PHOTOS: Strawberry Festival takes over downtown Watsonville
The annual Watsonville Strawberry Festival returned to its three-day format from Aug. 5-7.
City Council, D2: Councilman faces new ‘underdog’ candidate
Editor’s note: This is the fourth entry in a series of interviews with candidates running for office in the upcoming local elections. Interviewees will include candidates for the Watsonville City Council, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees, the Pajaro Valley Water Management...
Watsonville names Jorge Zamora new police chief
WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville police officer who began his career with the agency as a cadet three decades ago has become the department’s newest police chief.
Jorge Zamora was chosen after an extensive national search.
“Through the process, Jorge demonstrated his in-depth knowledge and understanding of our community...
County distributes more than $600k in CARES Act grants
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Public Health Division announced Thursday that it has awarded $619,900 in health equity grants to 20 organizations to help address disparities among populations impacted by Covid-19.
The funds come from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)...
Community Bridges trades pints for vaccines at Watsonville pop-up clinic
WATSONVILLE—According to Santa Cruz County’s Health Services Agency, as of June 22, more than 146,500 county residents (that is, about 53%) have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. And more than 172,000 residents (62%) have received at least one shot.
The numbers are promising. However, rates...
Thriving among the giants
APTOS—Sitting in the cab of a 25-ton Caterpillar excavator, Stephanie Siqueiros works the levers of the dinosaur-like beast to swivel the mechanical arm to reach across the pavement and attach a large scoop bucket. Nimbly, she attaches the bucket, its steel teeth facing skyward,...
Community outreach lead quits Watsonville policing committee citing ‘dismissive’ behavior
WATSONVILLE—The person tasked with creating a bridge between the community and the city of Watsonville’s Ad-Hoc Committee on Policing and Social Equity resigned earlier this month.
Joy Flynn, a community activist who sits on the boards of various organizations in Santa Cruz County, says she...
County’s younger residents avoiding vaccine
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County health officials’ prediction that residents would be frustrated over not being able to find a Covid-19 vaccine after the state expanded its eligibility to most Californians earlier this month has not come true.
Instead, the demand for the inoculation has...
Photo story: Proposition 50 on ballot, polls open for election day
A group of abut a dozen people wave their signs advocating for YES of Proposition 50 Monday on the Rio Del Mar over-crossing to...
