Boardwalk’s ‘Main Entrance’ project moves forward
The $14 million project, which broke ground in September, will include two new rides, more ticket windows, a new Fright Walk experience, two arenas for The Vault Lazer Maze and more. Despite a wet winter that slowed construction, park officials are eyeing
Man shot multiple times in Santa Cruz gun battle
SANTA CRUZ—A man was shot multiple times early Saturday morning on the west side of Santa Cruz.
The victim was reportedly walking on the 100 block of West Cliff Drive at 2:34 a.m. when he was confronted by another person, said Joyce Blaschke, Community Relations...
St. John’s Helpful Shop finds a new home
When the women of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist first opened their thrift shop, it was solely to raise money for a new carpet.
New Captain at local CHP
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz area California Highway Patrol has brought aboard a new Captain, Aron Ching.
Born and raised in the Hawaiian Islands, Ching moved to California to pursue a career with the CHP and has been with the department for 23 years.
His new...
Artist showing work at Showtime Pizzeria
Aptos artist Becky Olvera Schultz is showing her work at Showtime Pizzeria, 7960 Soquel Drive, Suite E, through February.
Suspected jewelry store burglar arrested
APTOS — Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies on Thursday arrested a man thought to be responsible for at least one burglary from a business in the area of Aptos and Capitola.
Young engineers to vie for world championship
APTOS — Last year, the Aptos High School robotics team took top honors in both state and international competitions for building a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that performed a series of complex underwater tasks.
In doing so, the team bested competitors from around the globe.
The group of 12, who are aged 15-17, is called Watsonville Firefighters Seal Team 1272 after the group that sponsored them.
“The competition was an amazing experience and a great place to observe and learn from the machines other people built,” team programmer Pratham Rathi said.
ROVs are human controlled robots that are employed to solve a variety of jobs in places where humans cannot reach.
The ROV Jason, for example, was used to observe the wreckage of the sunken Titanic.
The team’s ROV is Argo V, a nod to the ship of Greek myth in which Jason and his compatriots sailed to retrieve the Golden Fleece.
Now, having again won the Marine Advanced Technology Education center annual ROV competition at Watsonville High School on May 12, the team is once again preparing to defend its international crown.
That competition — held this year in Seattle, Wash. from June 22-25 — draws elite young engineers from around the globe who pit their homebuilt, underwater robots against each other.
Adult education graduates find prosperity by looking within
WATSONVILLE—When April Ortiz became pregnant during her senior year at Watsonville High School, severe morning sickness and other complications sidelined her education.
Then came the birth.
“Mothering was a new life and a new experience,” she said.
Ortiz, now 26, received her GED on May 22 from...
Supreme Court bans employment discrimination based on sexuality, gender identity
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United States Supreme Court made a historic ruling Monday, determining employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is prohibited under federal law.
The decision is the most significant victory for LGBTQ rights in the U.S. since the legalization of...
Pedestrian struck, killed on Highway 1
APTOS—A man was struck and killed by an SUV early Thursday morning on Highway 1 in Aptos.
California Highway Patrol Officer Alyssa Gutierrez said the victim was wandering around the southbound lanes on foot around 6:20am when he was struck by a Honda CRV driven...