News

Searching for joy in the ongoing pandemic calls for a certain focus amidst the cascade of negative numbers such as death tolls, cases and recoveries.  Such is the case for Watsonville artist Sefla Joseph, who has had to reinvent her studio art classes and take...

November 14, 2019 Tarmo Hannula: I stopped by Freedom Meat Lockers in Watsonville Wednesday and the place was abuzz with customers stacking up their Thanksgiving meal orders, among other things. Manager Will Panis said now is the time to get orders in as things are...

WATSONVILLE—Every year, Santa Cruz Toys for Tots – and the numerous volunteers that support it – make sure children across the county have a surprise on Christmas. Last year, the organization provided more than 11,000 toys, games, bikes and other gifts. On Tuesday, when a rainstorm...

WATSONVILLE—As many shelter-in-place restrictions remain in place due to Covid-19, state, county and city officials have looked for ways to allow businesses to open safely. This has included moving outdoors—onto sidewalks, into parking lots and even streets. Watsonville businesses have slowly been making the move,...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A man who police say stabbed his girlfriend to death at an apartment on Clifford Avenue in July was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail Thursday after being extradited from Arizona. Alberto Scalant, 33, is being held without bail. He has been charged...

WATSONVILLE—The special education program at Ohlone Elementary School is facing major changes next year after Pajaro Valley Unified School District shuffled teachers and services at the school. The school currently has three separate programs for its special ed students, the first of which is a...

Nov. 20, 2019 Tarmo Hannula: Someone called 9-1-1 Wednesday morning after they spotted a man prowling around their carport on Harper Street in Live Oak. An SC Sheriff deputy arrived within minutes and located a suspect at 3:40 a.m. When the deputy confronted the man...

WATSONVILLE—Planners have identified five sites throughout downtown Watsonville that, if renovated, they believe could become potential economic catalysts for the historic but currently sleepy business corridor. Those plans include the razing of the Old City Hall building and current Watsonville Police Department headquarters between Main...

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...

WATSONVILLE—A 72-unit affordable housing project on Miles Lane off Freedom Boulevard is moving forward. The Watsonville City Council at its Tuesday meeting unanimously approved the development, a joint project between MidPen Housing and Encompass Community Services that will reshape a 4.7-acre lot which has mostly...