Voters to decide on new half-cent sales tax
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously voted to place a half-cent sales tax measure on the November ballot that would fund an array of “safety net” services in the face of looming state and federal cuts.
The board also declared the...
Supervisors to weigh emergency tax measure
In a special meeting Tuesday, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will consider declaring a state of fiscal distress and asking voters to approve a temporary half-cent sales tax that county officials say is needed to offset steep federal funding cuts and protect...
Stuff the Bus volunteers pack 2,500 backpacks for students
More than 150 volunteers gathered Saturday at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz with a simple mission: make sure thousands of Santa Cruz County students are ready to begin the school year.
Working assembly-line style during the 17th annual Stuff the Bus Stuff-A-Thon, volunteers filled...
Aztecas Youth Soccer Club unveils new clubhouse
Christian Chavez was struggling with anxiety while attending Pajaro Valley High School and frequently refused to go.
“I was just staying home,” he said.
Christian, 15, was eventually placed at Sequoia High School, a smaller campus tailored for students struggling academically and emotionally.
He also joined Aztecas...
Community briefs
Hed: Free STEM camp offered for Watsonville youth
Children of the Fields, a local nonprofit focused on expanding educational opportunities for underserved youth, will host a free two-day STEM camp for children ages 6-12 on Aug. 3-4 at the Watsonville Community Center, 275 Main St.
The...
Teen Kitchen Project looks to expand its recipe for community care
When Angela Farley founded Teen Kitchen Project more than a decade ago, the idea was born from one of the most difficult chapters of her life.
As her 5-year-old son underwent chemotherapy, Farley found herself facing an everyday challenge familiar to countless caregivers: after spending...
Wharf to Wharf returns Sunday; includes road closures
The 54th annual Wharf to Wharf Race returns Sunday, bringing thousands of runners and spectators to Santa Cruz County's coastline—and with them, significant traffic delays and road closures.
The popular 6-mile race begins at 8am Sunday, July 26. For the second consecutive year, the start...
PVUSD Trustees renew school resource officer contracts
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District board voted Wednesday night to renew contracts that will keep school resource officers in three high schools across the district. The two items passed 4-2 with trustees Jessica Carrasco and Gabe Medina voting no. Trustee Joy Flynn was...
Community invited to plant fairground flowers
The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation is looking for volunteers to plant flowers for this year’s fair. Every year volunteers help plant more than 2,300 flower starters that will be in full bloom at fair time.
“We will be planting red, white and blue petunias...
County celebrates 250th
Thousands of people lines the mainstreets of Aptos and Watsonville for their annual Fourth of July parades, some staking out their roadside seats the night before. Below is a collection of images from the events.
SPIRIT OF WATSONVILLE
All Watsonville photos by Tarmo Hannula
APTOS WORLD'S SHORTEST...
