Jimmy Dutra’s civil trial begins
Watsonville City Councilman Jimmy Dutra was in Santa Cruz County Superior Court Tuesday, where jury selection began for his civil trial.
The trial is expected to last through Sept. 13, Judge Timothy Schmal told the mostly empty courtroom.
Dutra is accused of sexually abusing a boy...
PVUSD eliminates School Resource Officer program
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees on Wednesday voted to permanently end its School Resource Officer program at Watsonville, Pajaro Valley and Aptos high schools, and to redirect the funds to socio-emotional counselors.
The district will also look into creating wellness centers...
Five local elected seats to go unopposed
WATSONVILLE—Kristal Salcido says that she had for months planned to spend the final weeks leading up to the Nov. 8 election walking door-to-door throughout Watsonville’s Fourth District to drum up support for her city council run.
On Wednesday, Salcido received the news that whether or...
PVUSD trustees approve $315M bond for November election
If Pajaro Valley Unified School District performed all the upgrades, repairs and construction projects that are needed at its 33 schools, it would cost more than $1.2 billion.
A large part of that estimate is $400 million to replace the district’s array of portable classrooms
That’s...
Melee over food cart captures community attention
SANTA CRUZ—A recent clash between a Santa Cruz restaurant owner and a mobile hot dog vendor has drawn countywide attention, forcing one restaurant to close its doors and prompting demonstrations that have drawn hundreds of supporters.
According to Santa Cruz Police spokeswoman Joyce Blaschke, the...
A day to honor veterans
The Veterans Day parade begins every year at 10am from St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish, and typically includes an assemblage of former military members from every branch of service, and from wars dating back to WWII.
Led by Watsonville Police and members of the U.S. Naval...
New interim manager: the Santa Cruz County Fair is a go
The interim manager of the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds has a message for the community as the summer draws near: with a team of people ready to help and a community ready for the much-loved event, the fair is on track to open as...
Restaurants, markets open for community | About Town
Johanna Miller
A lot has happened since I last wrote for About Town. The global COVID-19 crisis is unlike anything most of us have experienced. While I’m grateful that my friends and family are safe and healthy, I cannot help but worry every day.
My job...
Watsonville schools to compete in SCCAL when Covid restrictions loosen
The Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League on Wednesday took a big step forward in the anticipated return of high school sports, announcing its 2021 sports seasons for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year. The board of managers took it a step further with...
Santa Cruz, Monterey counties to test wireless emergency system Thursday
Officials in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties will conduct a test of the Wireless Emergency Alert system on Thursday, sending emergency messages to mobile...
