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Edgar Camacho-Esteves and Andrea Torres-Reyes are two of 54 students who graduated this year from Ceiba College Preparatory Academy. Both came to the school in the sixth grade. Camacho-Esteves, whose siblings also attended the school, says he chose the school after careful consideration with his...

Watsonville Police rounded up nearly 1,000 pounds of illegal fireworks after they uncovered a group of people—including a teenager—suspected of selling dangerous fireworks in Watsonville and across Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties.  Watsonville Police spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said an investigation led them to...

An 84-year-old Bay Village resident was injured Tuesday morning after he was struck by a man on an electric bike on the Salsipudes Creek levee. Michelle Pulido of Watsonville Police said the victim was struck on a wide pedestrian path around 10:45am. The suspect...

JAPANESE CULTURE A group performs a traditional dance from Okinawa Saturday at the annual Japanese Cultural Fair at Mission Plaza Park in Santa Cruz Saturday.  Since its founding in 1986, the fair has opened a window for the community to deepen their awareness and understanding...

If cuts to food assistance programs proposed under President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” are approved by the U.S. Senate, it would cripple the food distribution system that local organizations have spent decades building, and upon which thousands Santa Cruz County residents rely. That was...

Five hundred and twenty-two graduates of Watsonville High School filed across the stage at Geiser Field on the afternoon of June 6, putting to end the school year of 2024-25. Prior to the ceremony — his second such year as principal — Joe Gergorio said,...

Jaquelyn Mora was missing credits and at risk of not graduating from Pajaro Valley High School when she learned about Renaissance High. “I was smart, but I never felt the need to do the work,” she said.  She would also frequently skip class, she said. “I...

From the 2025 graduating senior class of Pajaro Valley High School in Watsonville, four students shared their high school experiences and plans for after graduation.  Valedictorian Rosario Lopez-Garcia, 17, graduated with a GPA of 4.37.  She plans to attend Stanford University in the fall, where she...

Twenty four seniors hit the stage to claim their diplomas June 5 at the Mello Center in an upbeat commencement ceremony for New School Community Day School. Last year marked the 30th anniversary of New School Community Day School.  Gang Intervention Specialist Albino Garcia and then...

Cabrillo College saw 1,599 graduates receiving degrees and certificates on May 30. This year’s ceremony included the first graduating class Cabrillo’s Apprenticeship Program. Of the 27 apprentices enrolled in the program, 11 graduated this year.  Two of those students are computer information systems students, and the remaining...