City shows off Pippin Orchards
                    When the Pippin Orchard Apartment complex at 56 Atkinson Lane was ready for occupancy in the fall, nearly 2,500 families applied, hoping to snag one of the 46 units.                
                
            Ari Parker takes over as Watsonville Mayor
                    
WATSONVILLE—On an emotion-packed night that featured warm sendoffs for several city staffers, Ari Parker stepped in as Watsonville’s mayor during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
A lifelong Watsonville resident and an educator for more than three decades, Parker was sworn in by Assistant City Clerk Irwin...                
                
            EcoFarm rescheduled as a virtual conference in March
                    
CENTRAL COAST—Executive director of the Ecological Farming Association (EcoFarm) Andy Fisher had only been in the position for six months before the pandemic hit California. 
Fortunately, Fisher and his team had been able to hold their 40th annual conference in Pacific Grove that January. But...                
                
            METRO launches electric bus fleet in Watsonville
                    
WATSONVILLE—Santa Cruz METRO has taken a big step in combating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with the launch of two new electric buses, which will operate on a new route through the city of Watsonville.
On Tuesday METRO staff, along with city officials, representatives from electric...                
                
            New dashboard details school-based Covid-19 testing results
                    
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The Santa Cruz County Office of Education (COE) has launched a dashboard that summarizes Covid-19 testing results across schools countywide.
The dashboard is a partnership with school districts, Inspire Diagnostics and the Santa Cruz County Department of Public Health, COE spokesman Nick Ibarra...                
                
            Aptos woman will serve 4 years for involuntary manslaughter
                    
SANTA CRUZ—After an emotional three-hour sentencing hearing Friday that included testimony from friends and family of both suspect and victim, the woman who stabbed her husband to death in their Aptos home in 2019 learned her sentence.
Amanda Owens will spend three years in prison,...                
                
            Santa Cruz Warriors headed to G League ‘bubble’ in Florida
                    
The Santa Cruz Warriors will get the opportunity to play some basketball this year. 
The NBA’s development league announced the 2020-21 season will start as soon as February. But they’ll be doing so nearly 3,000 miles away from the Santa Cruz team’s normal home of...                
                
            Cafe Ella to be renamed ‘Strawberry Patch Cafe’
                    
WATSONVILLE—Cafe Ella, 734 E Lake Ave., will soon be rebranding itself with a new name and design.
Owners Jennifer DeVault and Erika Conrad will rename the business “Strawberry Patch Cafe” this month. The twin sister team bought the popular cafe in 2019 from founder and...                
                
            PHOTO: 2 crashes clog Hwy 1 in Watsonville
                    
Watsonville firefighter John Stone (left) joins other emergency workers in dealing with a five-vehicle crash on northbound Highway 1 in Watsonville Jan. 14. 
Watsonville Firefighter John Stone (left) joins other emergency workers in dealing with one of two crashes on northbound Highway 1 in...                
                
            Dónde obtener una prueba de Covid-19 en Watsonville
                    
Los funcionarios de salud han dicho que las pruebas son un factor esencial en la batalla contra el nuevo coronavirus, y con el aumento del número de casos en comunidades cercanas y lejanas, obtener una prueba es fundamental para comprender dónde está el virus...                
                
            Photo story: A Dia de los Muertos celebration
                
Dancers from Estrellas de Esperanza prepare to take the stage in Watsonville during the Calle Libres and Dia de Los Muertos event Sunday. Music,...            
            
        

















