News

WATSONVILLE—The sale of Watsonville Community Hospital to a nonprofit that would bring local leadership to the 127-year-old institution after two decades of corporate ownership is entering its final stretch, with roughly $6 million still needed to close the deal. In a meeting on Aug. 4,...

The Pajaronian was named the state’s best small weekly newspaper in its division Friday, earning top marks in the 2022 California Journalism Awards. The Watsonville newspaper placed first in the General Excellence category, beating out other publications of similar size throughout California. The award, handed out...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—After 12 years at the helm of Grey Bears, executive director Tim Brattan has announced that he will be retiring from his position by the end of 2022.  Grey Bears is a nonprofit aiming to improve the health and well-being of seniors and...

Soroptimist International of Watsonville presented four local women with Live Your Dream awards at their annual award dinner on March 18 at the California Grill in Watsonville.

If you’ve ever strolled through Pioneer Cemetery in Watsonville, you might have come across the final resting place of Charley Darkey Parkhurst, a stagecoach driver, farmer and rancher who has become a local legend since their death in 1879. Born Charlotte Darkey Parkhurst, Charley was...

“Big Trees,” an art exhibit assembled by the San Lorenzo Valley Museum, is now showing at the Santa Cruz County Building.

Work is moving forward on a project to restore native habitat and implement a series of water quality treatment projects to redesign the path of stormwater to Middle Struve Slough.   Workers are already several weeks into the job, which is located between Hope Park and...

A Santa Cruz woman was arrested twice in three days on suspicion of DUI in Soquel and Rio Del Mar.

MONTEREY—Two people aboard a twin-engine propellor airplane died Tuesday morning after the small aircraft slammed into a home in Monterey off of Highway 68. Eric Gutierrez, a safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, confirmed Wednesday that two people died when the Golden Eagle...

MONTEREY COUNTY—Voters in Monterey County Supervisor District 2 are leaning toward Glenn Church, with 58.8% of voters choosing him over opponent Regina Gage.  Church is a lifelong resident of North Monterey County who owns and manages Church Christmas Tree Farms. He is the founder of...