Modified: Saturday, May 25th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- As the high school graduation season begins, Monte Vista Christian High School graduated 137 seniors Saturday morning at the school's football stadium in front of a large crowd.
Monte Vista is known for its wide variety of international students, and the ceremony got started with nine students of different nationalities greeting the crowd in nine languages. ...more
Posted: Friday, May 24th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- The final bell doesn't mean the end of the day for hundreds of students across Pajaro Valley Unified School District. For them, that's when the fun begins.
That's thanks to the district's Fitness 4 Life Program, which provides after-school programs that gives students a glimpse of healthy lifestyles through fun activities such as cooking, bicycling, dancing, swimming ...more
Posted: Friday, May 24th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- Watsonville Wetlands Watch on Thursday urged voters to reject Measure T when they cast their vote June 4.
The organization is one of a long list of organizations to come out against the measure, which would annex 95 acres of agricultural land located east of Highway 1 between West Beach Street and Riverside Drive.
...more
Posted: Friday, May 24th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- A new proposal to balance the city's budget spares three police officers from layoffs, but not without creating some challenges in the department, according to an updated budget report by Ezequiel Vega, administrative services director.
The Watsonville City Council will hold a budget study session on Tuesday to look over three budget alternatives.
If concessions ...more
Modified: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013
SANTA CRUZ -- Santa Cruz County District Attorney Bob Lee said at a press conference Thursday that the officer-involved shooting that killed Jeremy Goulet was an appropriate response to a man who had already killed two officers and who intended to continue his "reign of terror."
Lee's statements came at the conclusion of the three-month investigation of the shooting ...more
Posted: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- Watsonville will not have to pay back $1.8 million in property tax funds to California after winning a lawsuit against the state.
At issue were property tax funds allocated by the state before the state officially disbanded its redevelopment agencies. California said that the payments were in error and demanded to be refunded.
"We're glad ...more
Posted: Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- After a proposal to lay off some fire and police personnel went public, the Watsonville City Council heard from community members Tuesday who urged them to find alternatives and protect public safety.
Under one alternative to balance the city's budget, three police officers and three firefighters would be laid off. Also, some higher-ranking positions would be ...more
Posted: Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- Third-grade students from Ohlone Elementary School channeled their inner explorer during a wetland scavenger hunt at Ramsay Park on Tuesday.
Students walked the trails, binoculars in hand, searching for birds, wetland creatures and native plant species on a grant-funded field trip.
Students shouted out what they saw on their nature walk.
"We saw a ...more
Posted: Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
APTOS -- A new community group called Aptos Local Economies (ALE) -- formed to oppose the proposed Safeway expansion at Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center and "promote local economies" -- had its first meeting at the Aptos Grange Tuesday evening.
About 60 people attended to voice their concerns over the proposed development of the 50-year-old shopping center, ...more
Posted: Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- American Medical Response paramedics were out in force Wednesday on a national campaign to teach people how to perform compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR.
Five training stations were set up around Santa Cruz County. In Watsonville, at the Overlook Center, Watsonville firefighters joined AMR personnel in conducting the five-minute, hands-on lesson.
"We're teaching the public about ...more
Posted: Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- The public had its chance Tuesday to meet two candidates vying to fill the president's chair at Cabrillo College in forums in the college's Watsonville and Aptos campuses.
The first of four candidate forums at Cabrillo's Watsonville Center drew a sparse crowd who came to hear presentations from Farley Herzek and Dr. Marie-Elaine Burns.
...more
Modified: Tuesday, May 21st, 2013
SANTA CLARA -- The 50th Super Bowl will be held in the San Francisco Bay Area.
NFL owners voted Tuesday for the 49ers' new stadium as host of the 2016 game. That facility in Santa Clara is due to open for the 2014 season.
San Francisco beat out South Florida, which was stymied in its bid to stage an 11th ...more
Posted: Tuesday, May 21st, 2013
PRUNEDALE -- A motorist died late Monday night after his car shot off of San Juan Road and burst into flames near Highway 101.
California Highway Patrol officer Jessica Madueño said the man was traveling eastbound on San Juan in a 2004 Toyota Camry at 9:45 p.m. As he was making a transition to Dunbarton Road the vehicle shot ...more
Posted: Monday, May 20th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- In a giant old apple packing shed on the outskirts of Watsonville dozens of unfinished piñatas were hanging from the rafters Monday, while several others were drying in the hot mid-day sun.
Once finished, workers would festoon them with colorful crepe paper and decorate them in intricate detail, all so that they can someday be smashed ...more
Posted: Monday, May 20th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- Days after warning a handful of city workers that they face possible layoffs, Watsonville officials on Monday announced a tentative agreement with the Operating Engineers Local 3 union, which represents employees in the Public Works unit.
The workers' group represents approximately 100 employees such as solid waste drivers, water operators, utilities personnel, airport workers and parking ...more
Posted: Monday, May 20th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- The Agriculture History Project staged their annual Day on the Farm Saturday under warm sunny skies. More than a 1,000 people enjoyed the six-hour showcase of what life was like on the farm in earlier days.
A wealth of tools and techniques were demonstrated and people got a chance to roll up their sleeves and discover what ...more
Posted: Monday, May 20th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- Animal shelter officials and Watsonville firefighters rescued an emaciated dog that was stranded on an island in Watsonville Slough Saturday afternoon.
Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter officers received a call around 2 p.m. about an emaciated and lethargic dog stuck on a small island in the Watsonville Slough near Pasadena Court, said Melanie Sobel, general manager ...more
Posted: Friday, May 17th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- A study released Tuesday by the California Nurses Association shows that high hospital charges are discouraging people across the state from seeking medical help and sometimes pushing them toward financial ruin when they do.
According to the report by the California Nurses Association (CNA), Watsonville Community Hospital charges its patients 737 percent more than it actually ...more
Posted: Friday, May 17th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- Pink slips went out to some personnel in the Watsonville Police Department Thursday, Police Chief Manny Solano said, as the City Council is faced with a potentially unbalanced budget during a special meeting on Tuesday.
Firefighters could also be laid off if an agreement is not reached, according to a report by Ezequiel Vega, administrative services ...more
Posted: Friday, May 17th, 2013
CORRALITOS -- Like many young people, Misty Galzan knew what she wanted to do when she grew up.
But for most kids, those dreams often change as they grow older and their life experiences point them in new directions.
That never happened with Galzan, who said she has been an avid artist "as long as I could ...more
Modified: Friday, May 17th, 2013
SANTA CRUZ -- An adult mountain lion made a rare appearance near downtown Santa Cruz Thursday morning, wandering through a motel parking lot, a business complex and jumping over fences in a residential area.
Emergency dispatchers initially received a call of the large cat roaming through the Ramada Inn parking area and around the pool at 7:30 a.m. on ...more
Modified: Thursday, May 16th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- More than a dozen pink slips were issued Thursday as an effort to balance the city budget, according to a source that chose not to be identified.
The pink slips largely fell under the umbrella of the police and fire departments, the source said.
As of 6 p.m. Thursday, little information was available, as city offices were closed.
...more
Posted: Thursday, May 16th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- The California Strawberry Commission, representing more than 400 growers and 100 shippers and processors of strawberries in the state, will be awarding 117 students from the Watsonville area with scholarships for the upcoming school year at a special ceremony at the Kennedy Youth Center today.
Twenty-five of the students are seniors graduating from Pajaro Valley High ...more
Posted: Wednesday, May 15th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- The Watsonville City Council approved a plan to add a new 7-Eleven store on Freedom Boulevard with beer and wine sales Tuesday.
The council voted 5-1, with Councilman Daniel Dodge dissenting and Councilwoman Trina Coffman-Gomez absent.
The store will fill a spot on the corner of Freedom Boulevard and Alta Vista Avenue that has been ...more
Posted: Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- Barbara Garcia, the Watsonville woman who was arrested May 9 after she reportedly beat a child that she was caring for, made her first appearance in court Tuesday. Garbed in maroon prison clothing and wearing wrist shackles, Garcia, 18, was represented by defense attorney, Diana August, in the courtroom of Timothy Volkman.
Garcia, petite and lightly built, ...more
Posted: Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
APTOS -- Two Aptos men are facing sex charges after allegedly sexually assaulting underage girls, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday.
According to the SCSO, Carl Rigor, 22, was arrested May 8 and Eric Ichtertz, 21, on May 13.
Deputies received a call on May 6 for a 13-year-old female runaway who had allegedly ...more
Posted: Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- A Watsonville man was robbed early Tuesday morning by four men, two of them armed, the Watsonville Police Department reported Tuesday.
The victim, 39, was using a public pay phone approximately 12:40 a.m. when he was approached by four males, one of them carrying a knife and the other a gun, according to the WPD.
...more
Posted: Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- A two-car crash Monday around 9 p.m. on Freedom Boulevard resulted in multiple injuries and sent one of the cars crashing into a fence and a front yard.
There were two people in each car, a Mazda and a Lexus sedan, witnesses said. At least two of the occupants were taken from the scene in ambulances. ...more
Posted: Monday, May 13th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- Steve Jackel began his career in wood in his 20s, making mountain dulcimers as part of Rugg and Jackel Music Co.
He shifted away from life as an instrument maker when he realized he wanted a change from an artisanal career.
"I wanted to be a merchant," he said. "I like my avocation and my vocation ...more
Posted: Monday, May 13th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- A window to early days on the farm will be thrust open Saturday at the 11th annual Day on the Farm at the Agriculture History Project.
The free, family-oriented event offers a list of hands-on farm-oriented activities, early day farming technique demonstrations, a tractor rodeo, a barbeque, static displays and plenty of room to stretch out and ...more
Posted: Monday, May 13th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- Watsonville Police on Sunday arrested two juveniles after they were caught trying to break into a classroom at Mintie White Elementary School.
The boys, 15 and 16, were booked into Santa Cruz County Juvenile Hall and charged with burglary, resisting arrest, possession of burglary tools and a probation violation.
The juveniles were caught on ...more
Posted: Monday, May 13th, 2013
WATSONVILLE -- From societal expectations to surviving cancer, youth from across the county will discuss these topics and more during TEDxYouth@Watsonville on Sunday.
More than 20 youth speakers, including 15 from Watsonville, will talk about subjects they are passionate about in front of a crowd at the Henry J. Mello Center, said Lori Butterworth, event organizer.
"It ...more
Posted: Monday, May 13th, 2013
CAPITOLA -- Dressed in the black clerical robes of the Catholic Church, Father Wayne Dawson cuts an impressive figure.
Standing among the statues of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Capitola, where he has been the priest since July, Dawson is welcoming on this cool morning even though he is feeling a bit under the weather and is about ...more
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