News

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...

Nearly one year after she took the helm of the county’s largest school district, Pajaro Valley Unified School District Superintendent Heather Contreras sat down with The Pajaronian to talk about her accomplishments, and the ongoing challenges facing the district. “It’s been a long year, but...

APTOS—Community Foundation Santa Cruz County awarded scholarships to 11 local students, the organization announced July 10. Pajaro Valley High School students Reyna Ponce (Barbara J. Thompson Scholarship), Omar Salazar (Emmett and Elsie Geiser Scholarship), Brianna Melgoza-Ortiz (Hank Garcia Jr. and Family Scholarship), Adam Tangonan (Hank...

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...

Two years ago Amy Thomas, principal at Watsonville Charter School of the Arts, noticed that her students were getting a bit restless during and in between classes. She and staff began searching for something both educational and physical to engage the kids during the...

Twenty Watsonville artists are participating in the Arts Council of Santa Cruz County’s Open Studios, up from 12 in 2016, according to Open Studios and Events Director Ann Ostermann.

Update (1pm, Oct. 16) The Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit (CZU) announced that the evacuation orders put in place Friday evening in response to the Estrada Fire have been changed to evacuation warnings. It also announced that the fire was 25% contained. ORIGINAL STORY WATSONVILLE—Firefighters battling a...

People enjoy viewing dozens of classic cars, hot rods and muscle cars at the Capitola Rod & Custom Classic Car Show Saturday.

MOSS LANDING—Two women died after their car plunged into the water of Moss Landing Harbor sometime late Friday night or early Saturday morning. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victims as Maria Vanessa Carrango, 35, and Esther Monique Espinoza, 28, both of Salinas....