‘Dire’ deadline approaching for hospital purchase
WATSONVILLE—The organization formed earlier this year to operate and oversee Watsonville Community Hospital is nearing its July 1 deadline to raise enough to make the purchase, but is still $16 million short.
If Pajaro Valley Healthcare District (PVHD) is unable to raise the funds, it...
San Jose man arrested in connection to fatal shooting in Santa Cruz Mountains
SAN JOSE—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies on Thursday arrested a San Jose man suspected of a fatal shooting that occurred on June 14.
Albaro Amaral, 30, was charged with murder and attempted murder. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Main Jail in lieu of...
Tandy Beal & Company pays tribute to musical director Jon Scoville
APTOS—Jon Scoville has always been eager to open his mind to new music.
Growing up as a minister’s son in Connecticut, Scoville learned the craft by singing in church choirs and around his family’s home piano. But in secret he was also listening to genres...
Farm Bureau receives awards
The Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau (SCCFB) was honored with five County Activities of Excellence Awards, and was a finalist in the statewide Innovator Awards at the California Farm Bureau’s 104th meeting in early December.
A local delegation of five attended the annual meeting in...
Thousands attend Strawberry Festival
A collection of images from the Watsonville Strawberry Festival from Aug. 2-4.
Orchard offers u-pick roses, outdoor fun
There is now a new way to assemble your own bouquet of roses, thanks to a pick-your-own rose venue at Birdsong Orchards in Watsonville.
Owner Nadine Schaeffer said she is growing dozens of varieties of roses on her 8-acre parcel where she also tends to...
Community briefs, Aug. 31: Workshop helps parents deal with homework time
Community briefs, Aug. 31, 2017
City receives grant for downtown plan | Consent Agenda
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville’s Downtown Specific Plan can officially move ahead.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) endowed the City of Watsonville with a $500,625 Sustainable Communities Planning Grant that will fund the majority of the project’s planning efforts over the next year and change.
The City Council accepted...
Motorcyclist injured in crash; purse thief targets victim
WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville man suffered major injuries Friday morning after his motorcycle struck a vehicle while traveling on Highway 1. In the aftermath of the crash, a woman stole a purse from one of the vehicles involved in the crash, California Highway Patrol Officer Sam...
Federal investigation into fatal plane collision underway
WATSONVILLE—The National Transportation Safety Board has begun its investigation into a Thursday mid-air collision between two airplanes above Watsonville Municipal Airport that killed three people and one dog.
NTSB Airsafety Investigator Fabian Salazar said during a Friday afternoon press conference that the probe into the...
Aptos wins first-ever CCS championship in school history | Boys soccer
The Aptos High boys’ soccer team went on an unprecedented postseason run during the 2025-26 winter season.
It began with bringing home the program’s first-ever...






















