Si Se Puede opens new 30-bed facility
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday in Watsonville, Encompass Community Services celebrated the opening of a new Si Se Puede behavioral health campus on Miles Lane, an $18 million investment aimed at expanding addiction treatment and recovery services in South Santa Cruz County.
The project includes...
Elected leader, organizations join statement backing immigrant communities ahead of World Cup
Two Santa Cruz County supervisors and several local community organizations have joined a regional coalition of elected officials and advocates reaffirming support for immigrant communities as the Bay Area prepares to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The joint statement, released Monday, was...
Watsonville to host public safety town halls
Watsonville residents will have two opportunities this month to help shape the future of public safety services in the city.
The Watsonville Police and Fire departments are hosting community town hall meetings to gather public input on priorities for emergency response, public safety services and...
Pajaro Middle School teachers pass no-confidence vote against principal
On May 8, the staff of Pajaro Middle School formally declared a vote of no confidence in Principal Nicole Killian in a letter to Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) Superintendent Heather Contreras.
According to the letter, the decision was reached following an affirmative majority...
Santa Cruz County to support lawsuit over planned ICE facility near Gilroy
Santa Cruz County plans to support a lawsuit challenging a proposed federal immigration enforcement facility near Gilroy by joining an amicus curiae brief alongside Santa Clara County and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, county officials announced Thursday.
The lawsuit seeks judicial review of a facility...
Watsonville Fire Department Battalion Chief moves on
Watsonville Fire Battalion Chief Almita Schaefer hung up her helmet June 4 on her final day as a firefighter with Watsonville Fire Department.
The Watsonville native has spent her adult life helping others, a reflection of how her family brought her up.
After attending the now...
Country’s 250th birthday coming, 4th of July events slated
The City of Watsonville invites the public to celebrate America's 250th anniversary with a full day of community activities, and events.
The day begins July 4 with the Spirit of Watsonville Parade at 12:30pm that runs along Main Street from Patrick's Church, 721 Main St.,...
Meat markets grapple with price hikes
As summer edges in, the folks at Corralitos Market & Sausage Co. and Freedom Meat Lockers are dealing with rising meat prices as the industry and customers across the nation adjust to higher costs, soaring gas prices and more.
“I feel like the prices have...
Showing Pride in Santa Cruz
Thousands of people lined Pacific Avenue late Sunday morning, many dressed in rainbow colors and waving flags, as they watched the annual Pride Parade.
Santa Cruz Pride is the largest LGBTQ+ event on the Central Coast and the third-oldest annual Pride festival in California.
Marching in...
Quilt show honors Gazan children
“Threads of Grief, Threads of Love” is the current show at Resource Center for Nonviolence made up of 36 handmade quilts that honor 722 infants killed in Gaza before their first birthday.
A community gathering was held May 29 to kick off the exhibit, spearheaded...
Photo story: Anti-fascism march
Members of Indivisible Pajaro Valley stage their Signs of Fascism protest on Main Street in Watsonville on June 16. The one-hour event drew over...





















