News

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Planning Commission on Tuesday will make recommendations for possible changes to the city’s cannabis ordinance. The Planning Commission’s agenda was not made available before press time, but a public hearing notice published in this newspaper stated the body would be making recommendations on...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council at its March 9 meeting will see the results of a recently conducted rate study that recommends the city increase the cost of its utilities over the next five years. The study, conducted by Raftelis Financial Inc., says the hikes are...

WATSONVILLE—In the middle of her eighth grade year Nicole Hernandez was looking for a change. She was attending Aptos Junior High, but said she never felt like she fit in there. At Pacific Coast Charter School (PCCS) in Watsonville, Hernandez found what she was searching...

A group of young people gathered Wednesday in front of the Community Bike Collective (CBC) in Watsonville to learn how to change a bicycle tire. Participants in CBC’s Summer Bike Camp, they were preparing for a trip to Wilder Ranch State Park later that day....

WATSONVILLE—A husband and wife duo, who together spent more than six decades in education and several more years in public service and volunteerism, has been given this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. Lowell Hurst, who has served...

Varios incendios están ardiendo en la Costa Central, forzando evacuaciones masivas en los condados de Santa Cruz, San Mateo y Monterey. ¿Dónde están? Hay tres grandes incendios en nuestra región: el CZU August Lightning Complex, el River Fire y el Carmel Fire. CZU August Lightning Complex Estos incendios...

He was only 6 years old, but Glenn Church vaguely remembers the construction of the power plant in Moss Landing, which was being built not far from where he grew up. “I recall seeing those stacks go up… it was a big deal,” he said....

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council approved the fourth change to a contract with Granite Rock for Phase 1 of the City’s segment of the Coastal Rail Trail, bringing the total price for changes to $501,328.94. The most recent contract change—included in the council’s consent agenda of...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—New Leaf Community Market has closed its Aptos location after seven employees tested positive for COVID-19. The company made the announcement on its website  on Tuesday, saying the store will stay closed “until further notice.”  The announcement came four days after the store closed...

All 280 California State Parks have been closed to all day use visitors and all vehicles are being turned away during the COVID-19 outbreak. • The first case of COVID-19 was announced in Santa Cruz County on March 6 and now — three weeks later —...