Councilman Estrada says he won’t seek reelection
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville City Councilman Francisco “Paco” Estrada during Thursday night’s special meeting announced that he will not seek reelection this fall.
Estrada, the representative for the 4th District, was elected into office in 2018 and served as mayor in his first year on the city council....
Judy Doering Nielsen, a former Mayor and prolific volunteer, dies
WATSONVILLE—Judy Doering Nielsen’s love for the Watsonville community led her to become thoroughly entrenched in its inner workings, from its history to its politics to its people.
She served as Watsonville Mayor and President of the Pajaro Valley Historical Association (PVHA), in addition to a...
County park will honor late Sheriff’s deputy
APTOS—Plans were announced Thursday of a major renovation of Willowbrook County Park to honor the late Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, who was gunned down in the line of duty in 2020.
The project of “reimagining” the park was announced in a brief...
PVUSD sets stage for WHS stadium improvements
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a contract for the design phase of a project that will eventually refurbish Watsonville High School’s aging sports facility.
The $240,000 contract with Campbell-based Sugimura Finney Architects—and the estimated $2 million for the...
County’s Main Jail reports Covid-19 surge
SANTA CRUZ—A total of 55 inmates and seven guards at Santa Cruz County Main Jail have tested positive for Covid-19, Sheriff’s spokeswoman Ashley Keehn announced Thursday.
None of the cases have resulted in serious illness or hospitalizations, and a majority are asymptomatic or are experiencing...
Anonymous donor gifts rescue horse to CASA Santa Cruz
AROMAS—In June of 2020, a horse named Rooster arrived at The BackStretch, a nonprofit ranch in Aromas that aims to provide a haven for abandoned, abused and neglected horses.
The 16-year-old Quarter Horse had finally found his “forever home” after years of being a workhorse,...
Proposed health care district gets financial boost, lawmakers’ help
WATSONVILLE—The Central California Alliance for Health has provided a $3 million grant to Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project (PVHDP) to help purchase Watsonville Community Hospital.
The grant is made available through the Alliance’s Medi-Cal Capacity Grant Program.
“Watsonville Community Hospital is a critical provider of needed...
PV Arts opens annual fundraising exhibit
WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Arts’ (PVA) gallery on Sudden Street came alive Wednesday as the organization’s 9th annual fundraising exhibit opened to the public.
“Take Aways: Art to Go!” features a variety of work by 73 artists, most of them locals from Watsonville and surrounding areas. Everything...
Second claim filed in Aptos High stabbing
WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Unified School District is facing a second lawsuit stemming from the stabbing death of a 17-year-old student on the campus of Aptos High School last August.
The student, referred to in the claim as G.S., died after being attacked by two students, one...
Barring agreement, County employees will strike on Jan. 25
SANTA CRUZ—Service Employees International Union Local 521, the union representing the majority of Santa Cruz County workers, has called for a strike after a majority of employees voted in favor of the action.
While saying that they are still willing to negotiate, union officials say...
Prevedelli Farms Approaches 80 Years
In October, as part of the annual Open Farm Tour, Prevedelli Farms invites the public to celebrate its eight decades of operation.
