County fire officials gear up for potentially ‘active’ season
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—If Sunday’s Basin Fire is any indication of what 2021’s fire season will bring, San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit Chief Ian Larkin and the mountains surrounding Santa Cruz County are in for a bumpy ride this fire season.
The roughly 7-acre blaze among the...
City sets schedule for redistricting outreach
WATSONVILLE—The city of Watsonville over the next eight months will undergo its decennial citywide effort to redraw the lines of its elected districts.
Every decade following the release of census data, cities and counties must adjust their district lines to account for possible shifts in...
Survey predicts Santa Cruz County tourism will return
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The county’s tourist hotspots—along with its restaurants and hotels—can expect a slight uptick in business this summer from Californians seeking to hit the road for short road trips, according to a survey released Wednesday by Visit Santa Cruz County (VSCC).
This prediction is...
Birchbark Foundation aims to support human-animal bond
Founded in 2013, the Birchbark Foundation grew out of what local veterinarian Dr. Merrianne Burtch saw as an unmet need in the community.
Burtch noticed that pet owners were facing fixable yet unaffordable crises with their animals, which often resulted in the only option being...
County arts and culture institutions welcome back visitors
After more than a year of closures due to Covid-19, museums, galleries and other cultural institutions across Santa Cruz County are once again opening their doors to visitors. To further encourage people to return, they have come together to create Santa Cruz Museum Month.
Throughout...
Mariners beat ‘Catz for first time in 30 years | Boys soccer
APTOS—The last time the Aptos High boys soccer team beat Watsonville High the Nintendo Game Boy was a hot item, “Home Alone” was the top movie and Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby” was No.1 rap song in the nation.
That was 30 years ago, but...
Watsonville Airport’s organic farm an ‘uncut diamond’
WATSONVILLE—On March 30, the Watsonville Municipal Airport (KWVI) announced it had renewed a two-year lease with Watsonville-based Urban Organics, aiming to bring fresh produce to the community as the sole organic farm within city limits.
At the southernmost tip of airport property, just over the...
City accepting applications for community service grants
The city of Watsonville is accepting applications for Social and Community Service Grants for fiscal year cycle 2021-23. The deadline to apply is May 17 by 5 pm.
Applicants must fill out the Google form application found here: forms.gle/yfXvWrPDUY9YrwzT8
The city will have $266,000 to fund...
Kaiser Permanente ‘reorganization’ will not affect Santa Cruz County locations
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A recent reduction to employees in the Kaiser Permanente corporation—about 200 positions—will not reach Santa Cruz County, a spokesman said Tuesday.
One of the largest private employers in California, the company has more than 149,000 employees and 16,000 physicians in the state.
In addition,...
Brothers face felony charges after running from officers
WATSONVILLE—Two brothers were arrested Monday and Tuesday—about 30 hours apart—after two dramatic chases involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
Daniel and Thomas Smith face multiple felony charges, and are being held in Santa Cruz County Jail without bail after running from officers.
The first chase began early...
Casa de la Cultura hosts annual giveaway
Dozens of families lined up along Salinas Road in Pajaro Monday morning, children’s faces peering from backseat windows, as they waited their turn for...
