Ag Commissioner releases annual Crop Report
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The 2020 Crop Report for the County of Santa Cruz has been released, detailing the region’s agricultural commodities during one of the most challenging years on record.
The Crop Report is presented each year by Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo through the Department of...
Toys for Tots hits 33 years in Pajaro Valley
WATSONVILLE—For the past 33 years, the Toys for Tots program has delivered tons of toys to children in the Pajaro Valley and around the nation, for Christmas. This year is no exception, despite a host of limitations from the ongoing pandemic.
On Nov. 12, the...
Poetry event highlighting writers of color stopped after ‘Zoombombing’
WATSONVILLE—A virtual event created to highlight writers of color was canceled on Nov. 11 after a group of anonymous attackers logged on to their Zoom meeting, and then shouted racial and homophobic slurs and broadcast pornographic images.
Such an attack is known as a Zoombombing,...
Covid-19 outbreak reported at Santa Cruz Main Jail
SANTA CRUZ—Several inmates at Santa Cruz County Main Jail tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday in what jail officials say is the most significant outbreak since the start of the pandemic.
According to Sheriff’s Sgt. Daniel Robbins, about 12 inmates have tested positive are under quarantine...
Aptos High & Junior High choirs to present concert
APTOS—For the first time in two years, the Aptos High School and Aptos Junior High School choirs will perform in front of a live audience for their annual winter concert this Saturday.
“Rise Up Singing!” will present a variety of songs, which choral director and...
City Council again meeting to discuss interim city manager position
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council has scheduled a special meeting for Wednesday morning to discuss the appointment of an interim city manager that will take the reigns from outgoing chief executive Matt Huffaker.
It will be the third time the City Council has met in closed...
Barba, Quiroz-Carter vie for vacant Watsonville City Council seat
WATSONVILLE—Hundreds of Watsonville voters in District 2 received a ballot at their home this week, officially kicking off the home stretch of the Dec. 7 special election that will determine who will fill the vacant Watsonville City Council seat.
Residents in that district will have...
Mayor casts lone ‘no’ vote in agreement for affordable housing project
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council approved an agreement with the County of Santa Cruz on a proposed 80-unit affordable apartment complex that, if approved by the county supervisors, would break ground in early 2022.
MidPen Housing, a nonprofit developer, is leading the project between Atkinson Lane...
WHS Drama returns to the stage
The Watsonville High School (WHS) Drama Department had been preparing for a production of the musical “Matilda” in March 2020 when everything was shut down by the pandemic.
For three semesters, students were unable to return to the stage for performances, instead taking acting, tech...
School dedicates wing to celebrated former educator
WATSONVILLE—A group of local educators, community leaders, elected officials and family members were among more than two-dozen people who gathered Tuesday at Watsonville Aptos Santa Cruz Adult Education, as the school dedicated a wing of its facility to Rhea DeHart.
Also present at the gathering...
Female Athlete of the Year: Aptos’ Izzy Graff brought excellence to...
Aptos graduate Izzy Graff was on the verge of joining the cross country team going into her junior year in 2023 so she could...
