South County projects included in RTC plans
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) Board of Directors on Thursday approved a spending plan for $11.2 million in state and federal funding, which will be allocated over a wide range of transportation-related projects countywide.
The funding includes $4.5 million from...
Watsonville author’s first work, ‘Gordo,’ widely praised
WATSONVILLE—Local author Jaime Cortez always had nicknames, and now one of them has become his first book. “Gordo,” a paperback collection of stories, is quickly gathering praise after its release by a national publisher in August.
And while “Gordo” is Cortez’s first widely distributed work,...
New County Health Services director has local roots
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Mónica Morales was 2 years old when her family immigrated from Mexico to Watsonville. She grew up attending local elementary schools, graduating from Watsonville High School while her mother worked in nearby agriculture fields and canneries.
This background, she said, is sure to...
Judge declines preliminary injunction, allows homeless to temporarily stay
MONTEREY COUNTY—A federal magistrate has declined to issue a preliminary injunction that would have temporarily stopped Monterey County from evicting a group of people from an unsanctioned campsite along the Pajaro River Levee.
In her ruling, Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen said that the plaintiffs...
Group preserving local Filipino history gains momentum
The Tobera Project, a local initiative aiming to preserve, honor and celebrate the Filipino immigrant experience in the Pajaro Valley, is continuing to grow in scope.
From the ongoing “Watsonville is in the Heart” exhibit and subsequent calendar chronicling the history of local Filipino-American heritage,...
Crash damages power pole, snarls traffic
WATSONVILLE—A pickup truck driver sheared a utility pole on South Green Valley Road at Main Street Wednesday, causing a major traffic jam and power outages.
Watsonville Police Department Sgt. Donny Thul said the male driver of a white pickup, towing a large soil disking tool,...
Watsonville City Council appoints Tamara Vides as interim city manager
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council appointed Tamara Vides to serve as the interim city manager in a special meeting on Tuesday night.
Vides, an employee of the city of Watsonville for 23 years, will step into the role on Dec. 15, the day after outgoing City...
Watsonville man arrested in fatal hit-and-run crash
WATSONVILLE—A Watsonville man was arrested Saturday after fatally striking a man on a bicycle with his vehicle and fleeing the scene, California Highway Patrol Officer Sam Courtney said.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Juan Diaz, 25.
Steven Kay, 55, was charged...
METRO hosts Stuff the Bus donation site
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) and Toys For Tots will host METRO’s first Stuff the Bus donation site on Dec. 11 at Target in Watsonville.
METRO and Toys For Tots are teaming up to collect donations of new and unwrapped toys...
Watsonville Community Hospital faces closure if not purchased by Jan. 28
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Community Hospital will either be sold to a new buyer or—if that fails—close by Jan. 28, CEO Steven Salyer announced Monday.
In a letter sent to employees, Salyer states that the hospital is facing “significant financial challenges,” which have been compounded by decreased revenue...
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...
