51.8 F
Watsonville
April 25, 2026

State education officials release guidance for reopening schools

covid-19 schools
SACRAMENTO—The California Department of Education (CDE) on Monday released a set of guidelines for schools statewide to use as they seek to reopen in the fall, nearly three months after they closed to slow the spread of Covid-19. While the state agency leaves actual policymaking...

Adult education graduates find prosperity by looking within

adult education PVUSD graduation
WATSONVILLE—When April Ortiz became pregnant during her senior year at Watsonville High School, severe morning sickness and other complications sidelined her education. Then came the birth. “Mothering was a new life and a new experience,” she said.  Ortiz, now 26, received her GED on May 22 from...

Cold weather hanging tough| About Town

TARMO HANNULA: Temperatures sunk into the 30s overnight. The National Weather Service said rain will drench our region Thursday, starting up before 8 a.m. • More than 17.9 million acres have now burned in Australia’s bush fires, an area larger than Belgium and Denmark combined. So far...

A visit to the moon

Thanks to technology local residents will get a taste of a moon visit in a portable planetarium that will come to Aptos Saturday.

Organizers launch drone event

Alongside a little-known grass landing strip at Monterey Bay Academy Thursday, a group of drone companies gathered for what organizers hope will be an annual event, and will draw participants to learn about the burgeoning industry.

PHOTO: Watsonville man celebrates 102nd birthday

Watsonville resident Manuel Zayas Ramirez celebrated his 102nd birthday with family Saturday.

PVUSD seeking public input in superintendent search

pvusd trustees
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District is asking the public to help in its search for a new superintendent. In a series of trilingual input sessions lasting through Thursday, the district will ask what characteristics the new superintendent should have to best meet the needs...

With final CDC recommendation, vaccines coming for 5- to 11-year-olds

covid-19 vaccine santa cruz county
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday voted to recommend the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for children 5-11, a move that came four days after the Food and Drug Administration approved a smaller dose for young people. The unanimous vote by the...

Long-awaited pedestrian bridge opens over Highway 1

As the usual weekday rush-hour traffic began to build up on Highway 1 in Mid-County Wednesday afternoon, it appeared that commuters were facing yet another interminable slog on their way to their destinations. But one thing was different. The first pedestrians and bicyclists began to use...

Filmmaker, Watsonville native seeking hometown talent

gabriel medina
Filmmaker and Watsonville High School alumnus Gabriel Medina already has several independent Hollywood-level movies on his resume, with various roles including writer, producer and director.  He recently earned his MFA from University of Southern California’s famed Peter Stark Producing Program, and has now returned to...
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Letters to the Editor, April 24-30

Keeping our eye on the Clock My father, an Air Force fighter pilot, and our family, were stationed in Yokohama Japan in 1947 as part...