Officials hope to expedite plans to repair Pajaro levee
PAJARO—Work crews have temporarily plugged a breach in the Pajaro River levee that allowed torrents of water to flood the tiny town of Pajaro and surrounding farmland on March 11, and officials in Monterey County are now banking on a law that allows the...
Store hands out 8,200 pounds of chicken to Second Harvest
WATSONVILLE—Second Harvest Food Bank’s efforts to aid Pajaro flood victims received a boost Wednesday when Staff of Life Natural Foods and Smart Chicken donated more than four tons of chicken.
With the Smart Giving Program, Staff of Life Natural Foods and Smart Chicken donated over...
FEMA aid available for Pajaro flood victims
PAJARO—President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for seven counties on Monday, freeing up federal money for hundreds of people whose lives were upended by the storms and flooding.
Storm and flood victims can now call the Federal Emergency Management Agency to file a claim...
PHOTO: Michoacán dance instructor visits Watsonville
Aldo Valenzuela Roman (standing, at right), a dance instructor from Michoacán, Mexico, leads members of the youth group, Estrellas De Esperanza, which is headed up by Ruby Vasquez. Roman was helping students learn traditional Mexican dances Thursday inside the Watsonville Center for the Arts....
PHOTO: Stabile named Paul Harris Fellow
Judy Stabile (third from right) was named a Paul Harris Fellow Tuesday evening by members of Freedom Rotary. Trina Coffman-Gomez, president of Freedom Rotary (second from right), said Stabile was singled out for her "extraordinary" contributions to the art community, especially with her role...
Art Happenings: Open Studios tour applications; grant opportunity
Artists invited to apply for Open Studios tour
Arts Council Santa Cruz County is inviting visual artists of all mediums to apply for the 2023 Open Studios Art Tour.
Every year more than 300 artists participate in this self-guided tour that runs over the first three...
Briefs: Youth Poet Laureate; ‘Live Your Dream’ awards
Library accepting nominations for Youth Poet Laureate
The Watsonville Public Library is accepting nominations for the new Watsonville Youth Poet Laureate.Â
The program’s primary goal is to recognize those under the age of 20 for their literary achievements with a commitment to and a passion for...
Nonprofit health providers celebrate 100th day in new facilities
Santa Cruz Community Health (SCCH) and Dientes Community Dental recently celebrated their 100th day of care at their new facilities on Capitola Road.
This duo joined forces to provide a comprehensive range of health services to low-income patients on a new 3.7-acre health and housing...
Watsonville man pleads no contest in 2021 fatal crash
A 48-year-old Watsonville man pleaded no contest Wednesday to charges he was intoxicated when he caused a crash in 2021 that killed another man, prosecutors said.
Israel Cruz pled no contest to one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and one count of driving...
County remembers people who died while homeless
The number of people who died while homeless this year saw a sizable decline from last year, when Santa Cruz County honored 121 people...
