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Watsonville
April 15, 2026

Art on the battlefield: Karate instructor aims to preserve tradition

Sensei Fred Castillo has continued practicing and teaching karate in Watsonville for decades.

Photo: Brush fire quickly tamed

watsonville slough brush fire
Watsonville firefighters chase back a brush fire that opened up around 1:35pm at the edge of Watsonville Sough near the corner of Santa Catalina and Santa Victoria avenues Tuesday. Battalion Chief Jon Goulding said firefighters got a quick handle of the blaze that had...

Newsom says California fires have charred 771K acres

Gavin Newsome
By Jake Pierce, Good Times News Editor Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced that California’s firefighting crews are now trying to suppress 560 fires, most of them stemming from dry lightning strikes that first began Aug. 16. Statewide, 771,000 acres—an area the size of Rhode Island—have burned...

Holiday lights show opens at fairgrounds

For the past year, volunteers at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds have been working to build up the annual holiday lights show. Now in its fifth year, the show—now called Sparky’s Holiday Lights—draws people from around the county to drive through the lighted fairgrounds. It is...

Latest storm prompts evacuation warnings in Watsonville, Pajaro

cloudy skies storm watsonville
WATSONVILLE—Santa Cruz County officials late Wednesday warned residents to be prepared for a high possibility of flooding, as the Watsonville Police Department issued evacuation warnings for the neighborhoods west of Corralitos Creek, the same areas that flooded during the series of storms that hit...

Heavy weather tramples county

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Heavy rain and winds have led to numerous mud and rock slides, toppled trees and flooding around the county. Power and communication lines have also been torn to the ground with dozens of road closures being reported. The National Weather Service said heavy...

Dolores Huerta to speak at César E. Chávez Community Awards

Dolores Huerta
The 20th Annual César E. Chávez Community Awards, which honors community members and businesses that empower Watsonville youth, will be held virtually on March 28. This year’s special guest speaker will be Dolores Huerta, legendary leader and celebrated Latina activist. Huerta worked alongside César...

Newsom signs bill to fast-track Pajaro Levee work

pajaro river levee breach flood
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday signed legislation that will expedite the reconstruction of the Pajaro River Levee, moving construction start and completion time years earlier than anticipated. Assembly Bill 876 fast-tracks the work by exempting the project from certain local environmental laws and regulations under...

Watsonville resident takes to the sky on 92nd birthday

Marie Roberts was just 3 years old when she first started to dream of flying. Born in Nebraska in 1928, Roberts watched her father install a large, multi-unit birdhouse in their home’s yard. She was immediately transfixed. “I looked up at those creatures and I started...

Santa Cruz County Supervisors approve emergency declaration

santa cruz county weather
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Supervisors on Tuesday ratified an emergency declaration for the winter storms that occurred on Dec. 13. County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios made the initial declaration on Dec. 21. The decision will allow the county to receive state funding under...
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Pajaro Valley Chamber awards announced

Every year the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture names its annual awardees, selecting the people, organizations and events that help shape the...