Santa Cruz County grappling with millions in unpaid federal disaster relief
Santa Cruz County officials are considering a plan to borrow money to help pay for costs of the CZU fires, the Covid pandemic, the storms and floods from early 2023 and other federal disasters that have beset the county.
County staff will return to the...
Four candidates apply for Santa Cruz County Fair CEO position
The Santa Cruz County Fair Board reported on Tuesday that there are four candidates for CEO to replace former fairgrounds manager Dave Kegebein.
The board noted the CEO applications have been reviewed and the candidates have gone through an initial interview process. The candidates are...
Work underway to strengthen levees and prepare for winter rains
Next year, work crews will kick off a $400 million project to rebuild the levees in South Santa Cruz and North Monterey counties and keep the rivers and creeks from escaping and devastating the surrounding communities.
That long-anticipated work will be a relief to the...
Council sets hours for brewpubs
The Watsonville City Council agreed Tuesday to allow up to five brewpubs in commercial areas, paving the way for what some are calling a new type of social gathering space in the city.
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...
Pajaro Valley Chamber names honorees for 2023
WATSONVILLE—Guy George, whose roots in Pajaro Valley agriculture stretch back to his immigrant parents, has earned this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture.
George joins Trina Coffman-Gomez and Dana Sales as Woman and Man of the Year, along...
Fundraiser for slain Sheriff’s deputy raises more than $320k
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Peace Officers Research Association of California has established a fundraiser for the family of Damon Gutzwiller, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Deputy who was shot and killed in the line of duty Saturday in Ben Lomond.
The account has collected more than...
Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore moving to downtown Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Planning Commission at its Tuesday meeting unanimously approved an application from Habitat For Humanity to fill a vacant portion of a large building on the 500 block of Main Street.
Formerly home to a bounce house business, the 555 Main St. location adjacent...
Former Watsonville mayor pulls papers to run for council
WATSONVILLE—Two weeks into the candidate nomination period for the Nov. 8 election, several familiar names have surfaced on city and county “candidate watch” lists.
This includes former mayor and councilwoman Nancy Bilicich, who on Monday pulled papers to run for the District 7 seat, which...
PVUSD trustees cut school employee, teacher positions
After the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees late Thursday night made sweeping cuts to 78 classified positions, newly appointed Board President...
