CENTRAL COAST—After a powerful string of nine atmospheric rivers drenched much of California, took 20 lives and washed away scores of weather-related records, sunshine began drying out the Central Coast this week. Topping the charts was a whopping 24.5 trillion …
Fruition Brewing to host drag show fundraiser Pajaro Valley Pride (PVP), a local organization dedicated to supporting and celebrating South County’s LGBTQ+ community, will host a drag show fundraiser Saturday at Fruition Brewing in Watsonville.  “aQUEERious Winter Ball!” will feature …
WATSONVILLE—St. Francis High junior Sam Braun was forced to sit on the sideline during the first half of the basketball season after he transferred from Soquel High in the offseason. The standout forward was frustrated he couldn’t play immediately, but …
George Washington, our first President, warned against political parties. The English had already seen by the 18th century that there was bad feeling between the Conservative and Liberal parties in Parliament. The two parties survived to serve two factions of …
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Community Bridges is providing cleanup tools and resources at Family Resource Collective (FRC) locations, aiming to help the community recover from the floods and mudslides produced by the recent storms. Residents can rent items such as air movers, …
PAJARO VALLEY—As the intense series of atmospheric river storms wane, many farmers and agriculture workers across the state of California are left reeling from flood impacts. Many streams, creeks and major rivers in Northern and Central California overflowed their banks …
Longtime Watsonville resident Virginia Varni recently celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends.  She was born on Jan. 11, 1923 in Breckenridge, Texas to Charles and Grace Leonard. The family moved to Southern California and Varni gave the …
An armed man keeps watch over the U.S. Presidential helicopter at Watsonville Municipal Airport Wednesday during a practice run for the arrival of President Joe Biden set for Thursday. Two massive U.S. Marine V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor airplanes arrived in concert …
WATSONVILLE—The City of Watsonville’s Public Works Department is urging residents to keep any sandbags they received during the recent series of storms through the rest of winter. “We are recommending that people keep them, just in case,” said Marco Diaz, …
APTOS—Aptos High senior Trevor Brady and sophomore Isaiah Ackerman were supposed to be key components this season in helping continue the program’s legacy with the next generation. Both standout players continue to be instrumental on the court for the Mariners …
LARKIN VALLEY—A  woman was shot Monday afternoon in the area of Highway 1 and Mar Monte, according to Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Ashley Keehn. When Sheriff’s deputies arrived around 3pm, they learned the victim self-transported to a local hospital and was …
This week’s edition of the Pajaronian Sports Ticker highlights local prep athletes for their performances during the week of Jan. 9-15.  Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to submit scores, stats and photos to jreyes@pajaronian.com. Follow sports editor Juan Reyes …
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—President Joe Biden on Saturday declared a disaster exists in the storm-damaged parts of California, freeing up federal aid to help state and local recovery efforts in Merced, Sacramento and Santa Cruz counties. Biden’s declaration came hours after …
PAJARO—On the same day that the City of Watsonville lifted its evacuation warnings and orders, residents of the town of Pajaro are questioning why the orders keeping them out of their homes still stand. The Main Street bridge over the …
Brendan Doyle alternated between second or third on the tight end depth chart during his freshman season on the College of San Mateo (CSM) football team during the 2021 season.  “I didn’t play much at all really,” said Doyle, a …
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police Department lifted all evacuation warnings in the City of Watsonville on Monday. Access into Pajaro from Watsonville is still closed off by the Monterey County Sheriff's Office and will remain closed until Monterey County officials lift the road …
Santa Cruz County Sheriff's deputies and Caltrans workers closed Holohan Road and East Lake Avenue down altogether in the area on Jan. 14 as flood water gushed from Corralitos Creek into early afternoon. Hundreds of people flocked to the banks …
WATSONVILLE—It’s been a frustrating season for Watsonville High center back Manuel Cano, who has been trying everything in his will to watch his teammates succeed.  However, things are not looking too good at the moment for the Wildcatz boys’ soccer …
SEACLIFF—The tidal surge that ravaged Seacliff State Beach on Jan. 5 destroyed much of the park’s protective sea wall, all but destroyed the campground and ravaged the pier so severely that the entire structure is “actively failing” and likely beyond …
WATSONVILLE—When filing an insurance claim for damage incurred during the recent storms, property owners are advised never to use the word “flood.”  Insurance companies—driven by profit and therefore disinclined to part with their money—typically categorically deny claims for flood damage. …
