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Watsonville
October 19, 2025

Capturing a wild moment

A bobcat was caught on camera in broad daylight on the Green Valley Road property of Joan and Bob Culbertson of Watsonville. They said the photo, taken with their newest motion-sensor camera, was the best one of a bobcat they’ve ever captured.

Transportation commission approves corridor study

While likely still years in the future, passenger rail service in Santa Cruz County moved a step closer to reality Thursday when the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission unanimously approved the Unified Corridor Investment Study (UCIS), an in-depth look at local transportation infrastructure and ways in which to bolster it.

Staff of Life closes for cleaning after employee contracts Covid-19

Staff of Life Covid-19
SANTA CRUZ—Staff of Life, a popular natural foods market in Santa Cruz for more than 50 years, announced Monday that an employee tested positive for Covid-19. “We have made the decision to temporarily close after learning a member of our staff has been diagnosed with...

County Fair begins search for 2022 theme

santa cruz county fair
WATSONVILLE—The Santa Cruz County Fair is on the search for a theme for the 2022 edition of the Fair. Manager Dave Kegebein recently announced the return of the annual contest. Kegebein said anyone can submit theme ideas that should reflect the spirit of the County...

Consent agenda: City sells lot to Ow family

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday sold the Resetar Parking Lot in downtown to the Ow family for $542,850. The 40-space lot at 535 Main St., also known as Parking Lot No. 4, is used daily by multiple businesses in downtown, including county-wide nonprofit Community...

New Leaf shutters Aptos branch after COVID-19 cluster emerges

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—New Leaf Community Market has closed its Aptos location after seven employees tested positive for COVID-19. The company made the announcement on its website  on Tuesday, saying the store will stay closed “until further notice.”  The announcement came four days after the store closed...

Program installs solar panels for free

Barbara Crum is one of two homeowners in the Watsonville area who have taken advantage of Grid Alternatives' Energy For All program.

EVs for Everyone connects drivers to electric vehicles

EVs for Everyone santa cruz county
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A new program aims to make electric vehicles accessible to drivers without breaking the bank. Tyler Port-Gaarn works as a teacher in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. He doesn’t drive far for work, but an electric vehicle always seemed too expensive and...

Watsonville’s longtime city clerk retires

Beatriz Vasquez Flores
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville leaders past and present showered longtime Watsonville City Clerk Beatriz Vasquez Flores with praise at Tuesday night’s Watsonville City Council meeting, honoring the outgoing official for her 42 years of service to the municipality. Along with kind words from active city council members and...

Watsonville cements sister city status with Portuguese city

watsonville city council ari parker vaso cordeiro azores sister city velas
WATSONVILLE—The City of Watsonville solidified its Sister City affiliation with Velas, a historic port town on the western coast of São Jorge Island in Portugal, at its Tuesday night City Council meeting. Watsonville Mayor Ari Parker and Vasco Cordeiro, the President of the European Committee...
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Thousands attend No Kings rallies

Thousands of people crowded into Watsonville Plaza and surrounding streets Saturday as part of the nationwide No Kings protest against President Trump, his administration...