Business brief: Matthew Jones Agency hosts mixer
Farmers Insurance Matthew Jones Agency, 106 Airport Blvd. Suite 101 in Watsonville will host a Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture mixer on Aug. 9 from 5-7 p.m.
Rolling Hills garden comes to life
WATSONVILLE—A long-neglected garden at Rolling Hills Middle School was brought back to life Thursday thanks to the volunteer efforts of the Watsonville company K&D Landscaping.
Armed with a host of tools and dozens of starter plants, the crew tore into the hard-packed soil as part...
Watsonville restaurants open for delivery and takeout
WATSONVILLE—Scores of restaurants around Watsonville have been hit hard by the outbreak of COVID-19. With shelter-in-place orders in effect, residents are asked to stay inside and limit their time near crowds. This includes going to sit-down restaurants, coffee shops, breweries and the like.
As such,...
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...
Hampton Inn opens in Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—A project seven years in the making, the 112-room Hampton Inn & Suites opened its doors Monday morning on Lee Road in Watsonville.
The four-story hotel flanks a new Starbucks coffee house and a newly opened Arco gas station and AM/PM mini market, all under...
Beer Mule opens in Watsonville
The owners of Beer Mule were hoping for an easy “soft opening” when they announced their first night via Instagram on Saturday.
Business Showcase returns to Aptos
Food, gadgets, cars, safety demonstrations and more will all be under one roof, and out in the parking lot, during the annual Business Showcase.
Fish Lady swims to Capitola location
The new location at 700A Bay Avenue is adjacent to the Capitola Produce Market and near Gayle’s Bakery & Rosticceria.
City readies for renewed negotiations with PV Arts for Porter Building
WATSONVILLE—The city of Watsonville is expected to resume negotiations with the Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA) Council for the sale of the Porter Building after no affordable housing developers showed serious interest in the historic landmark.
Watsonville and PVA earlier this year had begun early discussions...
Queen’s Shoes celebrates 15 years
In 2007 local fashion designer Sindy Hernandez opened Queen’s Shoes & More, a small boutique featuring a mix of her own and other designers’ clothing and accessories.
Hernandez gradually gained a loyal following of customers. And 15 years later, many of them remain, some becoming...
Egg drop tests amateur engineers
Area youths tested their engineering skills Friday in downtown Watsonville at the 2026 Egg Drop Challenge.
The 23rd annual contest celebrates National Engineers Week, which...





















