Health officials urge Covid-19 precautions
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Health officers from 12 counties on Friday doubled down on their recommendations that everyone exercise Covid-19 safety precautions, including wearing a mask indoors and staying up to date on vaccinations.
The announcement comes as cases of highly contagious Omicron sub-variants and hospitalizations continue...
Watsonville events, camps and more to return this summer
WATSONVILLE—After two summers of canceled, postponed and altered activities, the City of Watsonville will be bringing back its seasonal offerings in full force this year.
From annual events such as the Watsonville Strawberry Festival and the Spirit of Watsonville Fourth of July Parade, to new...
Mariachi Women’s Foundation to host concert in Watsonville
Dr. Leonor Xóchitl Pérez was 12 years old when she first played mariachi.
It was 1973, and her school in Southern California had just created the first school-based mariachi program in the state’s history.
The music stuck with Perez. When she was 18, she was accepted...
City Council solidifies new development fee for public art
The Watsonville City Council at its Tuesday night meeting solidified its decision to implement a new fee on development projects that would fund the arts in Watsonville.
Soon, developers seeking to create commercial and residential projects will have to pay 0.75% of their project’s valuation,...
Council opposes Measure D
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday night approved a resolution in opposition to Measure D, the divisive June 7 ballot measure that, if approved, would remove language from Santa Cruz County’s guiding planning document that relates to rail services, both freight and passenger.
Watsonville Mayor...
Digital NEST to expand into Stockton
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville-based nonprofit Digital NEST announced it will open a new location in Stockton next year.
The expansion into the Central Valley kicks off plans to scale up to a total of nine communities in Northern California by the end of 2026. The Stockton hub is...
Police seeking driver in fatal hit-and-run
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police are looking for a driver that struck a pedestrian May 5 and then fled on the 1900 block of Main Street.
Ashley Keehn of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Victor Gonzalez Jr., 24, of Watsonville. He was taken...
Early voting for June 7 election begins May 9
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Voters throughout Santa Cruz County have begun receiving their ballots for the June 7 election, which they will use to select a Governor, as well as a congressional representative and state senate and assembly member.
The ballots are marked with a large blue...
Adult Ed classes offer birding tours, education
WATSONVILLE—Though the Monterey Bay Birding Festival lost its wings last year and disbanded, birding enthusiasts—from amateurs to advanced—can still get expert advice thanks to birding classes offered at Watsonville/Aptos/Santa Cruz Adult Education.
Headed up by Nanci Adams, the two-hour classes take up to 22 students...
Local fire officials urge residents prep for fire season
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Forecasters are predicting a cooling trend and possible rain for the weekend, with possible snow in the mountains, bringing a small measure of much-needed moisture to an already parched Central Coast.
But that weather will not last long, says Rick Canepa, a meteorologist...
Letters to the editor Oct. 17–23
Organophosphates Endanger Our Children’s Future
25 years ago, when Dr. Brenda Eskenazi and her UC Berkeley team at the School of Public Health began taking...
