California Pajarosa navigates a changing industry
Business at California Pajarosa Floral, one of Watsonville’s last remaining large flower growers, has altered drastically since the outbreak of Covid-19 last year.
Already dealing with an evolving industry before the pandemic due to growth in offshore production, things came to a sudden halt at...
‘It’s a shame’: Thousands of dollars worth of fireworks stolen from youth sports team
WATSONVILLE—Thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of so-called “safe-and-sane” fireworks that a youth football program intended to sell as a Fourth of July fundraiser, Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said.
The Watsonville Jr. Wildcatz had roughly $7,000 worth of fireworks stolen from a storage...
Watsonville farm, biotech company receives major grant from USDA
Since 2009, Blume Industries (BI) and Whiskey Hill Farms (WHF) have jointly operated a research and development incubator in Watsonville, aiming to find regenerative solutions for food, fuel and waste management.
And now they will have the opportunity to expand their reach, sharing what they...
County health officer reissues indoor face covering mandate
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—With the increase of Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations due to the highly contagious Delta variant, the Santa Cruz County Health Officer is issuing a Health Order, effective Aug. 20 at 11:59pm, requiring all individuals to wear a face covering when in indoor...
West Marine sold to equity fund
A New York-based equity fund will acquire West Marine, the company announced recently.
Beloved PV High Bike Tech instructor told he won’t return next school year
WATSONVILLE—For more than a decade, students at Pajaro Valley High School have had the option of an elective class that teaches them to assemble and maintain bicycles.
The class was launched by Project Bike Tech, a program that started in Santa Cruz at The Bike...
Good Times purchases Press Banner
SCOTTS VALLEY—Santa Cruz’s Good Times weekly has purchased the Press Banner from Tank Town Media just as the Santa Cruz Mountains newspaper prepares to celebrate its 60th year of publishing.
The Scotts Valley-based weekly, which, in addition to serving the city of 11,500, covers Boulder...
2 cars hit by gunfire
Two vehicles were struck by gunfire Saturday morning while traveling on Highway 101.
Watsonville’s first comic-con event set for Sunday
WATSONVILLE—Starting an event centered around comics, art, fantasy and the collectibles that those realms inspire was something Francisco “Paco” Estrada had first dreamed up when he was elected into the Watsonville City Council in 2018.
The idea was, Estrada says, to give kids—and adults—a safe...
Watsonville man arrested with loaded gun, drugs
WATSONVILLE—A 19-year-old Watsonville man, armed with a loaded handgun, was arrested Wednesday following a brief but dramatic foot chase.
The incident unfolded on Dawson Street near Marchant Street and the Pajaro River Levee around 1:30pm, Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said.
Gabriel Villanueva was...
Watsonville nurses rally against ICU closure
Several dozen Watsonville Community Hospital nurses and staff warned Wednesday that closing the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit—an idea they said officials have floated amid...
