When Dotti McKnight left her job at the Shadowbrook restaurant in Capitola, she thought a commissary job at Dominican Hospital would be enough to support her and her husband. That was 2003.

Jerry West is one of the best and smartest athletes ever to play the game of basketball. West played his entire professional career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Hall of Famer’s silhouette is the NBA’s logo. Currently an executive for the Golden State Warriors, he spoke to reporters about the success of Golden State’s team. And he wasn’t afraid to say what the Santa Cruz Warriors need to do better.

Retired winegrower Gary Willet started serving hot dogs in the Westside’s U-Save Liquors parking lot.

When Santa Cruz Warrior Taylor Griffin missed a clutch free throw with a minute-and-a-half to play against the Los Angeles D-Fenders on Friday night, Santa Cruz County Treasurer Fred Keeley looked over at his godson. The 14-year-old avid basketball fan was feeling discouraged.

Downtown has been much quieter the past few weeks, at least at noon and 5pm. That’s because the volume on the city’s carillon bells, which hang high in the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, has been turned down.

The Department of Public Works calls it Lot 10. Customers and employees in the City of Santa Cruz think of it as one of the last bastions of downtown’s free parking. But it won’t be for long.

Little Shanghai, co-owned by Jack and Sue Chiao, has for years been a downtown Santa Cruz destination for fresh-tasting Chinese food made with local vegetables.

It’s much too soon, Vice Mayor Lynn Robinson says, to discuss any cuts to the Homeless Services Center’s day programs. Some worry such cuts would not make Santa Cruz any safer.

Sammy Obeid decided two years ago to do stand-up comedy for 1,000 consecutive days. If all goes according to plan (no panic attacks, measles, etc.), his Tuesday show at the Blue Lagoon will be number 829. The show is part of a new weekly comedy showcase hosted by local comedian DNA. We caught up with Obeid on the phone before a show at the Laugh Factory in Long Beach, Calif.