Local News

SANTA CRUZ—In an effort to meet public transit safety standards set during the Covid-19 pandemic, officials at Santa Cruz METRO at a Wednesday press conference showcased the safety and precautionary measures they have put in place. Santa Cruz County Supervisor John Leopold and METRO Board...

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...

WATSONVILLE—The Santa Cruz County Elections Department on Wednesday approved a petition by a group seeking to recall Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Georgia Acosta. The approval starts the 90-day period for the Committee to Recall Georgia Acosta to gather signatures from 25% of the...

AROMAS—Two decades ago, a fundraising drive was held to install dedication bricks at Aromas Community Park. However, even after a number of community members had already donated to the effort, the project came to an abrupt halt. “It was kind of sad, and no one knew...

Learning roses in the garden The Monterey Bay Rose Society will host a Meeting and Education Day at the Display Rose Garden at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2661 East Lake Ave., on Saturday at 10am. The event gives the public hands-on experience in the garden...

As the new year approaches, we take a look at the stories and imagesthat captured the most attention over the past year. All photos are by Pajaronian photographer Tarmo Hannula. January TERMINAL CONDITION The year started off with a literal bang, as the battery energy storage system...

WATSONVILLE—“It’s been a crazy, crazy, crazy crazy year,” Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Daniel Dodge, Jr. said Wednesday, just before the board appointed trustees Kim De Serpa and Maria Orozco as President and Vice-President, respectively. They will hold the positions until December 2022. In addition...

SCOTTS VALLEY—A 73-year-old Watsonville woman died in a solo-vehicle crash on Highway 17 early Tuesday. She has been identified as Maria Isabel Reyes, according to Ashley Keehn of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office. California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo said Reyes was driving a...

Above: American flags line a large swath of Freedom Boulevard Monday for Memorial Day. A crew headed up by VFW Post 1716 of Watsonville took on the task of flying hundreds of coffin flags between the Veterans of Foreign Wars Building on Freedom Boulevard...

The Santa Cruz County Zoning Administrator on Friday approved a series of renovations at the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center, a decision that will allow the project to begin.