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...
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...
Mobile technology showroom visits Watsonville
Smile Business Products parked its technology showroom bus in Watsonville on Wednesday.
City seeks to expand cannabis businesses
WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville City Council on Tuesday will provide direction on major proposed modifications to the City’s cannabis laws, including the possible addition of multiple dispensaries.
According to the staff report prepared for Tuesday’s meeting, the City is recommending the addition of two retail licenses as...
Hideout restaurant on the mend
Work is moving ahead on The Hideout restaurant that sustained massive damage in a fire in May.
Dozens sound off on food trucks in community forum
WATSONVILLE—Dozens attended Tuesday night’s Watsonville City Council meeting to rebuke reported complaints lodged to the City Manager’s office about mobile food vendors.
This included about a half-dozen food truck operators gathered on one device that took turns grilling the City Council and staff holding the...
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...
New Watsonville shop features vintage clothing, candle making and more
After researching and running multiple pop-up venues, Eve Ayala and her wife, Teresa Madrigal, have swung open the doors to their new shop, TBH (To Be Honest).
“We're locals, born and raised in Watsonville,” Ayala said. “We are second generation Mexican women. Our shop comes...
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...
Cabrillo football coach Justin Hansen to take leave of absence
Cabrillo College announced Monday that head football coach Justin Hansen will take a formal family medical leave of absence effective immediately.
Hansen is expected to...




















