Older adult programs shutter as Covid-19 cases rise
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—In early November 2021, Meals on Wheels’ (MOW) congregate meal sites reopened to older adults across Santa Cruz County for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Staff and volunteers from MOW, a program of umbrella organization Community Bridges, combined their...
County health officials say cloth masks are ‘no longer preferred’ option
Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel said that residents should try to move away from using single-layered cloth face masks and instead seek out medical or surgical masks that have been more effective in slowing the spread of Covid-19.
This includes N95, KN95...
PHOTO: 2 crashes clog Hwy 1 in Watsonville
Watsonville firefighter John Stone (left) joins other emergency workers in dealing with a five-vehicle crash on northbound Highway 1 in Watsonville Jan. 14.
Watsonville Firefighter John Stone (left) joins other emergency workers in dealing with one of two crashes on northbound Highway 1 in...
Schools plagued by mass absences as classes return
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The new year has brought with it larger-than-average absence rates as students throughout Santa Cruz County return to in-person instruction.
Since Jan. 6, there have been 1,387 positive Covid-19 cases out of roughly 16,000 teachers and students tested, a positivity rate of around...
At-home Covid-19 tests change pandemic response
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—At least 4,000 Santa Cruz County residents have been infected with Covid-19 during the current winter surge sparked by the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus.
That figure posted to the County Health Services Agency’s online dashboard, however, is likely vastly...
Santa Cruz County Chamber announces new leaders
The Santa Cruz County Chamber announced its 2022 Chamber Board of Directors with a new Chair and Vice Chair, and added five new Board members to its team.
Alan Smith, attorney at the Grunsky Law Firm, will be leading the Chamber as its new Board...
Assemblymember Robert Rivas welcomes ideas for new laws
Assemblymember Robert Rivas will be accepting entries from the public for new laws, under his ‘There Ought to be a Law’ program.
Rivas brought the program to his district in 2019, and for the third year, Rivas will review policy proposals from his constituents in...
Watsonville City Manager Recruitment Community Forum upcoming
What are the most important qualities and skills that a City Manager should have?
The City of Watsonville wants to know what you think and will host a community forum as it searches for its next City Manager.
The virtual forum is scheduled for...
Woman falls to death from cliff following Highway 1 crash
NORTH COAST—The 40-year-old Santa Cruz woman who fell to her death following a mysterious two-car crash Monday on the North Coast of Santa Cruz County has been identified as Wendy Edwards, according to Ashley Keehn of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators have...
Pajaro levee project takes another step forward
WATSONVILLE—Voters who live in proximity to the Pajaro River levee system will soon decide on adding a special assessment to their property tax bill that would help fund the long-awaited Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project.
The Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency (PRFMA) on Wednesday...
Police: Man threatened mass shooting at a PVUSD graduation
A 21-year-old Watsonville man was arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of threatening a mass shooting at an unspecified Pajaro Valley Unified School District graduation...
