focused on planning for future passenger rail service and trail improvements in and around the Watsonville area.  The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is hosting the workshop as part of its ongoing...

Gov. Newsom lays out plan to loosen stay-at-home order

Newsom covid-19
SACRAMENTO—Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday said he will revisit the statewide stay-at-home order in two weeks if the curve of COVID-19 cases in California is not only “flattening” but “declining.” That does not mean the order will be completely lifted, Newsom said, but certain aspects...

New art exhibit to open Monday at Cabrillo Gallery

Two artists have come together to present “Continuum & Flux,” a new art exhibit opening at the Cabrillo Gallery in Aptos on Monday.
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Watsonville High celebrates homecoming

Hundreds of Watsonville High School students participated in the traditional homecoming parade Wednesday, which is a precursor to a Thursday rally and the Friday...