News

WATSONVILLE—To say Watsonville City Councilman Francisco “Paco” Estrada had mixed feelings about the emergence of the four Covid-19 ‘clusters’ in Watsonville would be an understatement. The spike in cases was traced back to four separate family gatherings during Mother’s Day weekend, including one in which...

Jes Fuhrman poses with her bird during the BFF Boutique Fashion Show in Capitola Sunday.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a plan to move the county’s public defender services from a private law firm to one run by the County. The plan has garnered support from the current public defenders, as well as...

SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors retooled the county’s syringe exchange program during its Dec. 10 meeting, limiting the amount that people can trade for clean ones on behalf of other people.  This practice, known as secondary exchange, is believed by advocates to...

Watsonville firefighter Aaron Netzel sprays water on a fire in an abandoned structure on the 1900 block of Freedom Boulevard at about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

City staff will now finalize the plan and prepare an application that will be submitted to state officials in hopes of qualifying for Prop 68 funds. The deadline for the first round of funding from the voter-approved $4.1 billion bond measure, according to Watsonville Director of Parks and Community Services Nick Calubaquib, is Aug. 3.

Update (3pm, Aug. 24) South Santa Cruz County residents seeking to make donations for those impacted by the CZU August Lightning Complex fires can now drop off items at a warehouse at 114 Walker St. in Watsonville. The City of Watsonville is no longer accepting donations...

Ever since the countywide shelter-in-place order was put into effect in mid-March, Watsonville restaurants, coffeeshops and other establishments have been navigating a new frontier. While many closed their doors, others jumped head-first into the world of take-out and delivery. Now, as restrictions begin to loosen...

APTOS—In her more than two decades of working with nonprofit organizations, C.J. Runyon spent eight years with Walu International, which among other things helps provide hand-washing stations to rural communities in Papua New Guinea and Nicaragua, where poor sanitation leads to a myriad of...

Special events La Selva Beach Holiday Fair (Nov. 16) Kick off or finish up your holiday shopping at the La Selva Beach Holiday Fair. More than 60 arts and crafts vendors will showcase their work at the La Selva Beach Clubhouse. Fair booths will feature handmade...