Council approves fee for public art on commercial property
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville City Council on Tuesday approved a $200 fee for community initiated public art on privately owned commercial property.
The fee will be used to defray the cost of city staff preparing reports on proposed public art for presentation to the Parks & Recreation Commission,...
Aptos High to stage “Peter Pan and Wendy”
Students at Aptos High Drama Production will present “Peter Pan and Wendy!” April 24-26 at their campus theater.
The play features Jake Semb as Peter Pan and Lemoni Anastasopoulos as Tinkerbell in this reimagined take on a classic children’s tale.
“This show is different from the...
Homegrown officer takes over as Watsonville Police Chief
WATSONVILLE—Some 80 people gathered in the Watsonville Civic Plaza Monday evening to welcome in Jorge Zamora as Watsonville Police Department’s new chief.
A homegrown officer who started with the department as a cadet at the age of 15, Zamora said in a speech before being...
Monterey County issues shelter in place order, confirms first COVID-19 cases
Monterey County followed the lead of neighboring Santa Cruz County and the greater Bay Area Tuesday, ordering residents to stay home to slow the spread of COVID-19.
County health officials also reported the county’s first two confirmed cases Tuesday, and County Supervisors unanimously approved a...
Bell ringing to mark 75 Years of Peace
WATSONVILLE—The simultaneous ringing of bells in sister cities across the United States and Japan to mark 75 years of peace since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will take place Aug. 5.
The event is part of an inaugural initiative of the newly created Japan...
New foundation formed to support county animal shelter
The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter has taken a new step in its mission to support the county’s neediest animals.
Annual Taekwondo championship held in Watsonville
The Santa Cruz Open Taekwondo Championships was held Saturday for the 28th year running, and this time Watsonville played host.
Taking shape
Lakeside Organic Garden’s colossal new facility at 25 Sakata Lane is quickly taking shape.
PVUSD sends 30 layoff notices to teachers
Last week, about 30 teachers got the news they have been dreading since late February, when the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees approved reductions to several teacher positions.
Roughly 30 teachers have received layoff notices—also called pink slips—on Thursday and Friday, said...
WPD aims to recruit more women
Nationwide, less than 15 percent of police officers are women, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and in Watsonville, that number is even lower.
Jim Barsi—owner of Barsi’s Liquor Store—dies
James Joseph “Jim” Barsi, who ran his eponymous liquor store on East Lake Avenue for a half-century before selling the business and retiring in...























