Aptos welcomes new food, wine spots
A string of new businesses will soon punctuate the ongoing expansion and opening of the Aptos Village and the nearby Rancho Del Mar Center.
On the southernmost shoulder of the Aptos Village a new branch of the popular Betty Burgers could be open by the second...
Dentistry, clinics hope to bounce back after closure
SACRAMENTO—Gov. Gavin Newsom on April 22 announced plans to allow hospitals to resume surgeries and other procedures that were delayed while the state grapples with the novel coronavirus pandemic.
These procedures include heart valve replacements, angioplasty and tumor removals, and key preventive care services, such...
Bamboo Giant offering first-ever nighttime walkthrough experience
Located on a busy thoroughfare between Aptos and Watsonville, Bamboo Giant Nursery and Gardens (BGNG) could easily be driven past without a second glance.
But the nursery, tucked into the side of a hill in a rural, forested section of Freedom Boulevard, is actually one...
The Hideout on the rebound
APTOS—Siding construction is underway on The Hideout restaurant that was largely destroyed by fire in May 2019.
Workers from Costa Bella Builders are behind the rebuild of the popular eatery nestled beneath a canopy of redwoods at 9051 Soquel Drive between Rio del Mar and...
County still weeks away from opening restaurants for dine-in
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Though some rural counties around the state are allowing their restaurants to open for dine-in service, Santa Cruz County officials are still at least several days away from giving their restaurateurs the green light.
That’s according to county spokesman Jason Hoppin, who on...
New eateries settle into Aptos Village
APTOS—A group of business owners from the new Aptos Village complex gathered for a meeting in early March to discuss possible events and projects they wanted to do together. Their aim was to bring the community into the blooming hub.
But days later those plans...
Aptos thrift store breaks own gift-giving record
APTOS—Since Caroline’s Nonprofit Thrift Shop opened its doors in 2010, owner Christy Licker has given tens of thousands of dollars to local organizations that support children.
In 2017, Licker handed out $275,000 to 26 organizations, which at the time was a record-breaking amount for the...
Finding beauty within
CAPTIOLA — Work is underway on putting a new face on two of the famed Six Sisters homes on the Esplanade in Capitola Village.
A crew of three from D&B Paint and Stain of Gilroy are tackling the multi-week task of bringing the pair of homes...
David Kinch keeps his promise with new spot in Aptos
By Christina Waters
Not since my last trip to Italy three years ago have I tasted such inspired pizza. It was from Mentone, the new Aptos restaurant created by David Kinch of the three-star Michelin Manresa. Mentone’s menu is Italian-French spun through Kinch’s own California...
Nonprofit coalition working for pay equity
APTOS—Nonprofit workers in Santa Cruz County are two times more likely than the general public to require the very social services they help provide.
That’s according to a recent survey conducted by the Human Care Alliance (HCA), a coalition of nonprofit agencies from around the...






















