Toys For Tots Santa Cruz County drive in high gear
Every year, a group of volunteers works to make sure that children in need have a toy to unwrap on Christmas day.
This behind-the-scenes work, which begins in late summer, is no small feat. It requires wrangling donations of cash and items to build a...
Demanding Divestment
After a late spring rain storm hit the area over the weekend, UC Santa Cruz students continued their protest of the Israel-Gaza war, occupying the University’s Quarry Plaza in an action meant to pressure the school into divesting from companies tied to Israel and...
Supervisors approve half-cent sales tax for March ballot
Santa Cruz County residents will consider a half-cent sales tax on the March 5 ballot which, if approved by a simple majority, will fund wildfire protection programs, as well as public safety, road and park improvements and other services.
The Santa Cruz County Board of...
Watsonville Plaza redesign efforts underway
Plans are underway to install four larger-than-life sculptures in downtown Watsonville as part of an overall redesign of Watsonville Plaza.
While the historical gazebo/bandstand, designed by famed architect William Weeks, will still maintain its spot in the plaza center, ideas are being discussed to retrofit...
Crowds demand Santa Cruz County elected leaders issue ceasefire resolutions
Hundreds of people packed city and county meeting chambers throughout the day on Tuesday to ask local elected leaders to pass resolutions demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict. The action resulted in the Santa Cruz City Council creating a special meeting to discuss...
PHOTOS: Santa Claus lands in Watsonville
Melissa Arana, 3, pays visit to Santa Monday at Ramsay Park in Watsonville after Santa and one of his helpers landed in a helicopter. More than 100 people lined up to watch the landing in a soccer field and then stepped up to greet...
Briefs: Holiday Mercado; Homeless Memorial
Holiday Mercado honors Watsonville’s past, present and future
Arte del Corazón will be hosting its Annual Holiday Mercado, “Just in Time for the Holidays,” at the VFW, 1960 Freedom Blvd., on Dec. 16 from 11am to 7pm.
Featuring more than 25 vendors with gifts, holiday treats...
Santa Cruz County supervisors approve emergency declaration for storm damages
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved an emergency declaration for the damages sustained in the storm surges on Dec. 28 and 30.
County officials estimate that the waves, which inundated Capitola Village, slammed Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf and wreaked havoc...
Honoring the homeless who died this year
About seven years ago, Marie Riggs was living in a homeless shelter and addicted to alcohol, wondering how she would survive this low point in her life.
“I was a hopeless mess,” she said. “I had no idea how to live, I didn’t know how...
Teens found with large amount of drugs
Two teenagers were arrested recently by Capitola Police after officers found them with a large amount of drugs.
Capitola Police said the two juveniles were stopped for public intoxication. During a search, police found hundreds of Xanax-style pills, 30 grams of psilocybin “magic mushrooms,” several...
Truck plunges into creek in Watsonville
END OVER END Tow operators from Chaz Towing work on a plan to haul a GMC Sierra pickup out of Corralitos Creek on...