W e s t C i n c o

My first car still going strong Kilburn St.  Have you ever had your car stall out just as you're leaving for work? Or maybe it burns oil, leaks oil, or just refuses to start before the day even begins. If you’re driving an older car or trying to keep things running on a tight budget, you know the struggle is real. I’ve been around cars most of my life. I used to work on them with my dad behind our old apartment, in this dusty garage that always smelled like oil and worn-out tools. He taught me everything I know. But even now, I’m still learning more every day. One thing’s for sure: he definitely laid the foundation for what it means to really take care of a car. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been dealing with car problems for years, a few simple habits can go a long way in keeping your vehicle running reliably. You don’t need a full set of tools or need to break the bank, it is about being attentive and willing to get a bit of elbow grease going. Here are three (pl...

Rodriguez St. Have you ever looked back and asked yourself, “ Where is my elementary class now? ” I do. I think about my kindergarten classmates from Radcliff Elementary School on Rodriguez Street. Back then, we were all just kids learning the ABCs, drawing with crayons, eating lunch together. But as we moved through the grades, one by one, the faces started to disappear.  Some got labeled early. Others fell behind and were never helped back up. But the real separation didn’t happen until middle school. That’s where the system started drawing the line between who gets pushed forward and who gets left behind. In middle school, the programs begin. Honors classes. College prep programs. Special field trips. But only for the “good” kids. The ones with high grades, quiet behavior, or the right kind of English. I remember classmates who weren’t even invited to try. I saw kids get brushed off. Ignored. Told without words that they weren’t going anywhere. And by the time high school comes...

Ford St. This is a corner store that was about two blocks up from my house and one street over. It wasn’t anything fancy, but to me, it was one of my favorite spots. Chips, cookies, candy, it had everything a kid could ever want. This is the place where I first tried Hot Cheetos with nacho cheese. That combo felt like the dopest thing back then hot, cheesy, and messy in the best way. It was a whole experience, one you couldn’t get just anywhere. You had to know about that spot. The store sat on the corner of Rodriguez Street and Ford Street. During the day, it was a good spot. You’d see a bit of everything there kids grabbing snacks, old men chatting outside, moms picking up quick groceries. I used to stop by every other week or so in the morning before catching the bus to middle school. It was a good walk that gave me time to think. Gave me enough time to settle in and sort of prepare for my day mentally. It was almost a mini pre-school ritual you can say. I tried to go mostly every o...

East Fifth St.  Watsonville, CA. 25 minutes south of Santa Cruz and 30 minutes north of Monterey. That is where Watsonville is located. There is one spot that tends to stick out when people ask where is a good place to eat in Watsonville? That spot is called Pizza Mia. A family owned restaurant that has been in the community since 1996. Now why is this all important? Well it is located than no other than on East Fifth Street which is about two blocks from where I grew up at.   Everyone in the neighborhood knew what time it was when we were hungry, growing up all you needed was three dollars and you were good for the day. Three one dollar bills was the sweet spot growing up, you would get two big slices of pepperoni pizzas, which at the time were as big as my head and I needed to have both hands to hold my plate. The counter was so high up I had to be on my tippy toes at times when I ordered my food.  When things were going on around the area that weren't the most "po...