Watsonville Hospital holds first community update
The past three years have been transformative for Watsonville Community Hospital, which was facing bankruptcy in late 2021 before a local group banded together to save it.
Now under local ownership—and more importantly, back under local control—the hospital has seen a sea change in its...
Complaints about homelessness mount in Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—On many days, when groups of school kids crowd into Conchita’s Ice Cream in Plaza Vigil for an afternoon treat, handfuls of people experiencing homelessness show up, some pushing shopping carts loaded with their possessions through the store and others demanding free items.
The people,...
New interim manager: the Santa Cruz County Fair is a go
The interim manager of the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds has a message for the community as the summer draws near: with a team of people ready to help and a community ready for the much-loved event, the fair is on track to open as...
Tom Broz named Farmer of the Year
Tom Broz was named the 2023 Farmer of Year by the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau June 22 at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.
In its 106th annual meeting, the Farm Bureau welcomed dozens of farmers, agricultural workers and others to the open-air event.
Broz and...
Watsonville honors outgoing council, swears in new members
WATSONVILLE—The City of Watsonville bade goodbye to three outgoing members on Tuesday, two of them longtime leaders with decades of combined experience between them.
Lowell Hurst and Rebecca Garcia served for years on the council, including stints as mayor. Francisco “Paco” Estrada was elected in...
Man’s quest for freedom denied, for now
SANTA CRUZ—A man hoping a new set of California laws would ease his lengthy prison sentence will have to wait a while longer while his case is appealed.
Vincent Marquez, now 65, was in court on Aug. 26 for his resentencing hearing. He is one...
Tamara Vides tapped for Watsonville City Manager
The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday will consider appointing Tamara Vides as its new City Manager.
Vides served as interim City Manager in 2021 and more recently in April.
She has held various positions during her 15-year career with the city. This includes Deputy City Manager...
Watsonville Prep gains approval to move into Gottschalks building
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Prep School has found a home in downtown Watsonville.
The Watsonville Planning Commission on Tuesday approved plans to remodel a portion of the long-vacant Gottschalks Building on Main Street into a 41,000-square-foot school.
Navigator Schools, the parent organization of the charter school, and the Hansen...
Council approves plan to transform downtown Watsonville
In a future envisioned by Watsonville officials, the city’s downtown will be a vibrant and bustling place where commerce, mixed-use housing and a redesigned transit system intermingle and trees line a narrowed, two-lane Main Street.
The Downtown Specific Plan, approved unanimously late Tuesday night by...
Man killed in recent shooting at Pajaro levee identified
WATSONVILLE—The man who died Feb. 22 after being shot nine days earlier on the Pajaro River levee has been identified as Daniel Godinez, 46, a homeless man from Watsonville, Santa Cruz Sheriff’s spokeswoman Ashley Keehn said Wednesday.
Godinez was shot at least twice on Feb....
Letters to the Editor June 22-July 2
Data center installations need tight standards
There are issues coming up with many of the data center installations: they need power and cooling with water....
