Local News

Former Watsonville Fire Capt. Ron Rackley serves up homemade chili to Linda Hicks at the opening day barbecue lunch where huge crowds are filing through the 2024 fair. Dozens of fair food options will be offered through Sunday, with the stand kettlecorn, corn dogs,...

Community Bridges’ annual Farm to Fork Gala is back for its eighth year, and this year the Santa Cruz County nonprofit has teamed up with the Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains to help raise financial relief funds for farmers and farmworkers affected by...

WATSONVILLE—Author Tony Di Leonardo was visiting the Watsonville Square shopping center when he first noticed Kelly’s Books. Walking into the small independent bookstore, he started chatting with owner Kelly Pleskunas about his debut novel, “Death by Drive-By,” which had just been released in December...

Observations from across the Pajaro Valley and beyond.

More than 250 people joined city and state officials in celebrating World Wetlands Day on Feb. 3, part of the ongoing restoration of Struve Slough. Watsonville Wetlands Watch (WWW) co-hosted the annual event with a widespread planting project, music, dance performances, arts and crafts, speeches...

The board that oversees operations at Watsonville Community Hospital could pursue a bond measure next year that, if passed by voters, would allow it to purchase the property and upgrade the aging facilities. The Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board of Directors heard about its...

WATSONVILLE—While some will be celebrating the birthday of activist and labor leader Cesar Chavez on March 31, a major raspberry grower in Watsonville will close its doors, and hundreds of employees will be laid off. A representative at Premiere Raspberries, LLC confirmed the closure Thursday...

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...

WATSONVILLE—Thanks to helping hands at the Watsonville Public Library, free library service at your home is a phone call, or email away.  LibraryLink is a long-standing outreach service designed to bring the trove of library materials to the homes of those who cannot easily leave...