News

SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) CEO Alex Clifford on Friday announced that he is leaving the agency effective Jan. 21. Clifford will be CEO of the San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD), he announced. The announcement came six months after the METRO Board of...

Karina Ahumada waves a Mexican flag next to a 1964 Cadillac owned by Rene Sanchez on Brennan Street Thursday, which was Mexican Independence Day. In Mexican history, the day commemorates the moment when Father Hidalgo, a priest and leader, called for Mexico's liberation from...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council met Saturday to get an update on the current Strategic Plan, which was adopted in June 2021.   The council adopts a new plan every two years and the 2021-23 plan outlines seven long-range priorities, which are housing, infrastructure and the environment,...

WATSONVILLE—The historic Derpich Building in downtown Watsonville is coming alive once again after being acquired by two sisters with a big vision.   Jennifer Santillana and Tabitha Stroup found the property for rent when strolling down Main Street. Stroup, owner of Friend in Cheeses Jam Co....

Twin Lakes Church’s sixth annual World’s Biggest Garage Sale is set for Saturday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

I noticed a crew from Northwest Signs taking down the long-standing sign on Wendy's on Freedom Boulevard Monday to make way for an updated sign. While CEO Emil Brolick said the existing logo had served the company well for the past three decades, he...

Pajaro Valley Pride will hold its “Empowering our Future Picnic Fundraiser” on Saturday.

WATSONVILLE—The California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) recently presented various awards to K&D Landscaping, Inc., a Central Coast landscape contractor, during its annual convention.   “The awards represent peak excellence within the landscaping industry and aim to shine a light on the talent and hard work...

WATSONVILLE—As thousands of students throughout Pajaro Valley Unified School District bid farewell to their summer and prepare for a new year, educators and school employees are readying classrooms, sharpening pencils and honing their lesson plans. Such back-to-school preparations have always been a normal part of...

Editor’s note: This is the first entry of a weekly four-part series about the Pajaro Valley’s Japanese community. The series will culminate on Aug. 14, coinciding with this year’s celebration of the Obon Festival, a cultural and religious Japanese event honoring one’s ancestors.  By Hugh...