Charter schools reap millions from public payroll program
WATSONVILLE—Two Watsonville area charter schools received funds through the federal Payroll Protection Program (PPP), the $660 billion initiative created to use taxpayer dollars to help keep small business and nonprofit organizations afloat.
Watsonville Prep School, which received more than $1.7 million, and Ceiba College Preparatory...
PV Chamber awards scholarships
WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture recently announced the recipients of the 2020 Pajaro Valley Chamber Foundation Scholarship.
Local high school students Antonio Hueso-Fernandez and Jessica Rodriguez-Reyes were each awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
Hueso-Fernandez is a graduating senior at Aptos High School and will...
Creative masks still a hot item
WATSONVILLE—Battling the pandemic for nearly a year now has spurned a wealth of creative avenues to keep Covid-19 at bay. From crafty outdoor dining patios, equipped with heaters, sun umbrellas and all kinds of tents and landscaping, to attention-getting homemade signage, face shields and...
Central Coast untouched in Newsom’s clampdown on bars, restaurants
SACRAMENTO—California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered bars and restaurants in 19 counties to close their indoor dining options for at least three weeks, as the state faces increasing cases of Covid-19 and residents plan for the busy July 4 weekend.
The state saw 5,898...
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...
Mr. Z’s Crepes & Teas opens at The Hangar
WATSONVILLE—Rocky Patel said he was largely inspired to open his new restaurant, Mr. Z’s Crepes & Teas, by his two children.
“They are boba tea fanatics,” Patel said. “My 15-year-old son especially loves it. I was like, sure, let’s go all-out and do this.”
Boba, also...
Historic SeaBreeze Tavern demolished
RIO DEL MAR—Nearly 11 months after a fire gutted the historic Seabreeze Tavern and severely weakened the structure, demolition of the building began Tuesday.
The work is being conducted by a private contractor, Santa Cruz County spokesperson Jason Hoppin said. It is not clear what...
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...
Paycheck Protection Program again under scrutiny after list of recipients released
The half-trillion-dollar loan program advertised as a lifesaver for the country’s struggling small businesses is again under fire after the Small Business Administration on Monday released a list containing hundreds of recipients of the program, revealing that several private equity-backed chains owned by members...
McGregor Drive to close Feb. 18-19 for Highway 1 construction
McGregor Drive will be fully closed between Park Avenue and State Park Drive from 6am. to 3:30pm Wednesday, Feb. 18, and Thursday, Feb. 19,...


















