Lightning sparks numerous blazes across Santa Cruz County
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A lightning storm that began at about 1am Sunday sparked 22 fires across Santa Cruz County, five of which have burned several hundred acres.
No communities are currently threatened, and no warnings or evacuations have been given, said Cal Fire spokeswoman Cecile Juliette.
The...
Fires, wind, lightning, blackouts strike Central Coast
By Jacob Pierce, Good Times News Editor
CENTRAL COAST—Small fires popped up around the San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay early Sunday morning as rare lightning storms struck the area, during what has already been a wild weekend for weather in Northern California and along...
Two gang members on parole arrested for weapons violations
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Team arrested two gang members over the past week for weapons violations after parole checks at their residences.
Isaac Urquiza, 21, was arrested Thursday on the 100 block of Sudden Street in Watsonville for being a...
Santa Cruz County reports two new Covid-19 deaths
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County health officials announced Friday that two more county residents have died of Covid-19 complications, bringing the local death toll to eight.
One was a man in his early 60s and the other was a woman in her late 90s. Both...
Applied Motion Products moving to Morgan Hill
By Erik Chalhoub, Special to the Pajaronian
MORGAN HILL—Citing a need for more space and to be closer to its Silicon Valley customers as its business grows, Watsonville-based Applied Motion Products broke ground on its Morgan Hill facility on Aug. 6.
The facility, now under construction...
Presidential hopeful Biden makes historic VP pick in Harris
WASHINGTON D.C.—California Sen. Kamala Harris, known for her hardline stance on criminal justice, made history Tuesday when she became both the first Asian American and the first African American woman to become a vice-presidential candidate.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden made the long-anticipated announcement after...
Census begins final count with door-to-door visits
WATSONVILLE—With roughly 64% of Watsonville having already taken the 2020 Census, the community is keeping pace with the state and national self-response rate.
That, Deputy City Manager Tamara Vides said, is something to be proud of, considering the unprecedented circumstances the community has faced during...
PVUSD Trustees approve Virtual Academy positions
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday unanimously approved new job descriptions for several teachers, administrative workers and a principal that will staff the new Virtual Academy, an all-online school approved July 23.
The trustees also heard a budget report that...
Corralitos Coffeehouse moving into vacant Second Street cafe
By Abigail Acosta, Special to the Pajaronian
WATSONVILLE—The owners of Corralitos Coffeehouse will be closing their doors in Corralitos on Aug. 22 and moving their operations to downtown Watsonville.
Greg Bobeda and Lacey Dent will take over the location formerly occupied by Second Street Cafe between...
Cesar E. Chavez Community Awards honor youth mentors
WATSONVILLE—Friends of Watsonville Parks and Community Services and the City of Watsonville honored five local individuals, two organizations and a business at the 18th annual Cesar E. Chavez Community Awards on July 30.
The awards, held virtually this year due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic,...
Photo story: Morning rollover near Target store
MEDICAL EMERGENCY Watsonville firefighters deal with a solo-vehicle rollover on Thursday, where an SUV barrel-rolled down a hillside on Main Street. Watsonville City spokeswoman...