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Watsonville
February 12, 2026

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...

Wood-fired pizza restaurant opens doors in Watsonville

WATSONVILLE—A new wood-fired pizza restaurant recently opened in the East Lake Village Shopping Center. Sandwiched between the Villager bar and Carmona’s BBQ and Catering, Uncie Ro’s is the latest addition to the busy center. “We’re just happy to be able to open our doors to...

Van’s Shoes eyes smaller location

Van’s Shoes and Repair on East Lake Avenue is searching for a smaller facility, owner Jim van Lanen said.

Sears to close Capitola location

Sears Holdings announced this week that it will close dozens of stores throughout the U.S., including the location in the Capitola Mall.

Santa Cruz METRO driver shares his ‘love’ for the job

Santa Cruz METRO
WATSONVILLE—In November Uriel Mendoza of Watsonville will mark 21 years of being a bus driver for Santa Cruz METRO. When asked what he liked about his job, he plainly responded, “My job.”  His preferred bus route? “I like all of them,” he said. He said his customers are...

Downtown apartment complex seeks Planning Commission approval

the residence at 558 Main Watsonville
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville Planning Commission at its Monday meeting will look over plans for a proposed mixed-use apartment complex in downtown. A project from local developers Bill and Neva Hansen, The Residence at 558 Main is a proposed four-story, 50-unit apartment building that, if approved, will...

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.

Heritage Chocolates Corralitos a local, family affair

More than 50 years ago, clockmaker and shop owner Allison Rider discovered a new hobby: making chocolate candies for his friends, family and employees. Rider, a big chocolate lover, started creating treats loosely based on See's Candies flavors. He experimented with caramel and other soft-center...

Food service industry faces unprecedented labor shortage

Two weeks ago, Amelia Loftus, owner of Hidden Fortress Coffee Roasting, was on the brink of closing her cafe in Watsonville just shy of its five-year anniversary. The shop, located at the end of a sleepy business complex on Hangar Way, had been struggling to...

Two dispensaries receive Planning Commission approval

cannabis Watsonville city council taxes
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville will soon see its first cannabis dispensaries set up shop after two businesses received planning commission approval at Tuesday night’s virtual meeting. Berryessa Holdings, LLC and Charlie Mike, Inc. both got the green light by a unanimous vote. The former will serve customers at...
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Manny Contreras out as Watsonville High’s head football coach

In a stunning turn of events, Manny Contreras will not return as Watsonville High’s head football coach for the upcoming 2026 fall season.  Contreras received...