Owners of La Perla in Watsonville living their ‘American dream’
WATSONVILLE—It has been three decades since Gabino Torres and Anna Martinez opened a small Mexican seafood restaurant on Main Street, a business they launched as a way to pair their love of their native cuisine with a drive to support their family.
La Perla del...
John Bargetto launches new venture at Corralitos’ Regan Vineyards
For the past 30 years, Bargetto Winery, one of California’s oldest wineries, has grown grapes at Regan Estate Vineyards, a plot in Corralitos overlooking the Pajaro Valley.
With 40 of the property’s 53 acres planted, Regan is one of the largest and most diverse of...
Regulations could pinch crab fishermen
MOSS LANDING—As commercial crab fishermen prepare for the season to begin on Nov. 1, they are also grappling with a strict set of new regulations that start the same day, which some say could severely curtail their livelihood.
The new rules, created by the California...
Try This | Sept. 27, 2019
"Try This" is a weekly column that celebrates local businesses — especially eateries, watering holes, coffee shops and the like.
Johanna Miller
Food: Ambrosia India Bistro
Even though it’s been many years since Little India left the East Lake Village Shopping Center, I still miss having such a great,...
Hard cider business adapts to shelter-in-place
A single door was propped open, with a long table placed just inside of Santa Cruz Cider Company’s Apple City Tasting Room Monday afternoon.
A sign directed customers to the makeshift pickup window, which the owners have set up during the countywide shelter-in-place order.
Natalie Henz,...
Cafe Ella to be renamed ‘Strawberry Patch Cafe’
WATSONVILLE—Cafe Ella, 734 E Lake Ave., will soon be rebranding itself with a new name and design.
Owners Jennifer DeVault and Erika Conrad will rename the business “Strawberry Patch Cafe” this month. The twin sister team bought the popular cafe in 2019 from founder and...
PALMA SCHOOL | OPEN HOUSE | Sunday, November 5, 12-2
This Sunday Palma School will be hosting an Open House at 919 Iverson Street, Salinas.
Palma is a private, college-preparatory Catholic school for boys grades 7 through 12.
Store hands out 8,200 pounds of chicken to Second Harvest
WATSONVILLE—Second Harvest Food Bank’s efforts to aid Pajaro flood victims received a boost Wednesday when Staff of Life Natural Foods and Smart Chicken donated more than four tons of chicken.
With the Smart Giving Program, Staff of Life Natural Foods and Smart Chicken donated over...
Hideout restaurant on the mend
Work is moving ahead on The Hideout restaurant that sustained massive damage in a fire in May.
Freedom Meat Lockers is a delight | Try This
Todd Guild
Freedom Meat Lockers
One of my favorite things to do for lunch in Watsonville is head over to Freedom Meat Lockers, which in addition to its high-quality selection of carnivores’ delights, also offers a deli counter.
Normally when I hear the word ‘deli’ I cringe,...
Man arrested for agriculture-related crimes
A Prunedale man was arrested Nov. 26 on suspicion of a lengthy list of agriculture-related crimes including theft of a tractor.
On Oct. 22, deputies...






















