Community Foundation gave more than $7 million in grants in 2016
Community Foundation Santa Cruz County gave out more than $7 million in grants to 482 organizations in Santa Cruz County and beyond, the organization announced April 19.
Local winery honors Watsonville legend “One-Eyed Charley”
If you’ve ever strolled through Pioneer Cemetery in Watsonville, you might have come across the final resting place of Charley Darkey Parkhurst, a stagecoach driver, farmer and rancher who has become a local legend since their death in 1879.
Born Charlotte Darkey Parkhurst, Charley was...
Watsonville’s Music in the Plaza series returns July 8
WATSONVILLE—On July 8 Music in the Plaza, an outdoor concert series started in 2019, will return to downtown Watsonville after a year of canceled shows.
Presented by the city of Watsonville in partnership with the Watsonville Film Festival (WFF) and iHeart Media, the concerts are...
Volunteers asked to join cleanup day
The City of Watsonville and the Santa Cruz County Tobacco Education Coalition is encouraging residents to participate in the Annual Coastal Cleanup Day, set for Saturday from 9 a.m.-noon at multiple Watsonville sites.
Library receives grant to establish ‘creative cafe’ at Freedom Branch
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Public Library (WPL) has received a $12,000 grant which it will use to establish a “creative cafe” at its Freedom Branch.
Similar to a makerspace, a creative cafe is a hub offering a community a place to produce creative projects. The Freedom Branch’s...
Briefs: VFW Post 1716 honors students, teacher; Santa Tour upcoming
VFW Post 1716 honors students, teacher
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1716 in Freedom recently gave out scholarships and awards.
Every year, the post hands out scholarships and awards to a middle school student, a high school student and selects a teacher of the year.
This year’s...
Pride in school runs high for leading Pajaro Valley High seniors
WATSONVILLE—Leaders of this year’s 274 Pajaro Valley High School seniors say the class of 2020 will be remembered for its unwavering school pride and its crazed support of athletics.
Dennar Ocampo and Natalia Arroyo were at the forefront of both.
“A lot of people would say,...
Ow Family hands out scholarships to students
George Ow Jr. and his family provided $500 scholarships to 106 high school seniors during a June ceremony at Cabrillo College.
De Serpa clinches Second District Supervisor seat
Kim De Serpa has held her seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees for more than a decade. In her full-time professional life she serves as social services manager for Salinas valley Memorial Healthcare System.
Now, she says she is ready...
Santa Cruz County heads to the polls
Thousands of people lined up in elections offices, at drop boxes offices and polling stations throughout Santa Cruz County to cast their ballots in the 2024 Presidential Election.
Stay tuned to The Pajaronian for updated vote results starting around 8pm.
Man arrested for agriculture-related crimes
A Prunedale man was arrested Nov. 26 on suspicion of a lengthy list of agriculture-related crimes including theft of a tractor.
On Oct. 22, deputies...





















