Two charged for infant’s death at unlicensed daycare center
Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies on Saturday arrested two women who were allegedly running an unlicensed daycare center after a 3-month-old infant died in their care.
Maria Marquez, 62, and her daughter, Johanna Marquez, 35, both of Royal Oaks, were charged with involuntary manslaughter, felony child...
State of play: County, PVUSD lending aid to solve city’s parks shortfall
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Parks and Community Services Director Nick Calubaquib says since he was hired in 2018 that he has seen county officials make a stronger effort to reinvest in South County’s parks. That same year, the County of Santa Cruz finalized its parks strategic plan,...
St. John’s Helpful Shop finds a new home
St. John’s Helpful Shop found a new home this month at 246A Center Ave., just around the corner from the Episcopal Church in Aptos.
‘Good clean living’: Watsonville woman celebrates 101st birthday
WATSONVILLE—Gerry Kall on Friday celebrated her 101st birthday in Watsonville, the town she was born in.
Thanks to a gathering of relatives, friends, Katie Nuñez, Watsonville Senior Center’s older adult services supervisor, and a handful of folks who cheered out the window of the cars...
Watsonville Yoga offers something for everyone
When Phoenix Artemisia decided to open a yoga studio in Watsonville in 2016, no other location around the city grabbed her attention more than downtown.
That was despite some pushback from friends, who had concerns about her safety and that of her clients.
Artemisia, ever the...
Kaiser grants $150K to help homeless families
Kaiser Permanente has granted $150,000 to the Watsonville-based Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, Inc. (CAB) to provide housing resources to 75-100 homeless or “housing-insecure” families in South County, according to a press release.
Police warn of ‘bank jugging’ robberies
The Watsonville Police Department is warning everyone about a new crime that is on the rise across the nation, and has now occurred in Watsonville.
“Bank jugging” involves thieves waiting in bank parking lots or near ATMs to target people carrying cash.
They then follow the...
Suspect nabbed for alleged drug sales
SANTA CRUZ—A Santa Cruz man was arrested Aug. 21 on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance for sale at a home on the 500 block of Park Way.
George Rivera, commander of the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team, said Elijah Phoenix Francis, 21, was...
Lofgren visits Salinas Valley, receives nod from Panetta, Rivas
SALINAS—As the decennial redistricting process wrapped up last month, the concern from The World’s Salad Bowl started to mount. Local politicians, regional business giants and other community leaders asked how a plan to pair the international agricultural hub with the Silicon Valley could stand.
Now,...
Queer Youth Leadership Awards approaching
The Queer Youth Leadership Awards (QYLA) has, in the decades since its inception, honored young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people (LGBTQ+) whose...




















