Spicing up his life: Former tech engineer launches new food venture
APTOS—As a young man, Bapcha Murty moved from his native Chennai, India to attend UC Los Angeles and become an engineer. He went on to a career in the Silicon Valley tech industry that spanned more than two decades in several companies.
But when Murty...
Biden and senators reach broad infrastructure deal
WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of centrist senators reached a deal on Thursday for $1.2 trillion in investments to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, a victory for the White House but only the first lurch in what promises to be an arduous attempt...
Owner of Nick’s TV leaves behind legacy
WATSONVILLE — For more than 30 years Nicholas Diaz spent long workdays buried in the back of televisions and other broken appliances. He was living his dream of being a neighborhood repairman.
That dream came to a horrific close Sept. 1 when he died in a car...
Kaiser Permanente ‘reorganization’ will not affect Santa Cruz County locations
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—A recent reduction to employees in the Kaiser Permanente corporation—about 200 positions—will not reach Santa Cruz County, a spokesman said Tuesday.
One of the largest private employers in California, the company has more than 149,000 employees and 16,000 physicians in the state.
In addition,...
First business opens in Aptos Village
Sereno Group, a commercial and residential realtor, was the first business to open its doors in the Aptos Village Project.
County yoga studios offering live classes online
WATSONVILLE—As the second day of Santa Cruz County’s shelter-in-place order dawned Wednesday morning, Watsonville Yoga, Dance and Healing Arts owner Phoenix Artemisia was busy setting up for class—just not as she normally does.
Artemisia’s mat was unrolled on the ground of her studio on Main...
Watsonville Cyclery owner pushes public safety, involvement
WATSONVILLE—When Bike Santa Cruz County approached South County officials to start up a monthly community bike ride, Watsonville Cyclery owner Julian “Jules” Mandujano was eager to get involved.
Every last Friday of the month, Mandujano offers up his business at 25 East 5th St. as...
West Marine sold to equity fund
A New York-based equity fund will acquire West Marine, the company announced recently.
Staying with Sumano’s
In 2012, Edgar Sumano made the decision to come to Watsonville and begin working at his father’s bakery.
Missed opportunities prove costly for Aptos in loss to King City...
At times, all it takes is one or two lucky plays for a team to catch momentum at the right time.
That wasn’t the case...





















