Strike averted as County, employees reach agreement
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The union that represents some 1,600 County of Santa Cruz employees has averted a strike after hammering out a tentative agreement during all-day negotiations Monday.
The agreement between Service Employees International Union Local 521 and the County came just before demonstrations that were...
Photo: Home burglary interrupted
Santa Cruz County Sheriff's deputies search an area on the 500 block of Wheelock Road Tuesday in search of two suspects who tried to break into a home.
The Sheriff's Office said that a man was interrupted trying to burglarize the home on Green...
Housing identified as key for new vision of Watsonville’s downtown
WATSONVILLE—As the three dozen or so people attending a Feb. 10 virtual meeting about the future of Watsonville’s downtown gave their final comments, one speaker’s remarks invoked some smiles and produced nodding heads from the rows of attendees displayed in their windows.
“We’re talking to...
PV Quilt Show returns to fairgrounds Feb. 26-27
WATSONVILLE—Twice a month, a group of local quilt makers gathers inside the Codiga Center & Museum at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds to create quilts for the community.
The Apple Piecers, as they call themselves, are a nonprofit that makes up to 200 quilts per...
Soquel man dies in solo-vehicle crash
APTOS—A Soquel man died in a solo-vehicle crash early Saturday morning, California Highway Patrol officer Alyssa Gutierrez said.
Just before 1am Carlos Deleon, 42, was traveling west on Soquel Drive in a 2005 Pontiac G6. For unknown reasons, Deleon lost control and smashed into a...
Local author pens debut history novel
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Author Buzz Anderson always dreamed of writing the great American novel.
Born in San Jose and then moving with his family to Capitola, Anderson has remained in Santa Cruz County for most of his life, attending local public schools, Cabrillo College and UC...
PVUSD Trustees ‘strongly recommend’ masks stay on in class
WATSONVILLE—Beginning Monday, Pajaro Valley Unified School District will drop its requirement that students wear a mask while indoors.
The PVUSD Board of Trustees approved a resolution Wednesday to “strongly recommend” that everyone still mask up inside while school is in session. The resolution further states...
Two more teens arrested in recent Watsonville double stabbing
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police Department officers on Saturday arrested two teens who they believe took part in a stabbing on March 15.
The arrests mark the third and fourth in the case. Two other teens were taken into custody on Thursday.
No additional information has been released about...
PVHS teachers make push for 7-period day
WATSONVILLE—During the summer, Pajaro Valley Unified School District officials plan to meet at the bargaining table with the district’s teachers union in hopes of hammering out an agreement that would create a 7-period day at Pajaro Valley High School.
A majority of teachers at the...
Voting underway for Pajaro River levee assessment
WATSONVILLE—Ballots have now been mailed out to roughly 3,000 people who own property in the Pajaro River floodplain, and the fate of a $400 million levee restoration project is in their hands.
They must decide whether they support a property tax assessment that will pay...
Proposition 50 starts strong, with 64% of the statewide vote
Early results Tuesday night showed Proposition 50 ahead by a slight margin, with just over 64% of Californians voting yes, and 77.8% of Santa...


















