News

SANTA CRUZ—For two decades, Santa Cruz County has held a ceremony to remember the homeless people who died during the year. The annual Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day has long been a somber occasion, often marked by stories of the deceased people. Too often, it is...

A weekly column that celebrates local businesses — especially eateries, watering holes, coffee shops and the like. Tarmo Hannula Food: Bantam  My wife Sarah and I recently had a great dinner at Bantam on the west side of Santa Cruz. Opened in 2012 Bantam, 1010 Fair Ave.,...

WATSONVILLE—Monterey Mushrooms, Inc., the nation’s largest mushroom grower, has agreed to pay $2.24 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that the company illegally discharged “hundreds of thousands of gallons of wastewater” into nearby waterways. Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen’s Office stated that the...

WATSONVILLE—Yocelyn Gonzalez, a senior at Pajaro Valley High School, shadowed outgoing Watsonville Mayor Francisco “Paco” Estrada and recently seated Mayor Rebecca Garcia on Wednesday after winning the Mayor for the Day essay contest earlier this month. Gonzalez followed the two leaders from 9 a.m. to...

Special events California Mural Artists in the Heart of the Valley (Dec. 21) Artists often work in isolation, and yet are aware of the work of their peers. Come experience the magic when these masters meet for the first time. Fifteen artists invited, including 10 confirmed renowned...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz Gives, the digital giving movement founded by the Pajaronian’s sister publication Good Times and Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, is close to hitting its goal this holiday season. The campaign raises money for various nonprofits across the county which support...

SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors retooled the county’s syringe exchange program during its Dec. 10 meeting, limiting the amount that people can trade for clean ones on behalf of other people.  This practice, known as secondary exchange, is believed by advocates to...

WATSONVILLE—A pair of large housing developments in Watsonville—responsible for 237 units combined—are stuck in limbo. Hillcrest Estates, formerly Sunshine Vista, and Pacific Sunshine Garden have run into unexpected snags over the past months that have created serious doubts as to whether either will be completed.  The...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Just 24 hours after thousands of people rallied around the country in favor of impeaching President Donald Trump, including Watsonville and Santa Cruz, those people got their wish. On Wednesday Trump became the third president in U.S. history to be impeached. The House...

Tarmo Hannula President Donald Trump was impeached Wednesday by the House of Representatives on two articles, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. We’ve all heard Trump’s unending list of labels for this: lies, sham, fraud, hoax, shameful, scam, witch hunt, distortion, untruthful, mean, disastrous...