It’s pretty much a no-brainer. Tough and yappy as they may be, chihuahuas have very little chance against larger predators like mountain lions.
Big Ideas Head to Santa Cruz
Peter Meehan remembers when the only two companies making organic chocolate were Newman’s Own Organics, the company he co-founded in Aptos with his business partner Nell Newman, and the Switzerland-based Rapunzel. In what some might consider an unfortunate if principled decision, Rapunzel was sweetening its chocolate with molasses rather than refined sugar. “It was a very challenging piece of chocolate to eat,” Meehan recalls.
Watsonville’s Overtime Blues
It may be the dead of winter, but summer is already on the minds of Watsonville city employees—specifically the June budget and the potential $5 million hole in it. At the Feb. 9 city council meeting, financial director Marc Pimentel blamed declining property taxes and the state and national budget crisis, but he also pointed out that police and fire overtime were a major stress on the city coffers.
Independent Panel Slams Strawberry Pesticide
How bad does a pesticide have to be before the California Department of Pesticide Regulation locks it up and throws away the key? We’ll soon find out. Last week a scientific review committee released a report on the fumigant methyl iodide, created by chemical company Arysta as an alternative to methyl bromide in strawberry fields.
Hooray! Santa Cruz Is One Of The Happiest Places In America
Santa Cruz is a pretty happy place. In fact, it’s happier than most major cities and towns in the U.S., ranking 14th overall. That was the finding of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which was released yesterday.
One Big Happy Family
It turns out that Obama and Bush are cousins—umpteenth removed, but cousins nonetheless. And their extended family includes everyone from Bill Clinton to the Roosevelts to Lincoln to Jefferson to Washington, etc.
Pipe Bomb Found On Santa Cruz Beach
A pipe bomb found on the beach yesterday was taken to Central Fire Station No. 1, where it was finally detonated. It took two hours for the local bomb squad to complete the task.
Fluoridation Could Be Coming to Watsonville
Back in 2002, Watsonville’s city council voted against the fluoridation of its local tap water.
Couple Wins Engagement Ring
What do you do when you win a diamond ring? Propose with it, of course. That’s what Karl Tunis did when he and his fiancée Erica Lund won a 1.02-carat Lazare diamond ring valued at $12,000.
Buddha Bags Sold
Santa Cruz-based Big Buddha, Inc., the maker of Buddha Bags, was sold to Steve Madden Ltd., it was announced last Friday. The eco-friendly bag company, founded by Jeremy Bassan, had a reported $13 million in sales last year. It was sold for $11 million. Read more at the Business Journal.
