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Watsonville
November 28, 2025

Massive memorial honors fallen Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputy

damon gutzwiller
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Hundreds gathered Wednesday for Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller’s memorial at Cabrillo College under brilliant sunny skies. Gutzwiller, a former Cabrillo student and Aptos resident, was gunned down while on duty June 6 in Ben Lomond. The event began at 7:45am with...

Boardwalk to reopen on a limited basis

santa cruz boardwalk reopens
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk will become the first amusement park in California to reopen after Covid-19 restrictions shuttered them statewide earlier this year, Boardwalk spokesman Kris Reyes said. Rides such as the famous Giant Dipper, which have sat dormant for months, will once...

Large donation brings aboard new K-9

Watsonville Police Sgt. Henry Robles is shown with Lynn Oliver-Gonzalez, vice chair of the Watsonville Police Assistance Fund, Tony and Becky Campos, and Officer Javier Ayala with his K-9, Axel, Tuesday at the Watsonville Police Department.

Climate change survey results to be unveiled

The results of a two-month survey designed to gain insight on how climate change is affecting local residents will be unveiled during an event on Thursday.

New health office boosts county homeless mission

Santa Cruz County Housing for Health
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Thanks to $10 million in federal and state grants, Santa Cruz County has launched a new Housing for Health office, County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios announced at a press conference Nov. 19. Robert Ratner, who brings in 14 years of experience from Alameda...

Kitayama Brothers adapts as flower market continues to shift

This year Kitayama Brothers, a cut flower grower based in Watsonville, is celebrating its 73rd year in business.  Not long after World War II, brothers Tom and Ray Kitayama landed in San Francisco’s east bay and began working for Yoshimi Shibata and Dan Shinoda, two...

Criminal Justice Council report shows law agencies aligned

Santa Cruz county budget cuts
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—All of the county’s four city police agencies—and the Sheriff’s Office—have similar policies when it comes to use of force and releasing of information to the public, according to a report released in November by the Criminal Justice Council of Santa Cruz...

City to form Senior Action Committee

WATSONVILLE—The City of Watsonville is searching for residents 50 years of age or older to serve on its new Senior Action Committee (SAC). Members of this volunteer committee will advise the city and other local jurisdictions by representing the perspectives, concerns and needs of Watsonville’s...

Strong storm douses Watsonville | About Town

Tarmo Hannula: Heavy rain, laced with hail and strong gusts, whipped through the Pajaro Valley before noon Thursday. A friend called me to say he was in the middle of a heavy snow shower on Highway 17 near the summit. Thunderstorm activity could come...

Boy injured in Hwy 1 rollover

A 5-year-old boy was seriously injured Tuesday morning.
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Man arrested for agriculture-related crimes

A Prunedale man was arrested Nov. 26 on suspicion of a lengthy list of agriculture-related crimes including theft of a tractor. On Oct. 22, deputies...