Serial DUI offender sentenced to 20 years for fatal collision
SANTA CRUZ—A Watsonville man already on probation for two DUI convictions was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison for striking and killing a woman while driving drunk one year ago, Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell announced.
Alejandro Rocha Fernandez, 28, was drinking...
Local reopening speeds vary by business
WATSONVILLE—Minutes after Santa Cruz County received state approval to reopen barbershops and hair salons on May 30, barber Rigo Navarro said he received the first of what would be a flood of calls from his loyal customers asking when he would be open for...
New School celebrates a belated graduation
WATSONVILLE—After their planned graduation on June 4 was canceled due to concerns of a violent protest, 11 graduates of New School Community Day School’s class of 2020 received their diplomas Monday in a drive-thru ceremony.
In addition to the students, Pajaro Valley Unified School District...
Aptos’ SeaBreeze Tavern burns in Sunday night blaze
By JAKE PIERCE, Good Times
APTOS—The site of the old SeaBreeze Tavern caught fire Sunday night after 9pm, and the blaze quickly grew out of control.
Watsonville Fire Battalion Chief Corey Schaefer said units responded to a reported fire on the Esplanade in Aptos. When they...
Two pedestrians struck in Seabright area, one dies
Editor's note: This story was updated from an earlier version.
SANTA CRUZ—The woman who was killed in a solo-vehicle crash in the Seabright area Monday has been identified as Allison Endert, who has been involved in local government for decades.
Santa Cruz County Supervisor Ryan Coonerty...
WATCH: Memorial service for Sheriff’s deputy Damon Gutzwiller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If1_8sX1Enk
Making preparations | About Town
Fireworks stands are now popping up around Watsonville in preparation for Fourth of July celebrations.
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Summer officially started Saturday with the summer solstice. I still marvel that the folks as long as 5,000 years ago knew about the solstice when they started the massive Stonehenge...
Paying respects | Photo Gallery
Have a recent photo you’d like to share? Send it to us for consideration by emailing it to [email protected] or mailing it to 21 Brennan St., Suite 14, Watsonville, CA 95076. Please include a brief description of the photo as well as the name...
Arrest made in 2019 Watsonville murder
WATSONVILLE—A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder in a 2019 Watsonville case.
Casto Luna, 41, a transient, was found in the area of Ford and Kilburn streets in Watsonville and taken into custody on Monday, Watsonville Police said.
WPD officers and detectives assisted the...
Richard Del Piero, one of PVUSD’s founders, dies
WATSONVILLE—Richard Del Piero was a Watsonville High School graduate, a U.S. Air Force Veteran and a local farmer who as a school board member in the 1960s helped reign in several local education agencies to create the Pajaro Valley Unified School District.
Del Piero died...
Santa Cruz County gets a new County Executive Officer
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously named Nicole Coburn as its County Executive Officer, making official the unanimous Oct. 8...