Local News

PAJARO—A cadre of elected and public officials gathered in Pajaro late Sunday morning to issue a dire warning in advance of a rainstorm expected to begin Sunday night and bring possible major flooding to Monterey and Santa Cruz counties through Tuesday. The messages, delivered in...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Police Department will help conduct 10 community listening sessions and the city will create a police oversight committee in hopes of increasing community trust and accountability in local law enforcement, Chief of Police David Honda announced during Tuesday afternoon’s Watsonville City Council...

Watsonville Community Hospital and the Pajaro Valley Health Care District (PVHCD) announced Friday that the building–and the property that surrounds it–once again belongs to the community. The $40 million purchase of the 27-acre site from Alabama-based Medical Properties Trust was possible thanks to Measure N—the...

Hundreds of people joined a celebration of the eight-year anniversary of the S. Martinelli Company Store on Harvest Drive Thursday during an ice cream social.  To mark the return of the holidays, Martinelli’s offered up samples of its Apple Cider & Cranberry Jam Ice Cream. Gun...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Community Band kicked off its yearlong 75th Anniversary celebration Wednesday during a break in its regular rehearsal in the band room at Watsonville High School. The date coincided with the very first rehearsal of what was then called Watsonville Sciots Band in 1947. “We’re...

MID-COUNTY—A plan to consolidate two Mid-County fire districts took a step forward Wednesday when nobody from the community registered a complaint. Efforts to consolidate Aptos-La Selva Fire Protection District and Central Fire Protection District began in 2019. Fire officials say the move will help departments...

When artist Jessica Carrasco moved from her hometown of Watsonville to San Jose for college, she immediately noticed a prevalence of the iconic Santa Cruz Skateboards logo.

WATSONVILLE—Nearly 100 people filled the Fine Arts Building at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Tuesday to attend the Fair’s Board of Directors meeting.  While Fair Board meetings don’t normally draw a large audience—former CEO Dave Kegebein says some days saw nobody in attendance—a growing number...

WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Unified School District Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez has been named Superintendent of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region 10.  The region covers 42 school districts in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. “It is a pleasure and privilege to...