New bill would provide $500M to agricultural fairs
                    
SACRAMENTO—Earlier this month, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley), Representatives Billy Long (R-MO), Mike Levin (D-CA), and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced bipartisan legislation aiming to help preserve agricultural fairs across the country and offset the devastating financial losses they have experienced due to Covid-19.
The Agricultural...                
                
            Hampton Inn & Suites begins taking shape
                    The 112-room business, being built by Elite Development Inc. between Beach Road and Riverside Drive, has now reached the insulation, electrical and plumbing phase, said co-owner Juggy Tut. Barring any unexpected hurdles, Tut said he hopes to see the place up and running by the end of the year or in early January. Roof work is slated to be completed in December.                
                
            Local nursery sees uptick in business during pandemic
                    
With the pandemic outbreak, most of us heard this warning many times: Stay at home. But that could have been softened a little bit with: “Stay at home and in the garden.” Because, for many of us, that’s what happened: People started plowing deep...                
                
            Melee over food cart captures community attention
                    
SANTA CRUZ—A recent clash between a Santa Cruz restaurant owner and a mobile hot dog vendor has drawn countywide attention, forcing one restaurant to close its doors and prompting demonstrations that have drawn hundreds of supporters.
According to Santa Cruz Police spokeswoman Joyce Blaschke, the...                
                
            Martinelli’s among brands searching for safer bottle cap options
                    
WATSONVILLE—When the nonprofit Defend Our Health tested bottle caps from 141 beverage brands, they found potentially harmful chemicals in more than a third of them. Two Martinelli’s products were among these brands, but the Watsonville-based apple juice and cider company says it is now...                
                
            Sushi Qu moves; East Lake evolving
                    
WATSONVILLE—Sushi Qu, a popular sushi restaurant in East Lake Village Shopping Center, opened Tuesday in its new space just a few doors away from where they had operated for almost five years.
Owner Jannie Park said she was excited about the new location that will...                
                
            Capitola Olive Garden aims for Dec. 17 opening
                    Final touches are underway at the Olive Garden Italian Kitchen restaurant, the first such location for the chain business in Santa Cruz County.                
                
            Holiday planning? Order your meat now
                    If specialty meats will be on your table during the upcoming holidays, now is the time to get your order in at two local meat businesses, Freedom Meat Lockers and Corralitos Market & Sausage Co.                
                
            In the family for six decades
                    Hilltop Mini Mart, 1007 Salinas Road, has remained family-owned since 1956.                
                
            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,...                
                
            Photo story: A Dia de los Muertos celebration
                
Dancers from Estrellas de Esperanza prepare to take the stage in Watsonville during the Calle Libres and Dia de Los Muertos event Sunday. Music,...            
            
        




















