County’s Capital Improvement Plan includes upgrades for Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—In early December, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved next year’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), a 188-page list of projects the county hopes to complete or move forward on over the next five years.
The $966 million plan includes upgrades to various...
Animal shelters deal with influx of rabbits, ‘pocket pets’
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,...
Man recently arrested for robbery placed bombs around city in 2001
WATSONVILLE—The man who was arrested on Dec. 22 on suspicion of robbing the Freedom Centre Rite Aid store in Watsonville at gunpoint 24-hours earlier has a lengthy history with local police.
Raymond Quiñonez, in late 2001, was arrested after making a string of bomb threats...
Santa Cruz County Supervisors approve emergency declaration
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Supervisors on Tuesday ratified an emergency declaration for the winter storms that occurred on Dec. 13. County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios made the initial declaration on Dec. 21.
The decision will allow the county to receive state funding under...
Man, woman found dead in apparent murder-suicide, police say
WATSONVILLE—A man and woman were found dead in a home in Pajaro Village on Christmas Eve in what police believe to be a murder-suicide.
Watsonville Police Department Sgt. Mike Ridgway said officers were led to the man and woman by a relative.
The Santa Cruz County...
Good Sole: Mountain View High student gifts Watsonville kids new shoes
WATSONVILLE—The entire kindergarten class of Starlight Elementary School will be sporting new sneakers come the start of the New Year, thanks to the efforts of a high school student at Mountain View High School.
Bridget Stuebner said she learned of a previous shoe give-away from...
Homeless memorial marks somber milestone
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—During 2021, 95 people died while homeless, a distressing increase from the 58 who died last year and 77 in 2019.
Those numbers, delivered Tuesday during the 23rd annual Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day ceremony, were more than an ugly milestone, said David Davis,...
Elderday will move to downtown Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—After operating for years in Santa Cruz, Elderday Adult Day Health Care will soon relocate to Watsonville.
The move comes thanks to a $2.5 million grant from Central California Alliance for Health, which Elderday will use to purchase and modernize the space at 521 Main...
Watsonville’s Portuguese community celebrates sister city designation
WATSONVILLE—Situated along the western coast of São Jorge Island in Portugal is Velas, a historic port town with a population of just over 5,580 people. Located in the Azores, the city is one of the oldest settlements on the island, boasting incredible ocean views...
PHOTO: Arrest made in Rite Aid robbery
Police search a vehicle and home on the 500 block of Green Valley Road Wednesday.
A Watsonville man was arrested near the home on suspicion of robbing the Rite Aid store on Freedom Boulevard just 24 hours earlier. Watsonville spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said police were...
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...
