Watsonville High campus gets touch-ups
WATSONVILLE—Work continues at the Watsonville High School campus to upgrade its appearance, bolster street safety and create new study spots for students.
The new features include a nearly 200-foot circumference shade structure installed three weeks ago between the gym and Geiser Field.
“It creates a space...
Second Harvest names Padilla-Chavez new CEO
WATSONVILLE—Second Harvest Food Bank has a new leader.
The organization on Thursday announced that Erica Padilla-Chavez will take the helm as CEO in July after Willy Elliot-McCrea retires, and as the organization celebrates its 50th anniversary.
In accepting the position, Padilla-Chavez will leave her post as...
Regional writing contest open to local students
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Students in Santa Cruz County are once again invited to submit entries into a regional writing contest headed by the Palo Alto Humane Society (PAHS).
The Ambassadors of Compassion Story Writing Contest is open to seventh and eighth graders in Santa Cruz, Santa...
Star students prepare for Ivy League trip
WATSONVILLE—Every year, the Watsonville Ivy League Project selects a handful of academically successful students for a weeklong trip to some of the nation’s top universities.
The trip is for some participants a first step away from their hometowns, but for all of them, it is...
Mother’s Day Run moves to Pinto Lake in return to in-person format
WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Shelter Services (PVSS) will hold the 38th Annual Mother’s Day Run & Walk on May 8, returning to an in-person event for the first time since 2019.
The popular community event has been held virtually the past two years due to Covid-19. But...
Photo: Truck flips in 3-vehicle crash
Emergency officials deal with a three-car crash on Elkhorn Road in Las Lomas Tuesday morning.
California Highway Patrol officer Chris Weaver said a female driver of a Mini Cooper was traveling south on Elkhorn Road. Around 8:45am a Ford pickup, with two men aboard,...
Lowell and Wendy Hurst receive Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award
WATSONVILLE—A husband and wife duo, who together spent more than six decades in education and several more years in public service and volunteerism, has been given this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture.
Lowell Hurst, who has served...
Leaders urge ‘yes’ vote on levee-funding assessment
WATSONVILLE—After years of wrangling by local, state and federal lawmakers—and of worries from residents of another catastrophic flood in South Santa Cruz County—the Pajaro River levee has enough money for a long-awaited upgrade that could offer a century’s worth of protection.
But while the construction...
PVPSA CEO Padilla-Chavez named Woman of the Year by Robert Rivas
WATSONVILLE—Assemblymember Robert Rivas has named Erica Padilla-Chavez, the CEO of Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, as Woman of the Year for Assembly District 30.
The March 30 announcement came as part of an annual Women’s History Month observance by the Legislative Women’s Caucus.
“Erica has...
Watsonville City Councilwoman warns: beware of scam
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville City Councilwoman Rebecca Garcia has a warning for her fellow South County residents: beware of scammers posing as PG&E employees.
Garcia says she fell victim to a scam and was cheated out of nearly $300.
She recently received a call with a recorded message telling...
Affordable housing project back on track
Construction is set to resume on Haven Plaza, a 35-unit permanent supportive housing community at 2838 Park Ave. in Soquel after developers secured critical...
