Council approves self-storage facility near airport
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council on Jan. 17 unanimously approved the construction of a new self-storage facility to be located in the long abandoned, weed-choked parking lot between Watsonville Municipal Airport and the Community Hospital.
Located at 70 Nielsen St., the facility—called Crocker’s Lockers—will offer 1,072...
Caroline’s Thrift donates $550,000 to local nonprofits
SANTA CRUZ—In 2022, Coastal Kids Home Care provided in-home nursing care for 65 children with serious and life-threatening illnesses, work that also benefited 228 family members.
Such services are vital in Santa Cruz County, where an estimated 1,700 young people need such services, says Christine...
Stephen Kessler named 2023 Artist of the Year
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Writer Stephen Kessler has been named the 2023 Artist of the Year by the Santa Cruz County Arts Commission.
Kessler has written a dozen volumes of original poetry, 16 books of literary translation, three collections of essays and a novel, “The Mental Traveler.”...
Man shot, killed during fight in Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—A man was killed after he was shot late Sunday night during a struggle with another man on Sunny Hills Drive at Herman Court.
Watsonville Police Sgt. Charles Bailey said police got reports of gunfire following a fight between at least two men in a...
President Biden flies into Watsonville to tour county storm damage
WATSONVILLE—President Joe Biden touched down at Watsonville Municipal Airport on Thursday, a visit that followed his emergency declaration on Jan. 9, which allows businesses and residents that suffered damage and loss in the recent spate of storms to receive federal aid.
After touring Capitola Village...
Financial help available for California storm victims, but it can be difficult to get
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Soon after President Joe Biden declared a major disaster for the areas of California besieged by a series of atmospheric river storms on Jan. 9—a move that allowed victims to request financial help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency—Watsonville resident Amy Thomas...
Community Bridges offering free cleanup tool rental program
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Community Bridges is providing cleanup tools and resources at Family Resource Collective (FRC) locations, aiming to help the community recover from the floods and mudslides produced by the recent storms.
Residents can rent items such as air movers, dehumidifiers, wet/dry vacs, carpet cleaners,...
Ag industry reeling from floods
PAJARO VALLEY—As the intense series of atmospheric river storms wane, many farmers and agriculture workers across the state of California are left reeling from flood impacts.
Many streams, creeks and major rivers in Northern and Central California overflowed their banks during the deluge, sending water...
Varni celebrates 100th birthday
Longtime Watsonville resident Virginia Varni recently celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends.
She was born on Jan. 11, 1923 in Breckenridge, Texas to Charles and Grace Leonard. The family moved to Southern California and Varni gave the first-ever radio broadcast from first...
PHOTO: Preparing for Biden’s Santa Cruz County arrival
An armed man keeps watch over the U.S. Presidential helicopter at Watsonville Municipal Airport Wednesday during a practice run for the arrival of President Joe Biden set for Thursday. Two massive U.S. Marine V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor airplanes arrived in concert with two helicopters at...
County Supervisors declare local emergency
In a brief special meeting Friday, three Santa Cruz County Supervisors declared a local emergency, which will allow officials to request state and federal...
