Measure U extension placed on November ballot
WATSONVILLE—Should Watsonville expand outward in an effort to meet mounting housing and economic needs? Or will it continue to restrict its growth, and increase its housing density in favor of protecting every inch of the rich surrounding agricultural land?
These are the questions Watsonville voters...
Porter Building again up for sale
WATSONVILLE—The City of Watsonville is once again looking to fill the historic Porter Building in downtown.
City officials on Nov. 12 released a request for proposals (RFP) for the sale or long-term lease of the two-story, 15,000-square-foot building at the corner of Main and Maple...
County reports 8th Covid-19 related death
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Public Health Division announced Wednesday morning the eighth death of a resident due to Covid-19.
The resident, who died in their home, was a Hispanic male in his early 40s who lived in South County. While the individual had...
Man arrested near U.S.-Mexico border prime suspect in Watsonville homicide
WATSONVILLE—A Santa Cruz man has been arrested on suspicion of killing his reported girlfriend at an apartment complex on the 300 block of Clifford Avenue Tuesday evening.
Watsonville Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Pulido said Mexican authorities near the San Luis, Ariz. border crossing to Mexico...
Faith leaders create virtual vigil for Post Acute patients
WATSONVILLE—On Nov. 9, Rae Ann Radford, the new Administrator for Watsonville Post Acute announced that the facility is cleared of the Covid-19 outbreak, not having had another positive case since Oct. 9.
The encouraging news came after a total of 15 Covid-related deaths occurred at...
Land Trust to host public event for 40th anniversary
Local nonprofit organization Land Trust of Santa Cruz County will host its annual Bee Barn Bash on Saturday, and for the first time the event will be open to the public.
Work program aimed at homeless individuals continues growth
WATSONVILLE—The streets of Watsonville continue to get tidied up thanks to an ever-expanding group of people experiencing homelessness that bands together and hits the streets under the WatsonvilleWorks! program.
Founded in September 2019 by a group of human services leaders, the program has thus far...
Alleged sheriff’s sergeant killer waives preliminary hearing
SANTA CRUZ—The man who allegedly fatally shot Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller in Ben Lomond last year during a violent crime spree waived his preliminary hearing Monday in Santa Cruz County Superior Court.
The move means Steven Carrillo, who appeared in the courtroom...
The flight of a lifetime
Watsonville resident Don Spence, a Korean War veteran, added another chapter to his own story in April, when he went on an Honor Flight with 25 other veterans.
Jim Barsi—owner of Barsi’s Liquor Store—dies
James Joseph “Jim” Barsi, who ran his eponymous liquor store on East Lake Avenue for a half-century before selling the business and retiring in...
