70.2 F
Watsonville
February 26, 2026

Monterey County announces first coronavirus death

Watsonville coronavirus
MONTEREY COUNTY—Monterey County health officials on Saturday announced the first death of a county resident that had been diagnosed with COVID-19. Officials said the victim was an “adult individual” who had an “underlying health condition” that made them more susceptible to the highly-contagious virus that...

Construction begins on Slough Connector Trail Project

WATSONVILLE—The first phase of the Watsonville Slough Connector Trail Project at Ramsay Park kicked off Monday, with construction expected to run through the end of November. Granite Construction has teamed up with the city to complete the project, which will establish and enhance trails through...

Consent agenda: WPD awarded two grants to boost traffic safety

Watsonville police
WATSONVILLE — The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday accepted $112,000 in grants from the California Office Traffic Safety that will boost Watsonville Police Department’s efforts in traffic enforcement and safety. The funds were split between two grants with $70,000 going toward the Selective Traffic Enforcement...

International dance and music conference comes to Santa Cruz County

“Reinforcing Cultural Identity,” a conference packed with classes, performances and more is set to run Aug. 15-25 at various venues within Cabrillo College, PVUSD and the City of Watsonville.  Having recently returned from Veracruz, Mexico, local Esperanza del Valle members, Janet Johns, Ruby Vasquez and...

Covid-19 testing expands in Pajaro Valley, Central Coast

Covid-19 testing
CENTRAL COAST—The Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas (CSVS) is now hosting a pop-up Covid-19 testing site every Saturday at Las Lomas Market, bringing a much-needed resource to the small rural community in the northern reaches of Monterey County. The pop-up site is one...

Dozens sound off on food trucks in community forum

watsonville food trucks city council
WATSONVILLE—Dozens attended Tuesday night’s Watsonville City Council meeting to rebuke reported complaints lodged to the City Manager’s office about mobile food vendors. This included about a half-dozen food truck operators gathered on one device that took turns grilling the City Council and staff holding the...

PV trustees end drug-sniffing dog program

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday ended its policy of bringing drug-sniffing dogs into classrooms, a decision sparked when several people spoke against the practice during the twice-monthly meeting.

Pajaro Valley Health Care Board Chair John Friel Dies

Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board (PVHCD) Chair and former Watsonville Community Hospital CEO John Friel, who took the lead of the fledgling agency at its outset in 2022, died March 21 after battling an undisclosed illness.  Friel resigned from his position on March 19,...

Lettuce industry highlighted in new exhibit

The Agricultural History Project is celebrating 100 years of lettuce growing on the Central Coast with its latest exhibit, “Lettuce Green Gold,” which held its grand opening Saturday.

Santa Cruz homeless camp reopens

SANTA CRUZ—An unsanctioned homeless camp in Santa Cruz has reopened, this time with a new name, increased security and a set of rules designed to reduce crime and drug use. Now called Camp Phoenix – after the mythological bird that rose anew out of its...
7,695FansLike
4,949FollowersFollow
2,895FollowersFollow

Man arrested after brandishing replica firearm

A man was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly brandished an altered replica firearm in Watsonville. Eduardo Lopez, 32, was cited and released. Witnesses called police after...