News

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...

As the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors prepares to approve its $1.04 billion budget—a process that includes presentations from every department later this month—they must consider a grim prediction: a recession will hit this year, and is estimated to last the better part...

As election results continued to roll in Tuesday night, Measure N came out swinging, with 69.9% of voters approving it. That number had dipped to 68.5% early Wednesday morning just barely making the required two-thirds supermajority. Measure N would provide $116 million for Watsonville Community Hospital...

This home at 20 9th St. in Watsonville is boarded up early Wednesday morning after fire tore through the living room.

Ivan Alcaraz spent the entirety of his childhood education in Pajaro Valley Unified School District.

WATSONVILLE—During a recent cleaning of her house, Aromas author and artist Joyce Oroz discovered a set of acrylic paintings tucked away in a corner of her attic.  She had painted the pieces about 20 years prior and almost forgotten about them.  “I knew I couldn’t just...

Drag show raises funds for Pajaro flood victims A Drag Queen & Burlesque benefit show to raise money for the Pajaro community affected by the recent flood will take place on April 2 from 1-7pm at Fruition Brewing, 918 East Lake Ave. in Watsonville. The event...

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—This year, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Toys For Tots will not be hosting public collection sites for toy donations for the first time in its history. Normally, the collection points at fire stations and businesses throughout the county are responsible for the...

In the first months of the pandemic, Dientes Community Dental Care was forced to close its clinics throughout  Santa Cruz County. The nonprofit organization, which aims to give people access to high-quality, affordable oral healthcare, had initially not been considered essential. For more than two...

I see that The Chop Shop barbershop is close to opening in the former Plaza Jewelers on the ground floor of the Resetar Hotel on Main Street at West Lake Avenue. The jewelry store moved nearby to East Fifth Street. • Renovation work continues on Taqueria...