Ella’s at the Airport owner granted lease transfer
WATSONVILLE—Ella’s at the Airport will indeed change hands after the City of Watsonville and owner/operator Ella King came to an agreement on a five-year lease that is set to be transferred to new owner/operator Chielo Apac.
The Watsonville City Council approved the lease and transfer...
Cabrillo’s Pride flag burned in act of vandalism
WATSONVILLE—A large group of people gathered in front of Cabrillo College’s Watsonville Campus Monday to watch as a new Pride flag was raised, two days after someone burned the rainbow flag that previously flew there.
The flying of the new, larger flag came as a...
Police seeking driver in fatal hit-and-run
WATSONVILLE—Watsonville Police are looking for a driver that struck a pedestrian May 5 and then fled on the 1900 block of Main Street.
Ashley Keehn of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Victor Gonzalez Jr., 24, of Watsonville. He was taken...
Meals on Wheels facing eviction
LIVE OAK—Meals on Wheels (MOW) is looking for a new home after being served an eviction notice by Live Oak School District, which has been leasing its location to the organization for more than four decades.
The district has told the organization that the aging...
Where to get a Covid-19 test in Watsonville
Health officials throughout the nation have said testing is an essential factor in the battle against the novel coronavirus, and with case numbers rising in communities near and far getting a test is critical to understanding where the virus is and how officials can...
High-powered rifles, cannabis seized in Bonny Doon
BONNY DOON—The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office confiscated an unusually large amount of cannabis and 16 rifles Tuesday at home in Bonny Doon.
Santa Cruz County spokesman Jason Hoppin said Sheriff’s Office personnel assigned to the Cannabis Licensing Office served a criminal search warrant at...
Martinelli’s among brands searching for safer bottle cap options
WATSONVILLE—When the nonprofit Defend Our Health tested bottle caps from 141 beverage brands, they found potentially harmful chemicals in more than a third of them. Two Martinelli’s products were among these brands, but the Watsonville-based apple juice and cider company says it is now...
Graniterock CFO announces run for Monterey County supervisor
PAJARO—A longtime Royal Oaks resident, Graniterock employee and community organizer on Wednesday announced his run for the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.
Steve Snodgrass, 66, has served as Graniterock’s Chief Financial Officer for 35 years, and plans to retire early next year. That experience, he...
Watsonville Brillante project installs third and largest mosaic
WATSONVILLE—A year’s worth of work came to fruition on Oct. 1 as the third and largest mosaic that is part of the ongoing Watsonville Brillante project was installed at the Civic Plaza Parking Garage.
The piece, “Hermanita,” was designed by Juan Fuentes, a graduate of...
Specialty coffee shop joins Watsonville Hangar complex
WATSONVILLE—A new coffee shop has opened on Aviation Way, rounding out the Watsonville Hangar business complex that has been growing steadily the past couple of years.
Honeylux Coffee is a specialty coffeehouse offering its own signature blend of java, as well as espresso drinks, teas,...
How Farmworkers Outlawed ‘El Cortito’ 50 Years Ago
For decades in the Salinas Valley, the short-handle hoe, known as “El Cortito,” was used for weeding and thinning rows of crops that kept...
