News

In a tower at the center of Graniterock’s 1,000-acre Wilson Quarry in Aromas, Plant Operator Cesar Barajas sits in front of an array of 22 computer screens, each of them showing various aspects of the company’s vast and complex operation, which is manned by...

The 48th Annual Heritage Holiday Craft & Gift Fair will run Friday and Saturday at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.  This year the event will feature 110 crafters and 120 booths featuring crafts, gifts, antiques, collectibles, toys, holiday foods, edible gifts and more.  “It’s the perfect...

Cabrillo College’s Board of Trustees on Monday appointed Francisco “Paco” Estrada to fill the Trustee Area V seat. The seat—which includes the City of Watsonville and the southern portion of Freedom—was left vacant last month when former trustee Manuel Bersamin died. Watsonville Mayor Maria Orozco swore...

Watsonville can begin clearing a large homeless encampment on Airport Boulevard after the City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution to allow city officials to “abate the public nuisance.” The council declared the parcel a public nuisance on Nov. 18.  The 2.75-acre wooded property lies...

A man was arrested late last month on multiple felony charges after he ditched a loaded gun and ran from Capitola Police. The incident began when Capitola Police conducted a traffic stop for vehicle code violations near the Capitola Mall. As the stop began, a...

Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating after a body was found floating in the Pajaro River Sunday just beyond the levee, shown here behind a farm on the 100 block of Riverside Road near Blackburn Street.  Sgt. Zach West of the Santa Cruz County...

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 from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 300-block of Espinoza Road in Salinas following a report of an...

Watsonville Police Chief David Rodriguez on Nov. 25 arrested an armed Watsonville gang member carrying a backpack with drugs and ammunition after a brief chase. Issac Sigala, 18, is facing several felony charges including illegally possessing a firearm, participation in a criminal street gang and...

On Nov. 16, Pajaro Valley Unified School District, in partnership with Free Guitars 4 Kids (FG4K) and Arts Council Santa Cruz County’s Mariposa Arts program, celebrated with 120 students who received their own guitars. The event at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s The Grove Ballroom showcased...

This holiday season, the community is invited to support the region’s business owners and artists. The Watsonville Holiday Factory Sale is scheduled for Dec 6.  For the first time, the event will be co-hosted by El Pájaro Community Development Corporation and the Pajaro Valley Chamber of...