Nonprofits, community groups celebrate farmworkers as lawmakers call for more support
WATSONVILLE—After working a long shift picking strawberries and greens, dozens of farmworkers and their families received the royal treatment thanks to a new program from El Pájaro Community Development Corporation.
Called the Farmworker’s Family Dinner, the initiative treated 38 families—roughly 230 people—to meals from El...
Newsom says California fires have charred 771K acres
By Jake Pierce, Good Times News Editor
Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced that California’s firefighting crews are now trying to suppress 560 fires, most of them stemming from dry lightning strikes that first began Aug. 16.
Statewide, 771,000 acres—an area the size of Rhode Island—have burned...
Candidate calls for Councilwoman Parker to resign after probe into his profession
WATSONVILLE—A candidate for Watsonville City Council is calling for Councilwoman Ari Parker to resign for abuse of power after she challenged his standing as a teacher on his candidate statement, and asked City officials to scrub his designation. But Parker is saying that she...
Watsonville Police seize two unregistered guns; arrest three suspects
A routine traffic stop by Watsonville Police Tuesday led to three arrests after officers reportedly discovered two unregistered guns in the vehicle.
According to police, officers were patrolling in the area of Freedom Boulevard and Alta Vista Avenue on Tuesday when they pulled over Cierra...
Police: drunk woman smashed into police vehicle
Yesenia Pavez, 27, was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail. She was not in custody Wednesday morning, jail records showed.
Tushar Atre murder suspects delay arraignment
SANTA CRUZ—Defense attorneys came forward in the Superior Court of Paul Marigonda Tuesday to represent the four suspects in the Oct. 1 kidnapping and murder of tech executive and Pleasure Point resident Tushar Atre.
Stephen Lindsay, 22, Kaleb Charters, 19, Kurtis Charters, 22, and Joshua...
Good Times purchases Press Banner
SCOTTS VALLEY—Santa Cruz’s Good Times weekly has purchased the Press Banner from Tank Town Media just as the Santa Cruz Mountains newspaper prepares to celebrate its 60th year of publishing.
The Scotts Valley-based weekly, which, in addition to serving the city of 11,500, covers Boulder...
PVUSD Trustees approve retention bonuses, other incentives
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Aug. 24 approved a series of bonuses and supplemental payments aimed at retaining teachers and school employees.
Every teacher, school worker and administrator employed since April 1—and who plans to stay with the district through...
Firefighters get first ‘jump’ on CZU Complex fires
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS—Seven days into the battle against the CZU August Lightning Complex fires, Cal Fire officials announced Saturday morning that they were able to get their first “jump” on the growing blaze in the Santa Cruz mountains.
Although the fire overnight grew to 63,000...
Annual fundraising exhibit returns to Pajaro Valley Gallery
The Pajaro Valley Gallery will be celebrating the opening of “Take Aways: Art to Go!” this weekend, with an opening reception on Sunday from 2-4 p.m.
Driver pleads not guilty to killing bicyclist in Soquel crash
A Santa Cruz man pleaded not guilty Monday to felony vehicular manslaughter, impaired driving and suspended license charges for a recent fatal collision involving...
