Cafe owners remain positive through shelter-in-place
WATSONVILLE—Cafe Ella owners Erika Conrad and Jennifer DeVault say they are hopeful that their business will persevere through the COVID-19 crisis.
The twin sisters, who took over the small cafe on East Lake Avenue from Ella’s at the Airport owner Ella King last year, said...
7 streaming options to pass the time
Johanna Miller
His Dark Materials (HBO/BBC)
I was both excited and nervous when I heard that BBC and HBO would be releasing a miniseries adaptation of my favorite book series, “His Dark Materials” by Philip Pullman. As a longtime fan, I was hoping it would at...
County theaters, galleries deal with closures
After the outbreak of COVID-19 prompted shelter-in-place orders last week, scores of performing arts venues and museums across Santa Cruz County have closed.
Staff and artists are now out of work, and locally-owned venues are currently figuring out their next step.
Cabrillo College Box Office Specialist...
Organizers urge customers to avoid bulk buying WIC products
By Jazmin Juarez, special to the Pajaronian
WATSONVILLE—During the coronavirus outbreak, several people have gone shopping for food in large quantities without realizing the impact it can have on their neighbors.
Around 5,000 people in Watsonville rely on the Women, Infants and Children program (WIC), whose...
Monterey County issues guidelines for farmworkers during COVID-19 outbreak
MONTEREY COUNTY—The Monterey County Agriculture Commissioner’s Office, Supervisors Luis Alejo and Chris Lopez, along with Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, Monterey County Farm Bureau, Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association, Coastal Growers Association and California Strawberry Commission recently released a model Advisory for Agriculture...
Historic $2 trillion rescue package coming
Congress is still hammering out details on a $2 trillion rescue package to help the country weather the coronavirus outbreak. Financial relief in the package is aimed at helping large corporations, the airline industry, hospitals and public transportation. In addition, around $367 billion is...
Soquel trailer fire spreads into garage, classic car collection
SOQUEL—A fire that broke out in a trailer spread into a garage and a collection of classic cars Monday evening on the 600 block of Olive Springs Road.
Central and Aptos/La Selva Fire spokesman Mike DeMars said the 5:50 p.m. incident began in a Casita Travel Trailer and then spread...
5 takeaways from the unprecedented $2 trillion COVID-19 relief bill
Almost all Americans will soon receive one-time payments from the federal government thanks to the nearly $2 trillion COVID-19 relief bill approved by Congress on Tuesday night, according to the Associated Press.
Details of the unrivaled package are expected to change as leaders continue negotiations...
Watsonville markets offering senior shopping hours
WATSONVILLE—Several local supermarkets are offering senior-only shopping hours in light of COVID-19, which poses a particular risk to seniors and the medically vulnerable.
In Watsonville, Safeway is open to seniors and at-risk shoppers every Tuesday and Thursday from 7-9 a.m.; Target dedicates its first hour...
Shelter-in-place: week 2
Today marks the start of week two of the shelter-in-place order in Santa Cruz County—the order by health officials to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19. Here's a round-up of a few important issues:
• There is a coronavirus phone hotline in...
Community celebrates Mexican Independence Day
Thousands of people gathered in downtown Watsonville Sunday for the annual Mexican Independence Day Festival.
Hosted by Fiestas Patrias, the free event featured a wealth...