News

A weekly column that celebrates local businesses — especially eateries, watering holes, coffee shops and the like.

WATSONVILLE—Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust Executive Director DeAndre James on Tuesday confirmed that the nonprofit healthcare foundation will fund Watsonville’s youth sports programs if the City Council at its June 23 meeting approves a full-scale cut of the city’s sports programming for the 2020/21...

On June 1 graduates from Pacific Coast Charter School (PCCS) marched into the Henry J. Mello Center to celebrate their accomplishments and the end of their high school journey. But for valedictorian Solei Gonzalez, the ceremony came a full semester after finishing all of her...

This Wednesday, Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA) will open “Plein Air: Our Bounty,” an exhibit featuring works by local Plein air artists.

WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly sexually abusing a child. Alfredo Perez Galindo, 40, was charged with lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 and continuous sexual abuse of a child. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police Department is warning residents about a scam in which a caller pretends to be a police officer and asks for a callback to discuss “confidential legal matters.”  The caller reportedly falsely claimed to be WPD Sgt. Michael Ridgway. The person who received the call...

UPDATE 3:20PM: Caltrans reported all northbound lanes of Highway 17 in both Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties have reopened. Southbound Highway 17 south of Summit Road is fully opened. Currently only one lane of southbound Highway 17 north of Summit Road is open. ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Early...

Facing the stone archway of St. Joseph’s Salesian Youth Retreat Center outside Los Angeles, the dark wooden coffin holding the body of Juan Jiménez was wheeled next to a band of masked mariachis. The group readied themselves to play, simultaneously lifting bows to violins,...

Tarmo Hannula: Robert "Rolo" Leonardich hung up his keys at the Watsonville Police Department Friday for the last time after 41 years of service. About 50 people packed into the briefing room at WPD to share cake and words of respect and recognition of...

WATSONVILLE—Yocelyn Gonzalez, a senior at Pajaro Valley High School, shadowed outgoing Watsonville Mayor Francisco “Paco” Estrada and recently seated Mayor Rebecca Garcia on Wednesday after winning the Mayor for the Day essay contest earlier this month. Gonzalez followed the two leaders from 9 a.m. to...