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Watsonville
December 23, 2025

Report: Police, Fire spending Measure G funds wisely

Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—What will happen if Measure Y does not pass in next month’s election? That question is difficult to answer, as Watsonville Administrative Services Director Cindy Czerwin said at Wednesday afternoon’s Measure G Oversight Committee meeting. When pressed by committee Chair Rick Danna on the matter, Czerwin...

Sweeping federal drug bust includes arrest in Watsonville

Operation Burnt Orange watsonville
WATSONVILLE—A sweeping drug and weapons bust centered on the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, and headed up by the FBI resulted in the arrest of scores of suspects over the past few weeks, including an arrest in Watsonville Wednesday. At a press conference Thursday the FBI was...

El Sistema Santa Cruz a finalist for national award

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—El Sistema Santa Cruz/Pajaro Valley, a nonprofit aiming to bring music education and performance to students, has been selected as a finalist for a prestigious national award. The Lewis Prize for Music announced 10 finalists for its fourth annual Accelerator Awards last week....

$5M grant boosts senior oral healthcare in Santa Cruz County

dientes dental salud para la gente
Santa Cruz County-based healthcare providers Dientes and Salud Para la Gente recently received a $5 million grant from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation. The organizations were added to the foundation’s Senior Oral Health Coalition Program, which was launched in 2022 to address the oral...

Watsonville invests nearly $200K into Senior Center

watsonville senior center
WATSONVILLE — The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday approved an Adult Services and Senior Center Plan that will bring operations of the Senior Center under the City’s umbrella.  Watsonville will pump $176,000 from its 2019-20 general fund into the Senior Center, and also hire an Older...

Bill establishing Pajaro Valley health district heads to Governor’s desk

Watsonville Community Hospital
SACRAMENTO—Senate Bill 418, authored by State Senator John Laird, was unanimously approved on the Senate floor in a 34-0 vote Thursday, paving the way for Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign the bill into law and establish a health care district for the Pajaro Valley. The...

Friend announces he won’t seek reelection

Santa Cruz Supervisor and current Board Chair Zach Friend announced Friday that he will not seek a fourth term on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.  Friend was first elected in 2012, and was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2016 and 2020. His current term ends...

Watsonville Library adds pop-up van

The converted 2019 Ford Transit Connect will be retrofitted with shelving to hold and display a variety of books, movies and music. It will also be equipped with internet access and a laptop so staff can register customers to help them check out materials and search the library’s catalog.

Two housing projects head to Watsonville City Council

city council housing watsonville the residence
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council at its Feb. 23 meeting will see plans for two large housing developments that combined will bring 103 new apartments. The Residence on Main Street and an affordable apartment complex on Freedom Boulevard from nonprofit developer Eden Housing will be on...

Report: Santa Cruz-Watsonville is 2nd least affordable place to live in U.S.

Watsonville affordable housing project
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—There are many things that Santa Cruz County residents can boast about the place they live, including the astounding natural beauty and proximity to the coast. But there is one aspect that will likely not be found on a tourism brochure, and will...
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Watsonville names new Police Chief

The city of Watsonville has selected Brian Shab as its next police chief, city officials announced Tuesday. Shab, who has more than 27 years of...