News

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project (PVHD) announced Thursday that Watsonville-based berry company Driscoll’s will donate $1.75 million to help save Watsonville Community Hospital.   PVHD is currently fundraising in order to meet a July 1 deadline in order to purchase the hospital. In late May,...

Tarmo Hannula: Robert "Rolo" Leonardich hung up his keys at the Watsonville Police Department Friday for the last time after 41 years of service. About 50 people packed into the briefing room at WPD to share cake and words of respect and recognition of...

WATSONVILLE—When Bike Santa Cruz County approached South County officials to start up a monthly community bike ride, Watsonville Cyclery owner Julian “Jules” Mandujano was eager to get involved. Every last Friday of the month, Mandujano offers up his business at 25 East 5th St. as...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County officials are asking landlords to help alleviate the housing crisis by offering space to people who need permanent housing. County spokesman Jason Hoppin says that a new program, called Rehousing Wave, seeks to help more than 800 people who have...

WATSONVILLE—Jolly old St. Nicholas won’t be squeezing down the chimney and bringing gifts and holiday cheer for weeks. But he made an early visit to Watsonville on Sunday for the city’s Holiday in the Plaza celebration, an annual event that kicks off the city’s end-of-year...

WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Brillante, the ongoing community mosaic project spearheaded by Community Arts Empowerment (CAE), has extended its deadline for art submissions to Feb. 10. Organizers are looking for local artists’ work to be featured on the six-story parking garage on Rodriguez Street, which is attached...

SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce has named Second Harvest Food Bank CEO Willy Elliott-McCrea as this year’s Lifetime Achievement awardee. Santa Cruz Director of Economic Development Bonnie Lipscomb has been named Person of the Year, while Bay Federal Credit Union, 1st Capital...

Weekly events calendar for Sept. 21-27.

WATSONVILLE—When the Santa Cruz County Fair opened Wednesday, Watsonville resident Manuel Monroy was one of the first ones through the gate, his 3-year-old son Leo at his side for the boy’s first fair experience. On their agenda was the popular All Alaskan Pig Races, a...

Words to live by I would like to share an uplifting quote, in these difficult days of the coronavirus, with the Pajaronian readers. It’s a real gem, that is credited to President Theodore Roosevelt, “Believe you can, and you’re halfway there!” Those are wise words from...