Officials ID source of recent stink in South County
WATSONVILLE—Residents who reported a strong odor in parts of Watsonville recently helped county officials create an “odor map” and track down the source of the smell, Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin said.
According to Hoppin, the odor that some likened to sewage and others...
Farm Discovery at Live Earth celebrates the giving season
Pajaro Valley nonprofit Farm Discovery at Live Earth is inviting the community to celebrate another successful year of farm-based education for local youth.
The organization aims to empower young people and their families to build and sustain healthy food, farming, social and natural systems. Children...
Local church raises over 1 million meals for Second Harvest
APTOS—A local church kickstarted an initiative recently which has raised enough money to fund more than a million meals for Santa Cruz County residents.
Citing “rising anger in our society,” Twin Lakes Church in Aptos decided to launch its “Acts of Kindness” initiative. The project...
Cafe Ella to be renamed ‘Strawberry Patch Cafe’
WATSONVILLE—Cafe Ella, 734 E Lake Ave., will soon be rebranding itself with a new name and design.
Owners Jennifer DeVault and Erika Conrad will rename the business “Strawberry Patch Cafe” this month. The twin sister team bought the popular cafe in 2019 from founder and...
Woman fatally struck by truck while crossing Rodriguez Street
WATSONVILLE—A 61-year-old woman was killed on Dec. 3 while crossing the street at the intersection of Rodriguez and West Beach streets in downtown Watsonville.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Ashley Keehn identified the victim as Joan Alameda of Watsonville.
Watsonville Police Department Sgt. Mike Ridgeway...
Supervisors revamp rules for wireless communication facilities
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to repeal and completely replace the county’s ordinances governing wireless communication facilities that allow coverage for cell phones and the internet.
The new rules essentially speed up the permitting process...
County workers threaten strike
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A large group of workers rallied at the Santa Cruz County building Tuesday morning, before telling the County Board of Supervisors they are prepared to strike if ongoing contract negotiations do not go their way.
Officials for SEIU Local 521, the union representing...
Supervisors approve plan to purchase 38 acres for South County park
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors at its Tuesday meeting unanimously approved a plan to purchase a parcel of land in Watsonville, with the hopes of one day converting it into a public park.
The 38.5-acre parcel at 188 Whiting Road—located adjacent to...
Watsonville Film Festival launches fellowship for local filmmakers
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Film Festival (WFF) will soon celebrate its 10th anniversary, and to commemorate the occasion it has launched a fellowship to support local up-and-coming Latinx filmmakers.
The Cine Se Puede fellowship will support five emerging filmmakers from Santa Cruz County and the Pajaro Valley...
Watsonville man dies in rollover crash on Riverside Road
WATSONVILLE—A 33-year-old Watsonville man died in a solo-vehicle crash just before midnight Tuesday on Riverside Road, or Highway 129.
California Highway Patrol officer Sam Courtney said the victim was driving a 1999 Lexus west on Riverside Road south of Lakeview Road with a 44-year-old female...
A show of support for the immigrant community
A multitude of elected officials, workers and law enforcement officials from Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties gathered at the Government Center in...
