Bus operators push back on METRO’s rider increases
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz METRO has increased its passenger capacity by 50% in an effort to accommodate more riders, but that decision has raised concerns within the union representing the bus operators still working during the Covid-19 pandemic.
METRO CEO Alex Clifford announced on June...
State prioritizes farmworkers for Covid-19 vaccinations
CALIFORNIA—As California deals with a surge of Covid-19 cases, hope is in sight as the vaccine begins to be administered to healthcare workers and long-term care residents.
And on Jan. 13, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared that farmworkers would be included in the next tier.
The announcement...
Aptos celebrates 100 years of the S.S. Palo Alto
This year marks the S.S. Palo Alto’s 100th anniversary. The concrete ship, built in 1919, has been situated in the water off Seacliff State Beach since January 1930. On May 18, the Aptos History Museum kicked off a series of events planned to celebrate the milestone with a special History Talk.
Historic Aptos building faces uncertain future after Sunday night fire
RIO DEL MAR—A fire that apparently started in a pile of rubble in an alleyway behind the SeaBreeze Tavern late Sunday night has destroyed the building, bringing to a close a story that began when it was built 92 years ago in what was...
Ella Porter, kid reporter
When news breaks, rest assured that 10-year-old kid reporter Ella Porter is on the story.
Ella is one of 45 young journalists from 10 countries who were recently chosen to write for the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps.
Car stop leads to significant drug bust
SANTA CRUZ—A man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a large number of illegal drugs for sale Monday on the West Side of Santa Cruz.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic Enforcement Team found Michael Rodgers in his car near Shaefer Road at Delaware...
Five mid-county stores cited in alcohol, tobacco sting
APTOS—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies issued misdemeanor citations at five mid-county businesses after employees allegedly sold alcohol or tobacco to minor decoys, Sheriff’s Lt. Greg Lansdowne said.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Alcohol and Tobacco Compliance Unit conducted the Nov. 7 decoy operation at...
Rio Theater Concert to benefit Andy Vargas Foundation
WATSONVILLE—Wherever he is touring in the world, Santana lead singer Andy Vargas makes sure to let everyone know about his hometown of Watsonville.
“I’ve always been proud to be from Watsonville,” Vargas said. “I tell people that they’ve probably ate our berries or drank our...
Around Aptos — November 2018
Please join us on Dec. 1 for our Holiday Tree Lighting at the Redwood Tree next to the entrance to Aptos Village Park. This will be our 25th year of celebrating the lighting with the children and adults in our community. Santa will arrive by fire truck, there will be lots of music and dancing, and games for the young and young at heart.
Emergency repairs for county roads granted extensions
The Federal Highway Administration agreed to reinstate time extensions allowing dozens of emergency winter storm road repair projects in the unincorporated parts of the county to move forward.
This time extensions mean projects will remain eligible to receive federal emergency relief funds previously committed to...
