City’s initial pandemic budget report brings optimism
WATSONVILLE—The Covid-19 pandemic has not yet been as harsh on Watsonville’s economy as predicted, but Finance Department Director Cindy Czerwin at Tuesday’s City Council meeting said it is still too early to “feel totally confident” about the City’s financial future.
The City’s sales tax revenues...
Corralitos winery navigates pandemic, heatwave
Winemaker Alex Prikazsky says it had always been a dream of her father, Bob Prikazsky, to open a winery someday.
“My folks would go tasting on the weekends,” she said. “We’d go to wine auctions together. There was always this idea in the back of...
Staff of Life delays opening of Watsonville location until 2021
WATSONVILLE—Staff of Life has delayed the opening of its Watsonville location until next year, according to spokeswoman Hollie Wendt.
The Santa Cruz-based natural foods store was set to open its second location in the East Lake Village Shopping Center sometime in the fall.
“After much discussion...
Large Watsonville housing development seeks extension
WATSONVILLE—The developer behind a 150-unit housing project off Ohlone Parkway is asking the Watsonville City Council for a one-year extension on the project’s approval.
First approved by the council in 2018 as Sunshine Vista, Hillcrest Estates was set to transform an 11-acre junkyard at 511...
Applied Motion Products moving to Morgan Hill
By Erik Chalhoub, Special to the Pajaronian
MORGAN HILL—Citing a need for more space and to be closer to its Silicon Valley customers as its business grows, Watsonville-based Applied Motion Products broke ground on its Morgan Hill facility on Aug. 6.
The facility, now under construction...
Corralitos Coffeehouse moving into vacant Second Street cafe
By Abigail Acosta, Special to the Pajaronian
WATSONVILLE—The owners of Corralitos Coffeehouse will be closing their doors in Corralitos on Aug. 22 and moving their operations to downtown Watsonville.
Greg Bobeda and Lacey Dent will take over the location formerly occupied by Second Street Cafe between...
Staff of Life closes for cleaning after employee contracts Covid-19
SANTA CRUZ—Staff of Life, a popular natural foods market in Santa Cruz for more than 50 years, announced Monday that an employee tested positive for Covid-19.
“We have made the decision to temporarily close after learning a member of our staff has been diagnosed with...
Event-based businesses struggle to stay afloat
WATSONVILLE—The Covid-19 pandemic has hit businesses hard, from the largest of companies to the smallest mom-and-pop shops. Rules continue to change as cases flatten and then spike, leaving business owners dealing with back-and-forth openings and closures.
But for those who made their living off of...
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...
New medical clinic goes skyward
WATSONVILLE—Construction is moving forward on a proposed dialysis clinic that would complement the nearby Watsonville Community Hospital.
Being built by AGI General Contracting, the 11,424-square-foot outpatient ambulatory clinic is going up on a 1.15-acre lot at 58 Hanger Way and 5 Neilson St. directly adjacent...
Protest, film target pesticide regulations
About 40 people gathered outside the CineLux Green Valley Cinema in Watsonville Friday to protest new regulations by the Department of Pesticide Regulation regarding...