Locals team up to donate sanitizer products to Navajo Nation
WATSONVILLE—During the COVID-19 outbreak, Watsonville’s Blume Distillation has decided to expand its production line to help its community.
The facility, which provides biorefinery equipment and alcohol-based fuel, developed a line of hand sanitizers, hoping to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
“This crisis affects everyone,” said...
Bike organization keeps moving
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville-based Community Bike Collective was set to host an official public launch sometime this spring as it looked to bring bicycle programs to people of all ages across the county.
With a shelter-in-place order prompted by the novel coronavirus, however, that fete has been delayed.
But...
National Agriculture Day scholarship, contest winners announced
WATSONVILLE—For years the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau (SCCFB) and the Agri-Culture organization have hosted the National Agriculture Day Spring Luncheon. However, due to the current COVID- 19 pandemic, the March 18 event was postponed, and its future remains uncertain.
Despite this, the two groups...
County: face coverings required when shopping
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Starting this week, Santa Cruz County Health Officer Dr. Gail Newel will begin requiring customers and staff at essential businesses such as grocery stores to wear face coverings to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The order will follow requirements in place throughout...
Soquel man returns home after three-week quarantine
SOQUEL—Allen Stobaugh and his wife Mary were at the tail end of a 15-day cruise to the Hawaiian Islands—and were on their way for a final stop in Ensenada, Mexico—when their trip was waylaid by the novel coronavirus.
Twenty-one passengers tested positive for the coronavirus,...
Watsonville Police arrest suspected arsonist
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police on April 16 arrested a homeless man for allegedly setting two fires.
Elio Ortega, 41, was charged with arson. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail, jail records showed.
Ortega was arrested after officers responded to a report...
Local animal shelters adapt to COVID-19 changes
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—In the first few weeks of the countywide shelter-in-place order, the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS) saw an unprecedented amount of adoptions.
About 126 dogs, cats and rabbits were adopted, including many animals who had been at the shelter for months.
“People said...
Aptos New Leaf closes for one day after worker tests positive for COVID-19
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—New Leaf Community Market closed its new Aptos location on Saturday for a one-day deep cleaning after an employee there tested positive for COVID-19.
Store officials said that the closure was voluntary.
“While healthy authorities have not required us to close the store, we...
County unveils “transformative” youth crisis center
For years, Santa Cruz County lacked a youth crisis center, meaning that young people experiencing a mental health crisis were taken to overloaded emergency...
