County picks Aranda as Artist of the Year
The County of Santa Cruz has named multi-media artist Guillermo “Yermo” Aranda as the 2021 Artist of the Year.
Every year the Arts Commission presents the award to a local artist for their achievements in performing, visual or literary arts, as well as their contributions...
As Cal Fire makes progress on Estrada Fire, questions linger about burn
WATSONVILLE—As firefighters continue to “mop up” a blaze in the Watsonville foothills sparked by a prescribed burn that went awry, some Santa Cruz County officials and residents are calling for the Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit (CZU) to answer lingering questions surrounding the...
Annual Day of the Dead exhibit returns to PV Arts
WATSONVILLE—Every year, Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA) hosts an annual exhibit inspired by Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead in English), a traditional holiday in Mexico commemorating family and community members who have died.
But this year, after almost two years of the Covid-19...
County moves to oppose all sexual predator placements
After a significant portion of the Bonny Doon community mobilized to try to keep a man who raped a 21-year-old woman in the 1980s from moving to town, Santa Cruz County is now seeking changes to California law, so it can have additional tools...
Local teaching artist moves into new studio in downtown Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—Judy Gittelsohn has big plans for the downtown Watsonville arts scene.
For the past two months, Gittelsohn has been slowly but surely moving her artwork, supplies and more into her new studio at 430 Main St. Large paintings line the walls of the small yet...
Man dies from gunshot wound after shooting near Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—A 21-year-old man died Sunday night after he was shot near Coward and Carlton roads, a rural area in the outskirts of Watsonville.
The victim has been identified as Abel Ruiz.
According to Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Dan Robbins, a passerby saw a man who...
Electric light rail demonstration draws crowds in Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—Residents flocked to the corner of Beach and Walker streets this weekend to experience an electric light rail streetcar that could one day be implemented in Santa Cruz County.
Coast Futura (CF), an alliance of people from various county organizations, scheduled the demonstration with Roaring...
Firefighters make headway on Estrada Fire; evacuations could lift today
Update (1pm, Oct. 16)
The Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit (CZU) announced that the evacuation orders put in place Friday evening in response to the Estrada Fire have been changed to evacuation warnings.
It also announced that the fire was 25% contained.
ORIGINAL STORY
WATSONVILLE—Firefighters battling a...
Prescribed burn sparks Estrada Fire in rural South Santa Cruz County
WATSONVILLE—A prescribed burn that got out of hand near the southern border of Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties has scorched at least 150 acres as of late Friday, the Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit (CZU) said.
Cal Fire CZU at 8:41pm said...
Photo: Fire levels outbuildings in Las Lomas
Flames engulf a log pile and several outbuildings on a hillside above the 100 block of Hudson Landing Road Friday in Las Lomas.
North Monterey County Fire Chief Joel Mendoza said the 1pm fire was about an acre in size. Flames raced across dray...
Two injured in early-morning crash
Two women were hurt early Thursday morning in a head-on crash on Highway 129 (Riverside Road) east of Watsonville.
