County’s redistricting process moves forward
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday got a first look at how the County’s supervisorial districts could be redrawn as the decennial redistricting process nears its end.
During redistricting, jurisdictions use the recent census to see how their populations have...
Homeless hotel residents facing eviction, brutal housing market
WATSONVILLE—David Schartow was a retired ironworker living in Paradise with his young daughter when the 2018 Camp Fire destroyed the entire town, including his home.
Now homeless, Schartow, 64, has since bounced through several temporary shelters, including his current accommodations, the Comfort Inn in Watsonville....
Watsonville city manager selected to lead 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...
Coalition seeks to improve health care in Pajaro Valley
WATSONVILLE—If a group of local medical professionals and nonprofit leaders has its way, a newly established healthcare district will one day own and operate Watsonville Community Hospital (WCH).
If those efforts are successful, it will likely come as a relief for South County residents who...
New program aims to bring students back to Cabrillo
WATSONVILLE—Cabrillo College’s Watsonville Center has started up a new program that aims to welcome back and support students who left the school during the pandemic.
Ganas is a two-semester program encouraging previous students, especially those in South County, to return and resume their studies. Students...
Large apartment complex in Watsonville clears county hurdle
WATSONVILLE—A proposed 80-unit affordable apartment complex between Atkinson Lane and Brewington Avenue received a unanimous recommendation for approval from the Santa Cruz County Planning Commission on Wednesday morning.
In the works since 2013, the project is an extension of the 46-unit Pippin Orchards apartment complex...
Police committee releases recommendations
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday heard the results of a roughly year-long endeavor sparked by the calls for police reform and social equity stemming from last year’s slaying of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.
The Ad-Hoc Committee on Policing and Social...
Cabrillo Gallery to reopen to the public for annual exhibit
APTOS—Cabrillo College’s on-campus art gallery is reopening to the public after being shuttered since March 2020.
After holding a variety of virtual shows for the past 17 months, Cabrillo Gallery returns to in-person with its annual “12x12: An Open Invitational” exhibit. The exhibit invites artists...
Specialty coffee shop joins Watsonville Hangar complex
WATSONVILLE—A new coffee shop has opened on Aviation Way, rounding out the Watsonville Hangar business complex that has been growing steadily the past couple of years.
Honeylux Coffee is a specialty coffeehouse offering its own signature blend of java, as well as espresso drinks, teas,...
Aptos woman will serve 4 years for involuntary manslaughter
SANTA CRUZ—After an emotional three-hour sentencing hearing Friday that included testimony from friends and family of both suspect and victim, the woman who stabbed her husband to death in their Aptos home in 2019 learned her sentence.
Amanda Owens will spend three years in prison,...
Watsonville scores pair of second-half TDs to beat Pacific Grove |...
Watsonville junior quarterback Edwin Cornejo found his way running into the end zone late in the fourth quarter, and the Wildcatz rallied back from...