EcoFarm bus tour rolling through Pajaro Valley
WATSONVILLE—Three organic Pajaro Valley farms will be featured in the 2020 EcoFarm Conference bus tour Wednesday—and a handful of seats are still available. Participants will visit Lakeside Organic Gardens, JSM Organics and Coastal Sun Cannabis/Moon Berry Farm during the tour, which kicks off the...
County closes on purchase of West Marine building
WATSONVILLE—The County of Santa Cruz announced Wednesday it has closed escrow on the purchase of the former West Marine building at 500 Westridge Drive in Watsonville.
In a press release, the County called the purchase “a major step forward in improving the delivery of services...
Business growing for Creme de Canna
Creme de Canna specializes in the high-tech extraction of cannabinoid (CBD) oils — each of which have their own benefits — that can be incorporated into a variety of products for a wide range of needs.
Historic Mansion House vacant after New China Buffet closes
WATSONVILLE—The historic Mansion House in downtown Watsonville is searching for a new, hip tenant.
The New China Buffet permanently closed its doors at the end of 2019 and the Tufo family is looking to fill the 3,800-square-foot space at 420 Main St. with a new...
Are you ready for Mother’s Day?
Freedom Meat Lockers Manager Will Panise said the family-run business is offering a handful of specials for Mother's Day.
Craft Bakeshop + Eatery plans soft opening this weekend
WATSONVILLE—When the home of the former Second Street Cafe in Watsonville became available last year, business partners Lacey Dent and Greg Bobeda saw an opportunity.
The two had originally meant to expand their business, Corralitos Coffeehouse, into another space on the first floor of the...
Mello named county’s Realtor of the Year
PAJARO VALLEY—Long-standing realtor Renee Mello was recently named Realtor of the Year for 2021 by the Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors.
A broker associate with Keller Williams, Mello, a third-generation Watsonville native, said she was stunned and “truly honored” to have been picked out...
Watsonville’s Crystal Bay Farm opens annual pumpkin patch
For more than 20 years, Crystal Bay Farm owners Lori and Jeff Fiorovich have offered the Pajaro Valley community a homegrown harvest tradition.
Every October, the couple transforms their farm into a family-friendly pumpkin patch, where people can come and pick out the perfect pumpkin,...
New eateries settle into Aptos Village
APTOS—A group of business owners from the new Aptos Village complex gathered for a meeting in early March to discuss possible events and projects they wanted to do together. Their aim was to bring the community into the blooming hub.
But days later those plans...
Local mechanic receives national award
WATSONVILLE—Chevrolet of Watsonville took a giant step up in the world of auto mechanics last week as one of their mechanics, Richard Shephard, was awarded a World Class Technician status award by officials from General Motors and Chevrolet.
“There’s a lot of time, a lot...
Proposition 50 starts strong, with 64% of the statewide vote
Early results Tuesday night showed Proposition 50 ahead by a slight margin, with just over 64% of Californians voting yes, and 77.8% of Santa...




















