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Santa Cruz appoints 25-year veteran Jose Garcia as interim police chief
Jose Garcia will become Santa Cruz’s new interim police chief effective Oct. 31. He will succeed retiring Police Chief Bernie Escalante, who served the department for more than 30 years.
Jose Garcia, incoming interim police chief for the Santa Cruz Police Department. Credit: City of Santa Cruz
Garcia has worked with the Santa Cruz Police Department for over 25 years. In 1996, he joined the police force as a volunteer, before moving into roles as a police community service aide and community service officer. In 2001, he was sworn in as a police officer.
As an officer, some of Garcia’s specialized assignments included assisting the canine unit, hostage negotiation efforts and serving in the professional standards unit. He also co-coordinated the Citizens Police Academy, teaching sessions in both English and Spanish.
Garcia was promoted to sergeant in 2012 and became a lieutenant in 2016. Throughout his lieutenancy, he commanded the Neighborhood Policing Team, oversaw the Emergency Services Unit and coordinated responses to critical incidents and high-risk operations.
In 2020, Garcia became deputy chief, overseeing crime reduction strategies, staffing and training. He worked with government and community organizations to integrate mental health professionals into calls for service and divert mental health crisis calls, according to a news release announcing his appointment
City Manager Matt Huffaker said that he is “grateful to Jose for stepping into this role and continuing to lead the department forward.”
“It is an honor to step into this role and continue serving the community and department that have been such an important part of my life and career,” Garcia said. “I look forward to building on the strong work already underway while continuing to support our employees and provide the highest level of service to our community.”
While the city determines next steps regarding the permanent police chief position, the community will have an opportunity to provide input through meet-and-greets and listening sessions in the upcoming months, with additional details to be announced soon, the city said in a news release.
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PVUSD candidate Curt Wilcox arrested on felony charges
The man running for the Area 5 seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees has been arrested on felony charges.
Curt Wilcox faces felony charges of perjury, improper voter registration and filing a false declaration of candidacy, according to court records.
The charges stem from paperwork he filed in connection with his candidacy for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees.
He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu of $30,000 bail, jail records showed.
It was not immediately clear what led to his arrest or what specifically he is accused of doing.
In an August interview, Wilcox told The Pajaronian that he was living in Shasta County but planned to move to Santa Cruz County. He said he was using his father’s Area 5 address as his mailing address.
Wilcox also said he was seeking the seat despite having no political leadership experience and little knowledge of PVUSD.
County Clerk Tricia Webber said at the time that his paperwork met the legal requirements to run for the seat and that her office does not investigate candidates’ credentials beyond verifying their paperwork.
Wilcox’s daughter-in-law, Brooke Wilcox, previously told The Pajaronian that Wilcox attacked her with a stun gun during a 2017 confrontation as she and her children were preparing to leave property where her family had been living.
She alleged that he shocked her repeatedly, causing her to lose consciousness, and that she suffered a broken foot during the confrontation.
Court records show that Wilcox was convicted in a separate Capitola case stemming from June 2023. The records show a conviction for resisting or deterring an officer, which was later reduced to a misdemeanor, as well as a vandalism charge listed in his sentencing records.
Assistant District Attorney Ilia McKinney did not immediately return a call for comment.
10 Hot Jobs in Santa Cruz County: Week of October 2
Top 10 exciting job opportunities in Santa Cruz County – Apply today!
Are you searching for your next career move in Santa Cruz County? Look no further! We’ve curated a list of the top 10 job opportunities recently posted to our job board, spanning various industries and roles. Whether you’re a recent graduate, seasoned professional, or someone seeking a fresh start, Santa Cruz has something to offer for everyone.
- Dining Principal Food Service Worker at UC Santa Cruz
- Development Associate at Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music
- Digital Scholarship Associate at UC Santa Cruz
- Dining Cook at UC Santa Cruz
- Utility Service Representative, Field at Scotts Valley Water District
- Dining UCEN Chef de Cuisine at UC Santa Cruz
- Preschool Teacher/Caregiver at Tiki Tykes Daycare
- Housing Coordinator, Village, UTC and Delaware Apartments at UC Santa Cruz
- Recording Services Supervisor The County of Santa Cruz
- Early Education Teacher (Preschool) at UC Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz County boasts a vibrant community, picturesque surroundings, and diverse career opportunities. From academic roles at UC Santa Cruz to impactful positions in healthcare and local government, the perfect place to support both your professional growth and work-life balance.
Ready to take the next step?
Apply for these exciting job opportunities in Santa Cruz County today!
FIND MORE ON THE LOOKOUT JOB BOARD >> Looking to hire? Build your team with us- List your open positions: Amplify your job listings to reach engaged Santa Cruz County job seekers – post your job today.
- Save with job bundles: Purchase a job board bundle of 4 or 8 listings and save 25%. Redeem your jobs anytime. Bundles never expire. Get Your Bundles Here.
- Exclusive discounts for Marketing Partners: Are you a Lookout Marketing Partner? Contact your representative today to access your exclusive discount.
Questions about the job board? Reach out to Brittany at brittany@lookoutlocal.com.
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Brett Miller, with ‘appalling’ criminal record, returned to prison
Brett Miller, a Watsonville man with a 40-year history of wild crimes, is going back to prison for two years after 15 years of freedom.
Miller, 62, was sentenced on Wednesday by Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Nancy de la Peña. Miller had earlier pleaded no contest to cockfighting and weapons possession charges stemming from his February 2023 arrest at the property he leased on Ranport Road outside of Watsonville.
De la Peña called Miller’s criminal record “appalling,” a word echoed by prosecutor Nicole Jones.
Miller was sentenced to federal prison in 1995 for two 1992 bank robberies in Merced County. He was released in 2011 and completed his parole.
Instead of state prison this time, Miller offered to wear an ankle monitor if he could remain out of custody.
“An electronic monitor was never even in my contemplation,” de la Peña said.
Deputies seized guns when Miller was arrested, and he later turned in three more guns. “And he still has a gun” that he has not turned in, Jones said.
A pre-sentencing report from the probation department said “significant risk factors stemming primarily from (Miller’s) extensive criminal history, prior prison commitment, prior supervision violations, and the nature of the present offenses” worked against allowing probation.
As Miller was being led out of the courtroom in handcuffs, the judge said, “Take good care of yourself,” which she says when sentencing people.
“Thank you,” Miller replied.
Miller’s partner, Angie Gonzales, 24, is facing similar charges. Her case is pending. Miller had told probation officers that he and Gonzales were married last week, but Jones produced documents showing that the couple had not applied for a marriage license until this week.
In a court filing in July, defense attorney Shane Kelly said Miller “immediately sought and gained employment and has not looked back” since being released from prison. Kelly listed 15 companies Miller has worked for, many of them in agriculture.
In a phone interview after Wednesday’s hearing, Kelly said Miller has an “excellent work ethic,” even though the jobs were “mostly menial labor.”
Miller was born and raised in Watsonville. His criminal history is dotted with bank robberies, escapes, high-speed chases, extortion, and even cattle rustling. His schemes often failed because they were too grandiose, but he was usually successful in escaping from custody or eluding police when he was on the streets.
His crimes drew front-page coverage over the years in the Pajaronian and other local media. He looks quite different from when his picture was in local newspapers in the 1990s. He’s a little heavier and his hair is gray.
In 1984, Miller, then 20, was a leader of a plot to extort money from Mitch Resetar, a Watsonville farmer. The plot was bungled, but authorities were unable to capture Miller at the time.
Among the crimes Miller botched was a plot to kidnap a Watsonville bank manager in 1985. A plan to kidnap a bank manager in San Luis Obispo in 1991 fell through when the manager alerted authorities before anybody could get to the bank with her keys.
At Miller’s home at the time in Hilmar, Merced County, authorities found an escape tunnel under the house.
In the early 1990s in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, Miller and an accomplice were suspected of breaking into a bank overnight. An employee who entered the bank in the morning was able to signal other workers that something was amiss. Police were unable to find the perpetrators.
Miller escaped from the old Santa Cruz jail on Front Street in 1986 by sliding down a pole from the rooftop exercise area and running through downtown in his orange jumpsuit. Miller broke out of the current jail on Water Street in 1991 when he and two others went over the wall.
In June 1985, Miller bolted from the van transporting him to Watsonville Municipal Court, shed his jumpsuit, and ran into the Crestview-Brewington area, clad only in his boxer shorts. He was caught 45 minutes later.
Miller eluded authorities on a half-dozen chases over the years, including one where he ran through thick shrubbery and jumped into the Pajaro River. In another case, in San Luis Obispo County, authorities caught him hiding in a water tank, shivering and soaking wet.
Lane Wallace is a former Pajaronian reporter who covered Brett Miller’s cases in the 1980s and 1990s.
Woman, 78, arrested in hit-and-run crash
An 81-year-old woman suffered major injuries early Monday after she was struck by an SUV in a hit-and-run crash that led to an arrest two days later of a 78-year-old woman.
The victim was walking across Cynthia Drive at Tuttle Avenue around 6:30am in the senior neighborhood of Pajaro Village in Watsonville when the white newer model SUV smashed into her and knocked her onto the pavement.
As she began yelling for help, the SUV sped off. On Wednesday afternoon, police arrested Inesia Bravo Pinong at her Cynthia Drive home.
She is now cooperating with the investigation, said Watsonville Police spokeswoman Erika Vazquez.
ARREST MADE A Watsonville Police officer is shown outside the Cynthia Drive home of the suspect driver where she was arrested Wednesday.
During the investigation, officers gathered information from witnesses and surveillance video from surrounding homes and businesses. The leads aided WPD’s traffic unit in finding the suspect’s SUV, identity and address.
The victim suffered major injuries and was taken to an out-of-county trauma center and is recovering, Vazquez said.
Watsonville Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call 471.1151.
Letters to the Editor Oct. 2-8
To my Republican Friends
Despite our different political opinions, I think we can all agree that we want a better future for our children.
The president you elected twice, and the representatives and senators in Congress that you elected who continue to support President Trump, have set in motion or accelerated the following trends, which threaten our children’s future.
Trends:
Cost of living: Basic living costs have increased $4,000 per family this year, and they are still rising. President Trump says, “The affordability issue is a hoax.”
Concentration of wealth: The richest 1% (many of them friends of President Trump) own 31% of the wealth in this country, while the bottom 50% (that would be me and you) own only 2.5% of the wealth, and our tiny slice is shrinking.
The national budget deficit: The deficit increased $11.6 trillion (a 29% increase) during President Trump’s two terms.
Global warming: Average temperatures in Santa Cruz have increased about one degree Fahrenheit every decade recently, and the rate of increase is accelerating. Meanwhile, President Trump calls global warming a “hoax.”
Corruption in government: President Trump’s net worth has increased by at least $3 billion since he became president.
Despite promises to end wars, Trump has involved us in two potential nuclear conflicts with no peace in sight. And the proposed Pentagon budget for 2027 has increased by 42%.
Free elections: According to neutral monitors, free and fair elections face significant and escalating threats from Trump.
Artificial intelligence: Although virtually all of the experts tell us that AI is the most immediate threat to humanity, Trump calls it a “hoax.”
Our only hope for reversing or even slowing these trends is to act TOGETHER. For the sake of the future of our children, I ask you to consider these trends when you vote in November.
Don Eggleston
Aptos
Another view of Watsonville Community Hospital’s finances
The Pajaronian recently published articles about potential closures of some services at Watsonville Community Hospital. I have a different view of our hospital’s situation that I would like to share.
When WCH was purchased out of bankruptcy, it had less than 10 days’ cash. Most hospitals have about 150 days’ cash. This lack of cash impeded everything we tried to do. In late 2023 we were attacked by cybercriminals. The financial impact of that attack rippled throughout 2024. Shortly after Donald Trump came into office, fear of ICE and CBP led many people to stay home in order to avoid arrest, detention and deportation. People also avoided the hospital and the average number of patients in our hospital dropped from 30 to 25 a day. We lost $2-2.5 million a month and ended 2025 with a $24 million loss. The picture is different for 2026.
Measure N, which this community voted for, gave us the money to purchase the hospital building which freed us from $3 million in annual rent. Unfortunately, the use of Measure N funds is restricted to infrastructure projects. We have been able to make roof repairs, replace air handlers, purchase a new MRI and an additional CT scanner. It is also letting us upgrade two of our four operating rooms. But we can’t use Measure N money for a new electronic medical record system or phone system which are both sorely needed.
Until last year, we had problems with surgeries being cancelled due to lack of anesthesia coverage. And due to a lack of specialists, many patients who came to the ER had to be transferred to other hospitals. Both of these problems confirmed the negative reputation that WCH acquired when we were owned by Community Health Systems (CHS). Consequently, most local people still go elsewhere for their hospital care.
We are on the cusp of having a fully functional hospital with two additional operating rooms, stable anesthesia coverage, reliable CT and MRI, additional gastroenterologists, a pain specialist, a new group of radiologists and an inquiry from interventional radiologists who want to practice at WCH.
In recent months, I have been part of a committee looking at the finances of various service lines. In one of those analyses, eight of 11 service lines lost money. The losses were very widespread and could not be offset by closing the neonatal ICU (NICU) or labor & delivery (L&D). This information made it clear that there is no way to make a 106-bed hospital financially sustainable with an average patient census of 30.
For years, I have tracked the patient census as an indicator of our financial performance. At 25 patients a day we lose $2 million a month, at 32 patients a day we break even and at 35 we make roughly $1 million a month. In the past, CHS made $5 million a year with an average patient census of 45. The cure for our financial problem is more patient volume, not service line cuts.
The way the hospital’s finances were presented at the recent special board meeting led some people to conclude that we lose $85,000 a day. Without the additional payments we get from the state and federal government, that is true. Along with many other California hospitals, we do get additional payments, grants and loans. Recently, we got a $10.6 million grant from a program that Senator John Laird championed. When these state and federal dollars are included, our daily loss drops to $30,000. That comes out to $900,000 a month or $11 million a year, which is still significant. While we did lose $24 million last year, we are close to breaking even so far in 2026. In fact we made slightly more than $400,000 in August.
NICU and L&D are interdependent with each other, but they are the service lines that are least connected to the rest of the hospital. However, there are still vital connections between these services and the emergency department, surgery, lab and radiology. Nurses from L&D evaluate pregnant women who come to the ER to be sure the fetus is OK. Sick children in the ER are frequently evaluated by the pediatric hospitalists who staff the NICU. Obstetricians also evaluate women in the ER for a variety of conditions and perform surgeries on patients in the operating room. All of this generates the need for lab and radiologic studies. All of these patient services will be lost if the NICU and L&D are closed.
The removal of some services undermines the capability of the remaining ones and starts a downward spiral that leads to further cuts. Throughout the industry it is believed to be five times more difficult to restart a service line than to maintain it, so service line cuts are almost never temporary. WCH discontinued admitting most patients between a month old and 18 years old about two years ago and there is no hint of it returning.
To some, it feels like we have “tried everything” but failed to lift WCH’s financial position. This is not accurate. We have solved many of the problems that contribute to WCH’s financial losses, but there is still much more that we can do. I fear that the push to close NICU and L&D is rooted in exhaustion and frustration rather than accurate financial analysis or a realistic assessment of our growth potential.
WCH doctors, nurses and other hospital employees have lots of ideas about how to improve the quality of what we do, how to save money, how to generate more and how to reach out to the community. The goal of engaging the community is to assure local people that they can safely get their hospital care at WCH. The quality of the care WCH provides is better than the California average on every measure.
At this moment I am reminded of a quote from Nelson Mandela, “It always seems impossible until it is done.”
Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1) goes into effect on Jan. 1. With the MediCal cuts and eligibility changes, thousands of people will lose MediCal. As a result, WCH faces a huge challenge. It makes the future seem impossible.
As a 75-year-old, I have seen lots of disasters that weren’t as bad as predicted. I’ve also been through horrible disasters where people pulled together and figured out how to prevail. In our case, ballot measures offer one path forward. Measure E, the temporary 0.5% sales tax, is expected to generate $27 million a year for health care. Proposition 40—the one-time 5% tax on people with assets over $1.5 billion—is projected to generate $100 billion for health care. Please vote for them.
We live in the richest state in the richest country. We are the lifeboat for our community. Nearby hospitals do not have the capacity to replace WCH. There are solutions to our problems. We need to find or make them. There is never a time when the solution is to renege on our commitment to pregnant women and newborn babies in the Pajaro Valley.
Watsonville’s second skatepark ramping up
Near the terminus of the new bike path along South Green Valley Road—at the entrance to Pinto Lake County Park—lies a construction site that, by the end of the year, will be Watsonville’s second skatepark.
It will also be the only one of its kind in the Watsonville area owned and maintained by Santa Cruz County.
Construction began in July. As of Sept. 30, crews were working on grading, bioretention drainage, formwork and steel coping installation.
The $1.4 million cost was funded entirely by the Santa Cruz-based Richard Novak Foundation, in partnership with County Park Friends.
Grindline Skateparks designed and is building the concrete skatepark. The company also built the skatepark in Seacliff. Santa Cruz County Parks will own, operate and maintain the facility.
The cast-in-place concrete park is intended for beginner, intermediate and advanced skaters. Grindline’s design uses a “Ladder of Progression,” offering features for different ability levels, and “organic flow,” which connects features so riders can move naturally through the park and develop their own lines.
Gavin Denike, a brand manager with NHS—the parent company of Santa Cruz Skateboards—said the “beginner-friendly” park, which will be about 8,000 square feet, will be the kind of place skater parents can bring their kids.
“Just kind of back and forth, always flowing and moving, rather than back and forth, get off your board,” he said. “And little features that hit as you’re flowing through this.”
Mike Eyre, who sits on the four-member Novak Foundation board of directors, added that it was also created with advanced skaters in mind.
“This is still going to be super fun,” he said. “Because it’s got that flow aspect that a lot of parks don’t have.”
The park, therefore, is suitable for a wide range of skating styles.
“It’s going to be fun,” he said.
Grindline, a company well known in the skateboarding community, has created parks across the U.S., Europe and Israel.
“They’re like the most notorious in the skateboard community, so everyone’s really stoked to get an official Grindline skatepark,” Denike said.
Eyre said he hopes the new park will give young people a recreational opportunity.
“And this is an underserved part of the county,” Eyre said. “And I’m hoping that all of these kids in all these neighborhoods are going to be thrilled once this is done and have a great spot to hang out and enjoy recreation opportunities, enjoy skateboarding, enjoy the community, enjoy the parks.”
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For information or to donate, visit countyparkfriends.org.
Mariners remain unbeaten in SCCAL play | Girls flag football
The Aptos High girls flag football team continued their dominance in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League after winning their 15 consecutive game in league play Wednesday.
Senior team captain Ellie Marta had an 18-yard touchdown reception, three tackles and one pass deflection to help navigate the Mariners past Scotts Valley High, 33-0, on a foggy evening at Soquel High School.
With the win, Aptos remains undefeated with a 5-0 record in SCCAL play this 2026 fall campaign. They extended their win streak dating back to last season in which they finished with a 10-0 record.
“It’s just practicing hard,” Aptos senior Summer Michelli said. “If we have something that we realize we didn’t do the best on in a game, just practice that over and over again. Working on both offense and defense is key to success.”
Aptos senior defensive back Val Hernandez led the defense with eight tackles, while senior captain Lauren Galster added five tackles. Junior quarterback Autumn Mata passed for 40 yards and had a 4-yard rushing touchdown.
Junior rusher Mary-Anne MacCarthy had an impactful performance on both sides of the ball with a pick-six, one sack, four tackles and a 14-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Junior Isa Alvarez contributed two tackles, one sack and one pass deflection, while sophomore team captain Ellia Correia caught a 3-yard pass for an extra point attempt, registered one interception and one pass deflection.
Freshman Claudia Burgueno hauled in a 9-yard touchdown reception, while freshman Elianna Garcia added a pair of tackles and hauled in a 3-yard reception on an extra point conversion.
Garcia’s extra point conversion was momentous because now each Mariner player on the varsity roster has been in the end zone at least once this season.
Aptos head coach Denise Russo said in an email that she’s excited to have several four-year players return, but the roster from top to bottom is filled with tons of talent.
Marta is a two-time team captain, All-SCCAL First Team defensive player and the team’s defensive player of the year twice in a row.
“Ellie is a threat on both sides of the ball and we are looking forward to her senior year,” Russo said.
Marta commits to her training year round in the weight room during the off-season and participates at the girls flag football Sunday Sessions with the Reggie Stephens Foundation.
“[Marta’s] reinforcing the work that we do with agility, speed and technique in the weight room, and on the field,” Russo said.
Myla Applebee is a third-year varsity player that earned All-SCCAL First Team defense honors in 2025. The junior two-way player has plenty of speed, which is what makes her hard to catch on offense or avoid on the defense.
Applebee has also been putting in the work like her teammate Marta at the RSF Sunday Sessions.
Mata, who was the backup quarterback in 2025, is another third-year varsity player and pure athlete who has been working year round at RSF.
“Her offseason development and summer work has earned her the starting QB position,” Russo said.
Junior Julia Parello came in as a third-year varsity player, and is another athlete who has an impact on both sides of the ball with great vision and instincts. She recorded five tackles and had 26 yards rushing on two carries Wednesday night.
Correia returns as a two-way player. She earned All-SCCAL First Team offense honors, and was the team’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2025.
“[Correia’s] skill and development has been phenomenal to watch the past few years,” Russo said. “Her speed, vision, agility and kinesthetic awareness, it’s all really coming together for this player.”
Correia, who like most of the others on the defending SCCAL champion Mariners, has been strength training in the weight room during the off-season and attending Sunday Sessions.
“Everybody brings their A game to every game,” said Michelli in reference to being the defending league champion. “But we always like to think that there’s a target on our back so that we can work harder to hopefully win.”
The Mariners were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Central Coast Section Division II playoffs following a loss to Hill High.
Michelli said it was a nice introduction to CCS because it was the first time any flag football program had played in the postseason.
“This was just good practice,” she said. “And now we’re gonna come back stronger, hopefully, and try our best.”
Other players slowly making a name for themselves are junior Rosi Resendiz and sophomore Myla Pine. Both players, who were part of last year’s junior varsity team, spent the summer training in the weight room.
The Mariner duo committed to strength training for injury prevention and speed/agility development that has really shown on the field.
“We were able to kind of get a head start in the season,” Hernandez said. “I feel like it helped us be envisioned and ready.”
Russo was also just as excited to have her coaching staff that includes four-year coach Angela Chemlicek and assistant coach Gabby Russo.
Denise Russo aims to change their offense after each season. The Mariners are under the direction of new offensive coordinator Scott Russo, who has a new playbook that plays to the strengths of the players while adjusting to their opponents.
“We have strength and depth at all positions which means teams will have to defend our entire team on every play,” Denise Russo said.
Similar to the offense, Aptos adjusts its defense depending who the opponent is that day. Russo said they’ve taken reps in a variety of formations from one-on-one to a variety of different coverages.
“We prepare to be ready one game at a time,” Russo said. “We have strength in a deep bench of returning players, our speed and our adaptability.”
Next up, Aptos (7-2, 5-0) hosts San Lorenzo Valley (0-5, 0-5) in SCCAL play Friday at 5pm, followed a league match against Santa Cruz on Oct. 7 at 8pm.
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Aptos High senior Summer Michelli is one of several leaders for the Mariner girls flag football team, which remains undefeated with a 5-0 record in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play this 2026 fall campaign. (Juan Reyes/The Pajaronian)
Aptos High junior Mary-Anne MacCarthy had a pick-six, four tackles and a 14-yard rushing touchdown for the Mariner girls flag football team in their 33-0 win over Scotts Valley High in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play Sept. 30. (Juan Reyes/The Pajaronian)
Aptos High junior quarterback Autumn Mata tossed for 40 yards and had a 4-yard rushing touchdown for the Mariner girls flag football team in their 33-0 win over Scotts Valley High in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play Sept. 30. (Juan Reyes/The Pajaronian)
Aptos High girls flag football head coach Denise Russo is in her fourth year with the program. (Juan Reyes/The Pajaronian)
Aptos High freshman Claudia Burgueno, No. 20, snatches the ball in mid-air for the touchdown during a girls flag football game against Scotts Valley in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play Sept. 30. The Mariners defeated the Falcons, 33-0. (Juan Reyes/The Pajaronian)
Aptos High's Rosi Resendez looks for some open space to run with the ball for the Mariner girls flag football team in their 33-0 win over Scotts Valley High in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play Sept. 30. (Juan Reyes/The Pajaronian)
Aptos High girls flag football offensive coordinator Scott Russo is in his first season with the program. (Juan Reyes/The Pajaronian)
Photo story: Watsonville High celebrates homecoming
Watsonville High School’s homecoming parade makes its way along Main Street in downtown Watsonville Wednesday. The WHS Wildcatz were set to take on St. Francis High School on their home turf on Friday.
Dientes expands pediatric services
Though Jody Chiang just started as a dentist at Dientes in July, her journey with the organization began years before when she sat in the same chair as a child—often.
Growing up, Chiang dealt with her fair share of dental problems including cavities and tooth extraction, which were treated at the Capitola clinic where she now works. But instead of scaring her away, Chiang grew more curious about dentistry.
“When I started dental school and learned about the whole world of pediatrics—preventative dental care, working with children, that sounds like my type of thing,” Chiang said.
Dientes, a nonprofit community health clinic providing care to low-income communities, also recently welcomed Danny Do to its lineup of pediatric dentists.
Do and Chiang knew each other from dental conferences, and he credits Chiang with helping him find the Dientes position. Originally from Southern California, Do has always lived near the water and is happy in his new community.
“Pediatric dentistry is probably the most rewarding specialty to me,” Do said. “I’ve seen so many scared kids transform into scared adults at the dental chair, so if I can make an impact early on and really set good habits … then it’s the most rewarding thing for me.”
Pediatric dentistry is a dental specialty that provides primary and preventative care for patients aged 0-18. These dentists complete an extra two years of residency to specialize in pediatric practice, turning an 8-year education into 10.
Though all dentists can work on children, pediatric dentists are trained in behavior management and family dynamics that make them better equipped to work with children, who require a different approach than adults.
Sepi Taghvaei, executive vice president of operations and chief dental officer, said there have already been situations where Do and Chiang have been able to treat children where general dentists had been unsuccessful.
“As a pediatric dentist, you sometimes have to think outside the box,” Do said. “Not every treatment is suitable for each kid. Sometimes the visit is just to build rapport and gain a child’s trust.”
Pediatric dentists are also well educated in orthodontics and understanding the growth and development of a child’s mouth, which helps them know what preventative care can be done to provide the child with the best outcomes as they grow older.
Preventative care and education is an important part of the Dientes mission, which aims to bring lasting oral health to the people of Santa Cruz County.
According to Taghvaei, children from low-income families have three times the risk of cavities than children from middle or high-income families. On top of that, Santa Cruz County does not put fluoride in the water, meaning children raised in the county are more likely to get dental decay.
“It’s really, really important to have pediatric dentists here who can really focus on prevention because with dental decay, prevention is a lot easier and more important than treatment,” Taghvaei said. “Our pediatric dentists are here to provide education to the parent, to provide prevention, to establish trust … and to really bring that excellent care to our community.”
Dientes is the only community clinic in the county that takes Medi-Cal Dental and has pediatric dentists available.
Before the arrival of Chiang and Do, some kids with severe situations that couldn’t be treated in-house had to drive as far as the East Bay for sedation covered by Medi-Cal.
“With me and Dr. Jody being here, we kind of meet that need,” Do said. “A lot of the parents unfortunately are unable … to take a full day off to have their child fully sedated for the dental treatment. So if we can meet that need and do the work here, then it helps out a lot.”
Pediatric dentists use sedation more often than general practitioners, as some children are unable to be operated on otherwise. Chiang said both of their residencies included repeated experience with sedation, which gave them extensive operating room experience.
“You don’t have to be a pediatric dentist [to work on children], but we at Dientes believe that pediatric dentists are so special because they have that specialized training and education and behavior management skills and expertise,” Taghvaei said. “We really believe in giving our patients the best possible care, so that’s why we invest in hiring pediatric dentists.”
•••
Syd Fluker is a California Local News Fellow. Visit fellowships.journalism.berkeley.edu/cafellows.
Friday morning traffic: Highway 9 lane closures, Hwy 1 & SR-152 work ongoing
This post is updated throughout the day to reflect the latest incidents. It was last updated at 7:01 a.m..
Here’s what’s happening on the roads this morning…
▼︎ new incidents
Road incidents as of 7 a.m. on October 2- There are alternating lane closures on both northbound and southbound Highway 9 at Pool Drive in San Lorenzo Valley because of bridge work. The closures will continue until April 30, 2027, at 6:59 a.m.
- South Highway 1 at Park Avenue in Capitola / Soquel is facing closures for paving work. The closure is expected to end at 7:01 a.m. on Nov. 19.
- A lane on east SR-152 at Clifford Drive/Ohlone Parkway in Watsonville and Pajaro is closed for core drilling work. The closure will last until 2:01 p.m. on Oct. 5.
- There is one-way traffic on North SR-236 at Boulder Brook Drive in San Lorenzo Valley because of pavement repair. The closure will last until 1:59 p.m. on Oct. 5.
- A silver Toyota Corolla backed into a semi truck at 1520 Commercial Way in Eastside / Live Oak and then drove away. The semi driver checked for damage and also left. No injuries were reported. The incident was reported today.
Disclosure: Traffic incidents are partially generated by artificial intelligence. We are constantly working to improve the accuracy and quality of our AI-generated content. However, there may still be errors or inaccuracies. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.
The post Friday morning traffic: Highway 9 lane closures, Hwy 1 & SR-152 work ongoing appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.
Watsonville Hospital leaders say they must shutter their maternity ward or face imminent closure
Watsonville Community Hospital has struggled to maintain fiscal sustainability. (Contributed)
Pajaro Valley Health Care District Hospital Board Meeting- Oct. 28, 2026 from 5-6 p.m.
- Attend at Watsonville Community Hospital in the Community Room, 85 Nielson St., Watsonville CA 95076 or join on Zoom.
WATSONVILLE >> Watsonville Community Hospital is running out of options and may shutter by April if its financial situation does not improve, hospital leaders said last week.
This comes as the Pajaro Valley Health Care District board members, the agency that operates the hospital, find themselves at a financial impasse — keep the neonatal intensive care unit closed and shut down the labor and delivery unit, or face potential closure within the next six months to a year.
The hospital was more than $23 million in the red in 2025 and so far this year has, at least on paper, turned a profit of about $10 million. But day-to-day operations still fall short of covering operating costs — by about $85,000 a day or roughly $2.5 million a month, according to a presentation by Chief Financial Officer Julie Peterson at a Sept. 22 meeting.
A $10.6 million state grant and a hodgepodge of smaller loans and payment plans have helped keep the hospital afloat in the short term, but the state money has already run out and the operational deficit remains.
It has been operating for months with between a couple of days’ and a couple of weeks’ worth, whereas hospitals ideally have months’ worth of cash at any given time.
The 2025 Republican-backed budget reconciliation bill, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, decimated funding for government health care and is one of a number of reasons the hospital has struggled. Roughly 85% of Watsonville Hospital’s patients use Medi-Cal or Medicare health insurance, making the financial impacts for the hospital significant as more uninsured patients seek care in the emergency room.
Hospital leaders have sought a solution to the financial challenges in a partnership with a larger health care system that can take over the hospital’s daily operations and financial ups and downs, and allow it to stay open. Potential partners included Sutter Health, Kaiser Permanente, UC San Francisco, Salud Para La Gente and CommonSpirit Health.
After negotiations fell apart with one potential partner, which hospital leaders announced in May, there have been no updates shared with the public. Hospital leaders have not shared details about which potential partner fell through and which — if any — still remain on the table.
Tim Moran, the hospital’s interim CEO, declined an interview with Santa Cruz Local, but wrote in an email, “The hospital is running with approximately eight days of cash on hand. Growth initiatives and partnership are being actively pursued, but the results of those efforts will not benefit the hospital for months to come.”
All five potential health care partners stated that they could not comment on where negotiations stand with Watsonville Hospital.
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For Nora Yerena, founder of Central Coast Doula Services, a Watsonville-based program offering Santa Cruz County mothers labor support, the potential hospital closure hits home. Fifteen years ago, Yerena’s child was born more than two months premature.
“If I had to go through the hour-long drive of traffic, at that time, the chances of me not making it there conscious, better yet alive,” said Yerena, who delivered her baby at Watsonville Hospital.
Her baby was born at just 31 weeks and was transferred to Dominican Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. Yerena commuted from Castroville to visit the infant. Keeping Watsonville’s NICU closed, which treats some premature babies, and closing the maternity ward would be devastating for Pajaro Valley families, she said.
If the board decides to close the maternity ward, a 120-day notice to the state is required, and the board is obligated to have one public hearing during the first 60 days “while this decision making is being undertaken,” according to Moran.
Questions or comments? Email info@santacruzlocal.org. Santa Cruz Local is supported by members, major donors, sponsors and grants for the general support of our newsroom. Our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support. Learn more about Santa Cruz Local and how we are funded.
Learn about membership Santa Cruz Local’s news is free. We believe that high-quality local news is crucial to democracy. We depend on locals like you to make a meaningful contribution so everyone can access our news. Learn about membershipThe post Watsonville Hospital leaders say they must shutter their maternity ward or face imminent closure appeared first on Santa Cruz Local.
In the Scotts Valley City Council race, all eyes are on the long-awaited town center
How a Watsonville project is preserving the stories of Filipino farmworkers for a new generation
Nancy Bilicich seeks Watsonville council comeback as Ed Acosta calls for ‘something new’
Nancy Bilicich busca regresar al Concejo Municipal de Watsonville mientras Ed Acosta pide “algo nuevo”
Down The Line: All the biggest and best shows, gigs & events ahead in Santa Cruz County
Team BOLO (Be On The Lookout) is gathering and curating all of Santa Cruz County’s biggest and best happenings from now until forever — or at least until the latest gigs are officially announced.
Latest additions are marked as NEW below.
Use the following links to see the major events happening by month:
And away we go with Down The Line …
OctoberOct. 2: Soda Blonde, The Crepe Place
Oct. 2: Fruit Bats, The Rio
Oct. 2: Twin Temple, The Catalyst
Oct. 2-3: Diggin’ Dirt, Moe’s Alley
Oct. 3: Santa Cruz Symphony: “United Sounds of America,” Santa Cruz Civic
Oct. 3: The Bends, Felton Music Hall
Oct. 4: Mike Dawes, Felton Music Hall
Oct. 4: Santa Cruz Symphony: “United Sounds of America,” Mello Center
Oct. 5: Hiromi, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Oct. 6: Kishi Bashi, The Rio
Oct. 6: “The Librarians,” Colligan Theater
Oct. 7: “Killer Klowns from Outer Space,” The Grove
Oct. 7: Writers of Color Santa Cruz County, Museum of Art & History
NEW: Oct. 7: Creed Bratton, Felton Music Hall
Oct. 8: Rickie Lee Jones, The Rio
Oct. 8: Ben Flocks, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Oct. 8: The Guitarsonists, The Crepe Place
Oct. 8: Soulja Boy, Santa Cruz Civic
Oct. 9: The Breaks, Moe’s Alley
Oct. 9: King Crimson tribute, Quarry Amphitheater
Oct. 10: Damien Jurado, Felton Music Hall
Oct. 10: Banff Center Mountain Film, The Rio
Oct. 10: Acid Bath, Quarry Amphitheater
Oct. 10: Sin Sisters Burlesque, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Oct. 10: Bongo Sibide, Woodhouse Brewing
Oct. 11: Yellowjackets, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Oct. 11: Min Jin Lee, The Rio
Oct. 12: Somi, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Oct. 14: Bonnie Raitt, Santa Cruz Civic
Oct. 14: Acoustic Alchemy, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Oct. 14: Alborosie & Shengen Clan, Moe’s Alley
Oct. 14: “Shaun of the Dead,” The Grove
Oct. 15: Bumpin’ Uglies, The Catalyst
Oct. 16: Young Dubliners, Moe’s Alley
Oct. 16: Xavier Wulf, The Catalyst
Oct. 16: “Frankenstein” with live score, The Rio
Oct. 17: B-Side Players, Moe’s Alley
Oct. 17: Megan Woods, The Rio
Oct. 17: Santa Cruz Comedy Festival, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Oct. 17: Marty O’Reilly, The Crepe Place
Oct. 19: Buster Williams, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Oct. 19: Grace Krilanovich, Bookshop Santa Cruz
Oct. 21: Jerry Douglas Band, Felton Music Hall
Oct. 21: Hannah Mayree, The Crepe Place
Oct. 21: “Get Out,” The Grove
Oct. 21: “Young Soul Rebels,” Quarry Amphitheater
Oct. 22: Todd Rundgren, The Rio
Oct. 22: Obi Kaufmann, Bookshop Santa Cruz
Oct. 23: Black Flag, Felton Music Hall
Oct. 23: Lyrics Born, Moe’s Alley
Oct. 24: Katy Scott, Bookshop Santa Cruz
Oct. 24: Return to Laurel Canyon, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Oct. 24-25: Zepperella, Moe’s Alley
Oct. 25: “Let the Caged Bird Sing” IV, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Oct. 26: Fonville & Fribush, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Oct. 27: Great Lake Swimmers, Felton Music Hall
Oct. 28: Lyle Lovett, Santa Cruz Civic
Oct. 28: Julia Orringer, Bookshop Santa Cruz
Oct. 28: “The Sixth Sense,” The Grove
Oct. 29: Laura Anglade, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Oct. 29: Michael Franti, The Rio
Oct. 30: The Mother Hips, Moe’s Alley
Oct. 30-31: Jerry’s Middle Finger, Felton Music Hall
Oct. 31: AJ Lee & Blue Summit, The Rio
NovemberNov. 1: Andrew Duhon, Moe’s Alley
Nov. 1: Alexandr Misko, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Nov. 2: Helen Sung, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Nov. 4: Joshua Redman, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Nov. 4: Priyanka Matoo, Bookshop Santa Cruz
Nov. 5: Gabrielle Cavassa, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Nov. 6: Elijah Scott, Felton Music Hall
Nov. 6: Trip Tides, The Crepe Place
Nov. 7: Henry Diltz: Behind the Lens, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Nov. 7: Jeffrey Foucault, Felton Music Hall
Nov. 7: Led Zeppelin tribute, Moe’s Alley
Nov. 8: Southern Culture on the Skids, Moe’s Alley
Nov. 9: Alex Cameron, The Crepe Place
Nov. 9: “Birth of the Cool” Revisited, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Nov. 9: Matt O’Hara, Bookshop Santa Cruz
Nov. 10: Donavon Frankenreiter, The Rio
NEW: Nov. 11: Pierre Bensusan, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Nov. 12: Jake Xerxes Fussell, Felton Music Hall
Nov. 12: Ken Okada, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Nov. 14: Nick Shoulders, Felton Music Hall
Nov. 14: Jon Spencer, Moe’s Alley
Nov. 14: Santa Cruz Symphony: Tchaikovsky & Mendelssohn, Santa Cruz Civic
Nov. 15: The Cactus Blossoms, Felton Music Hall
Nov. 15: California Honeydrops, The Catalyst
Nov. 15: Santa Cruz Symphony: Tchaikovsky & Mendelssohn, Mello Center
Nov. 15: Daniel Duane, Bookshop Santa Cruz
Nov. 16: Las Migas, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Nov. 17: John Carroll Kirby, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Nov. 18: As I Lay Dying, The Catalyst
Nov. 18: Michael Nau, The Crepe Place
Nov. 19: James Gordon Williams, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Nov. 19: Dav Pilkey, Bookshop Santa Cruz
Nov. 20: Andrew McMahon, Felton Music Hall
Nov. 21: Amy Winehouse tribute, Felton Music Hall
Nov. 20-21: Kabaka Pyramid, Moe’s Alley
Nov. 23: The Residents, Felton Music Hall
Nov. 23: Brian Blade & the Fellowship Band, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Nov. 27: Jackie Greene, The Catalyst
Nov. 28: Don Carlos, The Catalyst
Nov. 29: Sandra Bernhard, The Rio
Nov. 30: Benny Green, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
DecemberDec. 2: Kassa Overall, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Dec. 2: “A Celtic Christmas,” Santa Cruz Civic
Dec. 2: Jessica Lea Mayfield, The Crepe Place
Dec. 3: Isaiah Sharkey, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Dec. 4: Dragon Smoke, Moe’s Alley
Dec. 5: Hell’s Belles, Moe’s Alley
Dec. 5: The Expendables, The Catalyst
Dec. 5: “Actually, It is Rocket Science,” The Rio
Dec. 5-6: Music for the Feast of Christmas, Holy Cross Church
Dec. 6: Horse Feathers, Woodhouse Brewing
Dec. 7: The Bad Plus, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Dec. 8: Buck Meek, Moe’s Alley
Dec. 8: A Guaraldi Holiday, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Dec. 9: Mike Renwick, Felton Music Hall
Dec. 9: James Hunter Six, Moe’s Alley
Dec. 10: Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Dec. 10: The Slackers, Moe’s Alley
Dec. 11: Jonathan Richman, The Rio
Dec. 11: Flaming Groovies, The Crepe Place
Dec. 11: Stinkfoot Orchestra, Felton Music Hall
Dec. 11: Jonathan Richman, The Rio
Dec. 12: The Wooten Brothers, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Dec. 12: JD McPherson, Felton Music Hall
Dec. 13: Garrison Keillor, The Rio
Dec. 14: Christian Sands, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Dec. 17: Pokey LaFarge, Felton Music Hall
Dec. 14: Christian Sands, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Dec. 17: Skylar Tang, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Dec. 19: A John Prine Christmas Show, Felton Music Hall
Dec. 31: Wooster, Moe’s Alley
January 2027Jan. 10: Ana Popovic, Moe’s Alley
Jan. 15: Kurt Rosenwinkel/Gerald Clayton, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Jan. 16: Arum Ramamurthy, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Jan. 16: Santa Cruz Symphony: Rachmaninoff’s Third, Santa Cruz Civic
Jan. 17: Santa Cruz Symphony: Rachmaninoff’s Third, Mello Center
Jan. 18: Goldings/Bernstein Organ Trio, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Jan. 21: Jesse Cook, The Rio
Jan. 22: Andy McKee, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Jan. 22: Trae Crowder, The Rio
Jan. 23: Vijay Iyer & Wadada Leo Smith, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Jan. 24: Brandy Clark, Felton Music Hall
Jan. 25: Camille Thurman/Darrell Green, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Jan. 28: Chris Cain, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
FebruaryFeb. 1: The Cookers, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Feb. 5: Champion Fulton, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Feb. 6: Steve Poltz, Felton Music Hall
Feb. 8: Kenny Barron, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Feb. 10: Ladysmith Black Mambazo, The Rio
Feb. 11: Nella, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Feb. 15: Hamilton de Holanda, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Feb. 16: Charlie Hunter & Ella Feingold, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Feb. 19: Matthew Whitaker, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Feb. 22: Linda May Ham Oh, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Feb. 25: Claudia Villela/Romero Lubambo, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
Feb. 28: Santa Cruz Symphony: “Peter and the Wolf,” Santa Cruz Civic
MarchMarch 1: Tyreek McDole, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
March 5: Klezmatics, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
March 6: The Lemonheads, The Catalyst
March 14: Alok, The Catalyst
NEW: March 22: Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
March 26: David Nihill, Kuumbwa Jazz Center
AprilApril 3: Santa Cruz Symphony: “The Firebird,” Santa Cruz Civic
April 4: Santa Cruz Symphony: “The Firebird,” Mello Center
April 21: “Alice in Wonderland,” Santa Cruz Civic
April 23: Fashion Teens, The Rio
MayMay 1: Santa Cruz Symphony: “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” Santa Cruz Civic
May 2: Santa Cruz Symphony: “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” Mello Center
JuneJune 12: Santa Cruz Symphony: Celebrating John Williams, Santa Cruz Civic
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF BOLOSign up for Lookout’s Weekender newsletter, sent every Thursday afternoon.
If you’re planning or producing your own event, click CREATE AN EVENT on the calendar.
Questions, comments, concerns? Email bolo@lookoutlocal.com.
The post Down The Line: All the biggest and best shows, gigs & events ahead in Santa Cruz County appeared first on Lookout Santa Cruz.
$50 to Hula’s Island Grill
