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Watsonville
July 9, 2025

Nature walks open to older adults

Watsonville nature walks
WATSONVILLE—Thanks to a partnership between the Watsonville Senior Center and the Watsonville Nature Center, 22 older adults got a close-up view of Struve Slough, and its birds and plants Monday during the Senior Nature Walk, a program that launched in November. Led up by Nancy...

Local fire officials urge residents prep for fire season

California wildland fires air
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Forecasters are predicting a cooling trend and possible rain for the weekend, with possible snow in the mountains, bringing a small measure of much-needed moisture to an already parched Central Coast. But that weather will not last long, says Rick Canepa, a meteorologist...

District 4 candidates talk water, affordable housing at forum

Watsonville evictions
WATSONVILLE—The three candidates vying for the Fourth District seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors squared off in a forum Tuesday night, touching on transportation, housing and other issues affecting the county. The forum was hosted by the Santa Cruz County Chamber of...

Student’s photograph garners national attention

APTOS—An Aptos High School junior inspired by her father’s hard work in local agricultural fields has won this year’s 20th Congressional Art Competition, and will see her photograph hang in the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Michelle Lopez-Rubio, 17, says she was working with...

Photos: Watsonville observes Memorial Day

Above: American flags line a large swath of Freedom Boulevard Monday for Memorial Day. A crew headed up by VFW Post 1716 of Watsonville took on the task of flying hundreds of coffin flags between the Veterans of Foreign Wars Building on Freedom Boulevard...

Photo: Brush fire quickly tamed

watsonville slough brush fire
Watsonville firefighters chase back a brush fire that opened up around 1:35pm at the edge of Watsonville Sough near the corner of Santa Catalina and Santa Victoria avenues Tuesday. Battalion Chief Jon Goulding said firefighters got a quick handle of the blaze that had...

Watsonville city manager selected to lead Santa Cruz

Matt Huffaker Santa Cruz
WATSONVILLE—Matt Huffaker will leave his position as Watsonville City Manager for the same job in Santa Cruz, Watsonville city leaders confirmed with the Pajaronian Thursday afternoon.  The Santa Cruz City Council, in a press release, said it made a unanimous recommendation for Huffaker to take...

County Fair begins search for 2022 theme

santa cruz county fair
WATSONVILLE—The Santa Cruz County Fair is on the search for a theme for the 2022 edition of the Fair. Manager Dave Kegebein recently announced the return of the annual contest. Kegebein said anyone can submit theme ideas that should reflect the spirit of the County...

Greenway measure likely set for June election

rail trail
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—In June, Santa Cruz County voters might be able to state their preference on what has become one of the region’s most contentious issues in the past decade: the future of the county’s 32-mile rail line. On the ballot, voters will be asked...

Animal shelters deal with influx of rabbits, ‘pocket pets’

rabbit adoption Santa Cruz
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Animal shelters across California are currently seeing an influx of rabbits and other “pocket pets” being surrendered and put up for adoption.  Erika Smart, program and development manager at Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS), says that the increase in rabbits, guinea pigs,...
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Community invited to National Night Out

The public is invited to National Night Out, a series of gatherings held in communities throughout Santa Cruz County on Aug. 5 from 3-7pm. National...