Local News

After nearly 60 years, the Ferris wheel at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk will spin no more.

AROMAS—A 75-year-old Aptos man died Sept. 24 in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 129, or Riverside Road, at Rogge Lane near Aromas. Ashley Keehn of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Dean Peppas. Alyssa Gutierrez of the California Highway Patrol said Peppas...

WATSONVILLE—Rachel Clark clearly remembers the day she was invited to join the United Presbyterian Church (UPC) of Watsonville more than 40 years ago. Clark had recently moved to the area and was searching for a place of worship. It was at a community picnic where...

A viewing party in a Watsonville restaurant Tuesday night for President Donald Trump’s public address drew public attention, with more than 100 Trump supporters gathering inside for the private event, and dozens gathering outside for a counter-protest. The event in Ella’s at the Airport was...

Alianza Charter School eighth-graders Yaviana Prado (from left), Ivan Garcia, Isabella Orejel, Jazmin Castañeda and Ala Ruiz show a sampling of the more than 100 gifts their class rounded up for foster kids over the holidays in the class of Cornelio Garcia.

SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS—Mother Nature is lending a hand in the fight against the CZU August Lightning Complex fires in the Santa Cruz mountains. Cal Fire Operations Section Chief Mark Brunton said a much welcomed marine layer wandered into the Central Coast as the weekend got...

WATSONVILLE—On Nov. 28, Watsonville joined the annual nationwide shopping movement known as Small Business Saturday, which aims to encourage shoppers to support businesses in their community. The event had a number of small stores at the East Lake Village Shopping Center opening for special...

WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville woman who was out on bail for allegedly stabbing a woman in August was arrested again on Sunday after allegedly slashing a man’s face with a knife, Watsonville Police spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said. Dalilah Yasin, 41, was charged with assault with a deadly...

Comedian Bill Murray (second from left) stopped by Cowboy’s Corner Cafe in Watsonville for a meal on Tuesday.

WATSONVILLE—A group of students at MacQuiddy Elementary School got a special holiday treat last week.  Thanks to the efforts of instructor Amy McGee and others, 15 kids—all members of Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s Safe Spots program—were handed an armload of gifts Friday, including a...