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Watsonville
December 26, 2025

What should replace Kmart?

kmart building Watsonville
It’s been more than half a year since the Kmart on Freedom Boulevard closed its doors for good. And as someone who constantly drives past the shell of the former community hotspot, it pains me to see what that location has become. On top...

Watsonville Mayor's Update, December 2018

The holidays are a festive time of year when we share special moments with our family, friends and loved ones, and look ahead to a new year filled with promise and opportunity.

Watsonville mayor's update, Sept. 14

Watsonville mayor's update, Sept. 14, 2017

Dutra: Democracy is on the ballot

jimmy dutra
By JIMMY DUTRA We have seen politics hit an all-time low in our community. Behavior that has been more common at the national and state level has arrived in our local politics. It has moved from “what I can do for the people” into “how...

Mayor’s column August 2025: In praise of the airport

When people hear “Watsonville Airport,” it often brings to mind moments of resilience and pride—whether it was serving as a crucial lifeline after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, playing a key emergency role during the 2020 CZU fires, or even welcoming a presidential visit...

Guy George selected as Farmer of the Year

WATSONVILLE—Guy George has been selected as the 2022 Farmer of the Year by the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau. The annual award is presented to farmer(s) who have contributed “beyond their normal farming duties to help the community,” according to SCFB.  George has been farming in...

Ag industries buoyed by federal loans

CENTRAL COAST—The Paycheck Protection Program helped save at least 17,000 agricultural jobs throughout the tri-county area, according to data released by the Small Business Administration on July 6. The program, a part of the more than $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES)...

Tanya Ridino, Doug Keegan and Miriam Stombler, Oct. 12: Protecting our community’s children

No matter how you feel about immigration policy, we can all agree that we want all children to be and feel safe. As a team of community leaders and activists, we are working to make sure all children have a secure place to live should something happen to their parents.

Berry yields dip as harvest wraps up

Santa Cruz County
WATSONVILLE—California’s strawberry season is coming to a close. While sales remained strong throughout the summer, growers have seen production dip slightly. Carolyn O’Donnell, communications director for the California Strawberry Commission (CSC), said that after the season’s initial hardships, things eventually leveled off and demand actually...

Carmageddon: Highway 1 closed for 24 hours

The California Highway Patrol closed north and southbound lanes of Highway 1 in Soquel Saturday at 7pm to make way for Granite Construction crews to demolish the 1948 Capitola Avenue bridge above the highway. The closure and carefully crafted detour between Bay/Porter and Park Avenue...
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Affordable housing project back on track

Construction is set to resume on Haven Plaza, a 35-unit permanent supportive housing community at 2838 Park Ave. in Soquel after developers secured critical...

ICE becomes an autocratic tool