Toys for Tots hits 33 years in Pajaro Valley
WATSONVILLE—For the past 33 years, the Toys for Tots program has delivered tons of toys to children in the Pajaro Valley and around the nation, for Christmas. This year is no exception, despite a host of limitations from the ongoing pandemic.
On Nov. 12, the...
Housing identified as key for new vision of Watsonville’s downtown
WATSONVILLE—As the three dozen or so people attending a Feb. 10 virtual meeting about the future of Watsonville’s downtown gave their final comments, one speaker’s remarks invoked some smiles and produced nodding heads from the rows of attendees displayed in their windows.
“We’re talking to...
Law enforcement, courts grapple with COVID-19 closures
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The shelter-in-place order issued Monday by Santa Cruz County officials applies to most residents, requiring them to stay home except to engage in – or work for – services deemed essential.
Violation of the order is a misdemeanor that can bring fines or...
Photo story: Watsonville Police investigate DUI crash
Watsonville Police investigate a two-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon on East Lake Avenue. WPD said a Pajaro man was driving west on Eastlake Avenue just after 5 PM in a Toyota Camry east of Tuttle Avenue. At one point, he slammed into a parked Toyota...
Santa Cruz County facing dire financial picture
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County will dip into its budgetary reserves to cover an estimated $20 million deficit in this year’s budget, which stems from revenue losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the request by County Administrative Officer Carlos...
A blaze of glory: longtime fire reservist dies
John R. Walker Jr., a major fixture in Watsonville’s landscape of firefighting, parades and labor task force, died Jan. 27 of pancreatic cancer. He was 84.
Walker served as a Watsonville Reserve Firefighter for three decades, and left that post as Reserve Lt. Co. No....
County clears out | About Town
A few days ago I rode my bike through downtown Santa Cruz and out by the wharf and the Beach Boardwalk. It was empty. Almost lifeless.
Our mostly blue sky was sure a welcome sight Monday. So was the cooler air that drifted in from...
Sculpture adorns new columbarium at PV Public Cemetery
WATSONVILLE — A sculpture depicting two intertwining great blue herons now sits atop a new columbarium at Pajaro Valley Public Cemetery.
The 12-foot tall sculpture, entitled “Eternal,” was created by local artist and teacher Sean M. Monaghan and three assistants. Monaghan said he was approached last...
Leaders push for farmworkers to receive Covid-19 vaccine
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—More than one million people have so far received a Covid-19 vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
These “frontline” workers in tier 1a of the state’s protocol include health care workers, first responders and other people who interact directly with patients.
In...
PHOTO: Protecting land
Members of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County hike around Watsonville Slough Farm at the Bee Barn Bash on Saturday.
PVUSD trustees cut school employee, teacher positions
After the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees late Thursday night made sweeping cuts to 78 classified positions, newly appointed Board President...
