News

I had to brake long enough to grab a photo of a giant reindeer mingling with other Christmas decor at a Rogers Avenue home in Watsonville. • Today is the first day of winter, the solstice. Among other things, on Tuesday the days start getting longer. • If...

By Jacob Pierce, Good Times Editor Several hours after a new stay-at-home order took effect Friday, Housing Matters Executive Director Phil Kramer opened up a Homeless Memorial Zoom call by reflecting on a difficult year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic and devastating wildfires. Kramer, the event’s...

WATSONVILLE—A group of students at MacQuiddy Elementary School got a special holiday treat last week.  Thanks to the efforts of instructor Amy McGee and others, 15 kids—all members of Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s Safe Spots program—were handed an armload of gifts Friday, including a...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville man who died Dec. 15 after he was struck by a car as he walked along West Beach Street has been identified as Abel Elizondo Rodriguez, 42. Watsonville Police spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said Rodriguez was walking partially in the westbound lane in front...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—On Wednesday Second Harvest Food Bank will host its weekly community drive-thru food distribution at the County Fairgrounds 2601 East Lake Ave., from 9am–1pm. “This is a departure from our normal Friday distribution so that individuals and families in our community have access...

SANTA CRUZ—A rare winged visitor has landed in Santa Cruz County. A small white wagtail, which typically breeds in Alaska and Asia, including Eastern Russia, has somehow gotten blown off course or is on an exploratory mission to this county, including the San Lorenzo...

Artist Judy Gittelsohn fondly remembers her first experience at an artist’s retreat. Working for the company Golden Paints, she was able to go to a place where she could work without distractions or responsibilities. “It really nourished my development,” Gittelsohn said. “I did my best...

Do you have a recent photograph 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...

WATSONVILLE—A pair of positive Covid-19 tests has shut down the Excel In Place program at the Environmental Science Workshop in Watsonville through its Dec. 18 end date. Watsonville Parks and Community Services Director Nick Calubaquib said two employees at that location on Second Street recently...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—As winter returned along with its company of wet weather, so did higher numbers of crashes across slickened roadways in Santa Cruz County. There were 44 crashes Saturday and Sunday around the county as on-and-off-again rain came through, said California Highway Patrol officer...