Watsonville redistricting committee probes draft maps, incumbency rules
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Community Redistricting Advisory Committee is closing in on its final recommendations to the Watsonville City Council for how the city’s district lines should be redrawn.
Every decade following the release of census data, jurisdictions must adjust their district lines to account for possible...
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...
First all-female mariachi in U.S. returns to Santa Cruz
Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, the first all-female mariachi in the United States, will perform in Santa Cruz on Sunday.
Pajaro Middle receives $10K for musical instruments
For the past two years the Dan & Lillian King Foundation, which aims to advance the learning of the U.S. Constitution, has sent scores of eighth-graders from Monterey County schools to see live productions of the Tony Award-winning show, “Hamilton: An American Musical.”
Hundreds of...
El Pájaro celebrating 40 years of helping businesses
El Pájaro CDC this year is celebrating 40 years of transforming people’s lives through entrepreneurship by taking the confusion, guesswork and complexity out of starting small businesses. By offering technical, legal, financial and managerial assistance, El Pájaro CDC has helped launch and nurture small businesses while bolstering economic development within the community.
A look back on notable stories of 2025
As the new year approaches, we take a look at the stories and imagesthat captured the most attention over the past year. All photos are by Pajaronian photographer Tarmo Hannula.
January
TERMINAL CONDITION
The year started off with a literal bang, as the battery energy storage system...
Boardwalk’s ‘Main Entrance’ project moves forward
About 15 years ago, officials from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk began looking at a project, dubbed “Centennial Plaza,” that would give the park a grand front entrance complete with more ticket booths, rides, attractions and more.
Measure L funds nearly spent as 10-year anniversary nears
WATSONVILLE—In 2012, voters within the Pajaro Valley Unified School District approved Measure L, a $150 million bond that has funded construction and rehabilitation projects at nearly every facility in the district.
And, one decade after its passage, the bond is drawing to a close.
According to...
Panetta secures $3.15M for Santa Cruz Wharf repairs
When the end of the Santa Cruz Municipal wharf was smashed by surging waves during storms in December 2024, representatives from Congressman Jimmy Panetta’s office called the city’s Parks and Recreation director Tony Elliot to offer help within about an hour.
Elliot said the speed...
Saldana’s record-setting performance lifts ‘Catz flag football over PCS | Weeklys...
The Watsonville High girls flag football team extended their win streak to four following a crushing 40-0 victory over Pacific Collegiate School in Pacific...
