News

WATSONVILLE—A plan to improve traffic and pedestrian safety at a notoriously busy intersection on the outskirts of Watsonville took a step forward Wednesday.  The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to allow the California Department of Transportation to use a small...

PAJARO VALLEY—Long-standing realtor Renee Mello was recently named Realtor of the Year for 2021 by the Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors. A broker associate with Keller Williams, Mello, a third-generation Watsonville native, said she was stunned and “truly honored” to have been picked out...

The Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team (SCCACT) over the last few days arrested five men who they say are affiliated with gangs, seizing nearly a half-dozen weapons as well as several drugs the arrestees were planning to sell. The most recent arrest occurred following a...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council unanimously approved the use of roughly $2.5 million to offset increased budgetary demands in various departments and special funds, some of which city staff says are fueled by surging inflation on everyday goods. The largest budget allocation approved by the elected...

Pierre Riche’s artistic journey has been anything but dull. Born in New York City in 1966, Riche has lived in nine different U.S. states, moving more than 14 times and exploring various pathways.  He studied at the School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago, lived in...

WATSONVILLE—Ella’s at the Airport will indeed change hands after the City of Watsonville and owner/operator Ella King came to an agreement on a five-year lease that is set to be transferred to new owner/operator Chielo Apac. The Watsonville City Council approved the lease and transfer...

WATSONVILLE—A federal judge on Wednesday approved the sale of Watsonville Community Hospital to the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District (PVHD), ending the chapter of a story in which the facility was at imminent risk of closure, and beginning another of local ownership. Judge Elaine Hammond of...

WATSONVILLE—Eight people were injured in a three-vehicle collision near the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Sunday afternoon. California Highway Patrol officer Alyssa Gutierrez said that around 4:15pm the driver of a 2021 Porsche Cayenne was traveling eastbound on Highway 152 near Holohan Road. For unknown reasons,...

APTOS—A Soquel man died in a solo-vehicle crash early Saturday morning, California Highway Patrol officer Alyssa Gutierrez said. Just before 1am Carlos Deleon, 42, was traveling west on Soquel Drive in a 2005 Pontiac G6. For unknown reasons, Deleon lost control and smashed into a...

WATSONVILLE—The local nonprofit created to purchase and run Watsonville Community Hospital has won its bid to buy the hospital’s operations, a move that canceled a planned auction and advanced the matter to a sale hearing on Wednesday. According to documents filed with the Northern District...