Photo: Local church installs series of icons
Rev. John Juno Song, pastor at the Watsonville First United Methodist Church, shows off one of ten new "icons" recently installed in the church's sanctuary. Icons are traditionally Eastern Orthodox works of art placed into churches through a dedication ceremony. Song said he has...
Murder arrest at Seabright Beach
A Santa Cruz man was arrested Feb. 23 on suspicion of killing a woman on Seabright State Beach.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office identified the victim as Zainab Mansoor, 21, of San Ramon who was a student at UC Santa Cruz.
The Santa Cruz Police...
PV trustees end drug-sniffing dog program
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday ended its policy of bringing drug-sniffing dogs into classrooms, a decision sparked when several people spoke against the practice during the twice-monthly meeting.
Fire at Circle Church possibly arson
Santa Cruz Fire Department investigators believe that a fire that broke out Tuesday inside the former Garfield Park Church was deliberately set, the department announced on Facebook.
According to SCFD, firefighters responded to multiple calls of smoke and flames seen at the now-closed church—also known...
New mural adorns County’s new Behavioral Health facility
WATSONVILLE—A new mural against an exterior wall of the new Adult and Children’s Behavioral Health facility in the County complex on Freedom Boulevard is nearing completion.
Watsonville artist Bruce Harman said he started the massive work at the end of August and has squeezed in...
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...
Photo story: Buddhist temple holds Hiroshima/Nagasaki memorial
Robb Mayeda rings the Peace Bell at the Watsonville Buddhist Temple on Wednesday during a Hiroshima/Nagasaki Memorial ceremony.
The gathering pays respect to those that perished in the U.S. atomic bomb attacks on the two Japanese cities Aug. 6 during World War II 80 years...
Hampton Inn set to open in March
WATSONVILLE — The new Hampton Inn & Suites on Lee Road is slated for an early March opening.
Owner Juggy Tut said he is excited about the doors finally swinging open at the 112-room, four-story inn that has largely been constructed during the pandemic.
“We’re looking...
Voting rights a key issue in state props
Editor’s note: This is the second entry in a series that will break down the California Propositions going to voters in the Nov. 3 election. To read the first entry see click here.
California voters will make a decision on 12 propositions in the upcoming...
Women’s March returns to Santa Cruz
Tens of thousands of people descended upon downtown Santa Cruz Saturday morning to march for the rights of women.
Queer Youth Leadership Awards approaching
The Queer Youth Leadership Awards (QYLA) has, in the decades since its inception, honored young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people (LGBTQ+) whose...
