New Leaf shutters Aptos branch after COVID-19 cluster emerges
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—New Leaf Community Market has closed its Aptos location after seven employees tested positive for COVID-19.
The company made the announcement on its website on Tuesday, saying the store will stay closed “until further notice.”
The announcement came four days after the store closed...
Pier 1 to close all stores
CAPITOLA—Pier 1 Imports announced Tuesday that it will close all 540 of its stores nationwide, sell its inventory and liquidate its assets.
The sales will begin at the Capitola store as soon as the Santa Cruz County Health Department allows it to open.
The company’s website...
New bill would provide $500M to agricultural fairs
SACRAMENTO—Earlier this month, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley), Representatives Billy Long (R-MO), Mike Levin (D-CA), and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced bipartisan legislation aiming to help preserve agricultural fairs across the country and offset the devastating financial losses they have experienced due to Covid-19.
The Agricultural...
Council rejects temporary ban on new drive-thrus
WATSONVILLE—Drive-thrus got the green light at Tuesday night’s Watsonville City Council meeting.
By a 5-2 vote the council rejected a 45-day ban on new drive-thrus, stating there is no current and immediate threat to public health, safety or welfare and that their approval should be...
Cars & Coffee featured at East Lake Village
A 1956 Studebaker Lark VI is part of the weekly Watsonville Cars & Coffee at East Lake Village.
Put on by East Lake Village, with help former Watsonville Police Chief Manny Solano and Ace Hardware owner Manny Rodrigues, the event showcases early day cars and...
Heritage Trees dwindling
Thousands of heritage trees have been cut down in the county since 2000, according to the Sierra Club of Santa Cruz County.
Anonymous donor gifts rescue horse to CASA Santa Cruz
AROMAS—In June of 2020, a horse named Rooster arrived at The BackStretch, a nonprofit ranch in Aromas that aims to provide a haven for abandoned, abused and neglected horses.
The 16-year-old Quarter Horse had finally found his “forever home” after years of being a workhorse,...
The guardian of Pinto Lake is gone
A pillar in the Watsonville community has died. Pat McQuade, the park concessionaire at Pinto Lake City Park, a highly visible, helpful and deeply caring person, died Sunday, according to people close to her at the park.
Prep Athletes of the Week: St. Francis’ Joseph Dayritt, Maya Calfee
The Pajaronian’s Prep Athletes of the Week were selected based on their performances during the week of Sept. 1-7. Coaches and athletic directors are...
