Photo: Local church installs series of icons
Rev. John Juno Song, pastor at the Watsonville First United Methodist Church, shows off one of ten new "icons" recently installed in the church's sanctuary. Icons are traditionally Eastern Orthodox works of art placed into churches through a dedication ceremony. Song said he has...
Watsonville Hospital begins operations under new owner
WATSONVILLE—Thursday marked the end of an era—and the beginning of a new one—as Watsonville Community Hospital officially became a public entity, to be controlled by a local board of elected representatives.
The purchase followed a months-long fundraising campaign—the largest in Santa Cruz County history—that netted...
PVUSD Trustees approve retention bonuses, other incentives
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Aug. 24 approved a series of bonuses and supplemental payments aimed at retaining teachers and school employees.
Every teacher, school worker and administrator employed since April 1—and who plans to stay with the district through...
Watsonville sales tax measure campaign kicks off
WATSONVILLE—Around 70 people gathered at Jalisco Restaurant on Wednesday to kick off the campaign for the proposed half-cent sales tax measure that will go before voters in the Nov. 8 midterm election.
Measure R—placed on the ballot by Watsonville City Council in June—would raise the...
Local students participate in American Legion civics program
WATSONVILLE—Three students from Watsonville recently took part in a weeklong summer program in Sacramento that teaches young people to be part of their local and state governments.
The program—called Boys State—is sponsored by the American Legion. The event includes such activities as mock legislative sessions...
Watsonville Hospital sale is official
WATSONVILLE—After months of fundraising during which organizers scraped together more than $65 million, Watsonville Community Hospital will become a now publicly owned entity as of midnight on Sept. 1.
The Pajaro Valley Health Care District (PVHD) signed the paperwork on Wednesday, making the sale official.
State...
Caltrans proposes ‘bold’ $25M reimagining of Watsonville’s Main Street
WATSONVILLE—The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the City of Watsonville are on the cusp of beginning a 10-year endeavor that will completely reshape the city’s major arterial road.
Caltrans has committed to a $25 million renovation of its roughly seven-mile thoroughfare of Highway 152...
Public meeting for Sheriff’s Office Auditor set for Aug. 30
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The County of Santa Cruz will hold a public meeting to collect input on establishing an Independent Sheriff’s Auditor (ISA), a position the County says will provide oversight into the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.
The meeting will take place Tuesday, Aug. 30,...
Carrillo sentenced to life in prison without parole
SANTA CRUZ—The man who slaughtered Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller during a violent crime spree two years ago was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Steven Carrillo, 34, also received prison time for attempting to kill four other...
PV Arts opens new exhibit, celebrates Porter Building sale
Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA) has had a busy week. Not only have they opened a new exhibit at their gallery on Sudden Street, they also held their first event at the Porter Building, which the organization took ownership of Aug. 1.
When the City of...
New leadership, shared priorities: Investing in the future of public safety
As we begin a new year, I want to reflect on the direction of public safety in Watsonville and the leadership helping guide that...
