Watsonville affordable housing project scores $2M loan
WATSONVILLE—A 53-unit affordable housing development planned for the heart of Freedom Boulevard received a $2 million loan thanks to Monterey Bay Economic Partnership and Housing Trust Silicon Valley, the agencies announced Thursday evening.
The development will bring much-needed affordable housing for families earning 20-60% of...
State gives Central Coast counties green light to open dine-in restaurants, barbershops
WATSONVILLE—The California Department of Public Health approved Covid-19 County Variance Attestation forms for both Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, the counties announced Saturday morning.
The acceptance will allow the neighboring counties to advance further into Stage 2 of the state's so-called resilience roadmap.
Restaurants can now...
WPD Chief condemns ‘disgusting’ killing of George Floyd
Watsonville Police Chief David Honda on Friday released this video condemning the May 25 killing of George Floyd.
In a video that has been viewed by millions of people around the world, Minneapolis, Minn. police officer Derek Chauvin was seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck...
Watsonville businesses keep serving
In Watsonville today my wife Sarah and I stopped in at Monterey Bay Caterers, 152 West Lake Ave. Owner Ken Schwan helped me preorder two take out dinners a few days ago—their beef Wellington and a chicken Cordon Bleu. Ken said you simply take...
Photo: First phase of ‘Watsonville Brillante’ unveiled
Workers with Nor-Cal Scaffolding on Friday morning finish up their work for the first phase of "Watsonville Brillante," a 1,200-square-foot section of a larger mosaic on the six-story garage abutting Watsonville's Civic Plaza.
When complete, the mosaic, spearheaded by local artist Kathleen Crocetti, will...
Supervisors approve application to open dine-in restaurants, barbershops
SANTA CRUZ—The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors at Friday’s emergency meeting voted unanimously to approve a Stage 2 variance application under the state’s so-called Resilience Roadmap which would allow local restaurants and barbershops/hair salons to begin expanded services.
If approved by the state, the...
County begins to open
Conchita Gonzalez, owner of Conchita's Ice Cream in Plaza Vigil, said she was glad to reopen recently. Gonzalez, who has been open at the same spot for 22 years, said she cried for a week straight when she first had to close.
"Now that...
Virtual graduation to be PVUSD’s first
WATSONVILLE—For the first time in Pajaro Valley Unified School District history, the stadiums, athletic fields and auditoriums that traditionally fill with cheers, tears and the nostalgic strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” will stay silent this graduation season, all to be replaced by the electronic...
Digital NEST aids community during Covid-19 shutdowns
WATSONVILLE—It took all of 48 hours for Digital NEST to move all of its courses, business and employees to a state-of-the-art online platform.
Other local companies, institutions and businesses were not as prepared to be shoved into the work-from-home, online-only era caused by the Covid-19...
Santa Cruz METRO driver shares his ‘love’ for the job
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...
Public input sought for Measure Q Vision Plan
The County of Santa Cruz invites community members to take part in a countywide effort to help shape the Measure Q Vision Plan, which...
