Pajaro Valley Unified School District renewed contracts this week with local law enforcement agencies to provide on-campus officers at Aptos High, Watsonville High and Pajaro Valley High.
Aptos
Meet the Santa Cruz swimmer who rewrote the record book at the Special Olympics USA Games
Just one year after returning to competitive swimming, Santa Cruz’s Jessa Melcer became a record-breaking Special Olympics USA Games champion. Her journey from local pools to the national podium showcases the determination, confidence and community support behind her success.
Cabrillo Stage’s ‘Sister Act’ strives to finds its soul
A talented cast gives its all, but uneven direction, sluggish pacing and a surprisingly forgettable score keep Cabrillo Stage’s “Sister Act” from reaching the joyous heights the musical promises, Jana Marcus writes in her latest theater review.
Carmageddon: Annual roadwork shifts to North County; RTC Aptos property dispute trial set for September
The county’s annual roadwork reached North County last week and will continue in the area through late August. Meanwhile, the property dispute between the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and Aptos property owners is now scheduled to go to trial in early September.
Lily Belli on Food: Village Foods opens East Cliff storefront, Sante Arcangeli’s Aptos Village music series and a garden milestone
In her Tuesday newsletter, Lily Belli has updates on a brick-and-mortar for a food delivery service, summer tunes from a local winery, news on Grey Bears’ fundraising efforts and her family’s produce-filled season.
Pajaro Valley Unified chief business officer resigns
Pajaro Valley Unified School District Chief Business Officer Gerardo Castillo announced his resignation this week after less than a year on the job. His departure comes as the district grapples with continued strains on its budget.
Santa Cruz County 2026 primary election results in charts: Final tallies for all county races
With the Santa Cruz County Clerk certifying the results of the June primary election on Friday, see how all the local races shook out in chart form.
Grand jury: Santa Cruz County must move faster on housing, strengthen behavioral health system
The Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury issued five reports on Thursday, covering a wide range of topics. Most notably, it focused on challenges contributing to the housing crisis and flaws in the county’s approach to behavioral health, along with pedestrian safety, election integrity, and concerns with the free parking at the county office buildings.
Aptos surfer recounts great white shark encounter caught on viral drone video
An Aptos surfer whose close encounter with a great white shark went viral is sharing what happened from his perspective, including the moment he realized a drone hovering overhead was trying to warn him of danger.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Capitola Wharf business faces uncertain future; Aptos Village business owners and RTC head to court
A proposed new policy regarding leases of city-owned property has the owner of Capitola Boat & Bait worried her business could be priced off the wharf, Jessica M. Pasko reports in her weekly column.

