Local News

A festive farewell lunch Dec. 21 set the tone for the final day of duty for Watsonville Police Sgt. Mike Ridgway as he set his sails toward retirement. As part of the departure, a 911 dispatcher delivered a statement over the police radio: “This is...

After decades of floods that devastated the communities of Pajaro and Watsonville—and flooded hundreds of acres of farmland—a group of local, state and federal lawmakers gathered near the banks of Corralitos Creek Wednesday to break ground on the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project,...

A major upgrade on a section of Freedom Boulevard, between Alta Vista Avenue and Green Valley Road, is in its final stage. The months-long job included fresh asphalt, multi-modal bike lanes, new curbs, sidewalks and gutters (in places), new ADA ramps, a bus pullout at...

Help plant flowers at the fairgrounds The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation is seeking volunteers to plant flowers for the upcoming Santa Cruz County Fair.  A workday is scheduled for July 27 at 4pm.  Planting will begin at 4pm and will wrap up by 6:30pm at which...

Dozens of nurses gathered outside Watsonville Community Hospital on Monday afternoon for a publicity picket, saying they want a contract that will allow them to attract and retain nurses, thus improving patient safety and care. “We want to advocate for a just and safe contract...

Monterey County Sheriff’s investigators have linked a March 3 mass shooting in King City to the Feb. 4 killing of two cousins in Soledad.  Law enforcement officials recently served search warrants related to both incidents. On March 3, 11 people were shot at a birthday party...

Watsonville Community Hospital seeks community input Watsonville Community Hospital is hosting a town-hall-style event for area residents to hear what’s happening at the hospital and give their input about their hopes and wishes for the hospital, now that it is community-owned.  The event takes place July...

Since June, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees has been considering a plan to retool its Visual and Performing Arts program at its 16 elementary schools, a proposal that includes splitting art teachers between most schools. The shift would be part of...

Fourth grade students from Mar Vista Elementary School get an up-close view of a Robinson 22 helicopter Tuesday during a tour of the Watsonville Municipal Airport. Now in its third year, the community outreach program by the Municipal Airport exposed kids to various aspects...