Watsonville Library adds pop-up van
The converted 2019 Ford Transit Connect will be retrofitted with shelving to hold and display a variety of books, movies and music. It will also be equipped with internet access and a laptop so staff can register customers to help them check out materials and search the library’s catalog.
Watsonville Strawberry Festival returns this weekend
The Watsonville Strawberry Festival will return Sunday to downtown, bringing with it a full day of strawberry delicacies, live entertainment, artisan vendors and more.
Like most events in 2020, South County’s premier festival was canceled in response to the pandemic. And for a while, the...
Briefs: County Fair seeks theme; Elks Lodge celebrates St. Patrick’s Day
County Fair seeks theme
The Santa Cruz County Fair announced the return of the annual fair theme contest.
The fair invites the community to submit theme ideas that would reflect the spirit of the County Fair in a few words. The theme should reflect the spirit...
Drinking in the shopping season
As holiday shopping season ramps up, the employees at Elyxir Distributing have the solution for the beer lovers in the family.
Man arrested for allegedly shooting, killing reported ‘friend’
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville police arrested a 19-year-old man for allegedly shooting and killing a man who officers say was his “friend” on Jan. 7.
Ricardo Garcia was taken into custody on the 1400 block of Freedom Boulevard on Feb. 12. Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said...
Santa Cruz County Fair runs through weekend
WATSONVILLE—When the Santa Cruz County Fair opened Wednesday, Watsonville resident Manuel Monroy was one of the first ones through the gate, his 3-year-old son Leo at his side for the boy’s first fair experience.
On their agenda was the popular All Alaskan Pig Races, a...
Rain hammers Central Coast
Pounding rain, mixed with lightning and a few blasts of thunder, drifted over the Central Coast Thursday.
Lawsuit from Aptos High stabbing likely moving forward
APTOS—A lawsuit against Pajaro Valley Unified School District by the family of a 17-year-old Aptos High School student who was stabbed to death in August is proceeding, and will likely be filed in the coming weeks.
Charles “Tony” Piccuta, the attorney representing the family, declined...
PVUSD teachers, staff stage layoff protest
After 30 people demanded that the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees rescind a Dec. 11 decision to lay off 80 teachers and 78 school employees during their Wednesday night meeting, nearly 200 people who had packed the Watsonville City Council chambers...
Man arrested for damaging numerous vehicles, building
Three law enforcement agencies responded to the west side of Watsonville early Monday afternoon after a man allegedly pelted passing cars with sticks and rocks, and smashed the windows of four vehicles and a building.
Martin Cruz Chavez, 33, was taken to Santa Cruz County...
Walgreen to pay $6 million in price scanner and expired products...
Walgreens has agreed to pay $6 million to settle allegations it overcharged customers and sold expired products in California, including violations identified in Santa...




















