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WATSONVILLE

PAJARO

FREEDOM

AROMAS

CORRALITOS

APTOS

LA SELVA BEACH

149TH YEAR — NO. 102 — SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2017

SUPER LEAGUE

‘MI CASA ES TU CASA’

MBL, MTAL to merge next school year

Exhibit’s opening reception set for Sunday COMMUNITY, A9

ROYAL OAKS

SPORTS, B1

PAJARONIAN REGISTER

WEEKEND REGISTER-PAJARONIAN.COM /PAJARONIAN

NEWS LEADER OF THE PAJARO VALLEY

Watsonville’s wonder women Inaugural event celebrates local women

By ERIK CHALHOUB OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

WATSONVILLE — Wednesday night was for the ladies in Watsonville. More than 50 women, in addition to a number of men, gathered at the Watsonville Elks Lodge during the first “Wonderful Women of Watsonville” event. The event served as a way to “honor the women who use their time, energy and passion to improve the quality of life here in Watsonville,” said Lisa Tollner, director of Pajaro Valley Community Alliance, which put on the event with Watsonville Regional Airport Promotion. “We are here to celebrate women of all ages and all walks of life,” she said. That was certainly the case, as 18-year-old Abigail Acosta received a scholarship and longtime Watsonville resident Rhea DeHart’s 95th birthday was celebrated. Acosta, a Cabrillo College student who graduated from Monte Vista Christian School in June, was the recipient of the inaugural Lorraine E. Stucki Educational Scholarship. The $1,000 scholarship was formed in honor of Lorraine Stucki, a longtime Watsonville

THIS WEEKEND Saturday, Oct. 28

Sidewalk sale

The Watsonville Senior Center, 114 East Fifth St., will hold a sidewalk sale on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Chili Cook-Off

More than 50 chefs will be mixing up large pots of chili for public tasting during the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s eighth annual Chili Cook-Off. Admission to the Chili Cook-Off is free. Visitors can watch chefs prepare their chili, and for $10 taste up to six different samples as well as vote for the People’s Choice winner. Cooking begins at 10 a.m., tasting starts at 1 p.m., and winners will be announced at 4 p.m. A portion of the proceeds from this year’s event will benefit LEO’s Haven, an inclusive wheelchair-accessible playground planned for Chanticleer Park in Santa Cruz.

Fall festival

The Watsonville Parks and Community Services Department and Watsonville Police Neighborhood Services Division will hold a fall festival from 3-8 p.m. at Callaghan Park, 225 Sudden St.

Sunday, Oct. 29

Halloween dog walk

The "Howl-O-Ween Dog Walk" will take place at 11 a.m. at Martin J. Franich Park's dog park, 795 Vista Montana Drive in Watsonville, near Ann Soldo Elementary. Dog owners are encouraged to dress up their pets in Halloween apparel. After the walk, pictures will be taken of all dogs. Leashes and dog waste bags are required.

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Arrest yields numerous firearms Some from Oct. 4 gun shop burglary

REGISTER-PAJARONIAN STAFF REPORT

raine,” she said. “She was always looking out for me, and she was just such a wonderful woman.” DeHart, a retired teacher

WATSONVILLE — A Watsonville man was arrested Thursday after police found 30 guns at his residence, along with ammunition and burglary tools, Watsonville Police Sgt. Juan Trujillo said. Some of the guns are believed to be from the burglary of Markley’s Gun Shop on Oct. 4. Jim Rodriguez, 41, was charged with being a felon in possession of firearms, possession of ammunition and possession of burglary tools. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. Watsonville Police officers, with the assistance of the Santa Cruz County Auto Theft Reduction Enforcement Team, served a search warrant at Rodriguez’s residence at about 4:15 p.m. There, investigators found nine guns, various items of suspected stolen property including high-end bicycles, electron-

See WOMEN, page A16

See ARREST, page A16

Erik Chalhoub/Register-Pajaronian

Rhea DeHart (sitting, center) receives a standing ovation Wednesday during the "Wonderful Women of Watsonville" event at the Watsonville Elks Lodge. resident who died in August at age 86. Santa Cruz County Women’s Commissioner Ari Parker said Stucki’s commitment to the community was “unparalleled,” whether it be tackling senior issues, flood

control along the Pajaro River and more. “She especially encouraged the women in her life to get out there and actively participate,” Parker said. Acosta, in addition to attend-

ing Cabrillo College full-time to study English and journalism, works at Martinelli’s Company Store and has interned at the Register-Pajaronian for more than a year. “I was very close with Lor-

Santa Cruz County Sheriff: Bear Fire was arson Man also allegedly looted affected home By TODD GUILD

By TODD GUILD OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

A resident who lived on Hidden Springs Road returned on Oct. 17 to find their home had been burglarized. Miss-

WATSONVILLE — The Salvation Army is aiming to improve its services for homeless people in South County. By the end of the year, the organization plans to be running a day center for homeless people, with services such as internet access, showers, mailboxes, lockers, laundry and visiting nurses. It will also offer transitional housing, with 11 apartments in two buildings, and run a winter emergency shelter. Those services will be provided by Santa Cruz Homeless Services Center, Homeless Persons’ Health Project and Encompass Community Services. Those organizations will lease three buildings owned by

See FIRE, page A16

See SERVICES, page A16

Todd Guild/Register-Pajaronian

In a room full of reporters, Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Lt. Todd Liberty discusses the arrest of suspected Bear Fire arsonist Marlon Dale Coy. the heroic efforts by the first responders he could easily be facing murder charges today.” The blaze started on Oct. 16 in the area of 475 Diane’s Way and scorched 391 acres,

I����� •Advice Columnist •Classified •Comics •Crossword •Editorial •Obituaries

destroyed two homes, four outbuildings, 17 vehicles and five RV’s. A total of 13 firefighters were injured while battling the fire. One is still hospitalized.

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Salvation Army restructuring services

Will reclaim services for homeless, three buildings

OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

SANTA CRUZ — Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart on Friday identified the man thought to be responsible for deliberately starting the Bear Fire. Marlan Dale Coy, 54, was charged with multiple counts of arson, with enhancements for causing great bodily Coy injury. Coy was already in custody for looting one of the homes that were evacuated, and is also facing charges of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, jail records show. He is being held at Santa Cruz County Main Jail in lieu of $800,000 bail. “Rarely have I seen a more reckless action than those committed by this depraved man,” Hart said. “If not for

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•Police Reports •Real Estate •Religion •Sports •Weather

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W������ Partly cloudy Tonight will be cloudy. Sunday will be cloudy. Tonight’s low: 49 Sunday’s high: 66 Details on page A16.


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