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Watsonville
October 16, 2025

Local metalwork artist forges ahead

Pierre Riche’s artistic journey has been anything but dull. Born in New York City in 1966, Riche has lived in nine different U.S. states, moving more than 14 times and exploring various pathways.  He studied at the School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago, lived in...

Council approves plan to transform downtown Watsonville

downtown watsonville main beach street intersection
In a future envisioned by Watsonville officials, the city’s downtown will be a vibrant and bustling place where commerce, mixed-use housing and a redesigned transit system intermingle and trees line a narrowed, two-lane Main Street. The Downtown Specific Plan, approved unanimously late Tuesday night by...

Regional Women’s Business Center launches in Watsonville

WATSONVILLE—California Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) has announced the launch of a new business center in Watsonville for women entrepreneurs. El Pájaro Women’s Business Center (WBC) will be formed through El Pájaro Community Development Corporation (CDC), a local nonprofit organization aiming to promote equal access...

Man killed in Davenport crash

A man was killed Sunday afternoon on Highway 1 in Davenport when his vehicle veered into oncoming traffic, the California Highway Patrol reported.

SCCAL boys cross country final ends in epic finish

WATSONVILLE—The Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League boys cross country championships have traditionally produced several epic finishes. This season was no different. Aptos High senior Ben Laughlin and Scotts Valley junior Jeremy Kain made last week’s race another one to remember, as they battled until the very...

Community calls for field at E.A. Hall

More than 100 people packed the auditorium at E.A. Hall Middle School Tuesday night to have their say on how the school should spend $2.2 million it has remaining in Measure L funds.

Food service industry faces unprecedented labor shortage

Two weeks ago, Amelia Loftus, owner of Hidden Fortress Coffee Roasting, was on the brink of closing her cafe in Watsonville just shy of its five-year anniversary. The shop, located at the end of a sleepy business complex on Hangar Way, had been struggling to...

Temporary CEO leading Fairgrounds

WATSONVILLE—Santa Cruz County Fair Board President Don Dietrich has taken over as CEO in the wake of the Oct. 4 dismissal of Dave Kegebein, and says he’ll stay at the helm as the Board recruits a replacement. It is unclear how long that could take,...

 K9 officer helps in arrest of felon with guns, drugs

Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies on Sunday arrested a Pacific Grove man with a WWII-era machine gun described as a “weapon of mass destruction.” Brian Richard Knabb, 42, also had a loaded .45 caliber pistol and a loaded 1911 A-1 pistol, sheriff’s deputies said. In addition, he...

Photo: National 9 Motel in downtown razed

National 9 motel watsonville
A crew from Randazzo Enterprises use an excavator to demolish the National 9 Motel in downtown Watsonville Wednesday to make way for a four-story, 80-room Hilton Home2 Suites hotel. Approved as a La Quinta Inn by the Watsonville City Council in 2016 and revised...
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Watsonville High celebrates homecoming

Hundreds of Watsonville High School students participated in the traditional homecoming parade Wednesday, which is a precursor to a Thursday rally and the Friday...