🌱 Patch AM: How Watsonville’s new radio system could change local emergency response

Hey hey Watsonville! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Watsonville’s new radio system could change local emergency response
• How DNA evidence tied a Watsonville woman to a 1994 infant death
• Can Pajaro Valley stop Paly’s hungry Vikings on Monday night?

Also on today's calendar: Breakfast With Santa and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: Jimmy, did you crash on your bike again? You’ve lost a tooth! 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: Low clouds, then some sun, with a high of 62 and low of 40 degrees.
• Monday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 68, low: 46.
• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 69 and low of 53 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. County, cities agree to purchase encrypted emergency radio system (pajaronian.com) — Watsonville has signed on to a new countywide emergency radio system that will modernize how local police and firefighters communicate and coordinate responses. The shared RING system, costing about $15.8 million across member agencies, promises to boost coverage from 65% to 95% countywide and unify previously fragmented radio networks, though officials still must finalize long-term funding and policies on encrypted law-enforcement channels.
   

2. Watsonville woman pleads guilty to abandoning newborn in 1994 (santacruzsentinel.com) — A Watsonville woman has pleaded guilty in the decades-old death of her newborn son, closing a 30-year cold case. Investigators used DNA testing to link her to an infant whose remains were found near Prunedale in 1994, and she now faces a potential state prison sentence at a February hearing.
   

3. Vikings' late rally falls short against Knights (palyvoice.com) — Palo Alto High’s girls basketball team narrowly lost to Menlo but now turns its focus to a Monday night matchup against Pajaro Valley High in Watsonville. Coaches and players say better communication and fundamentals could turn close games into wins, setting up an intriguing test for the local Grizzlies on their home court.
   

4. Monterey Bay Economic Partnership named 2025 Neighborhood Builder by Bank of America (santacruzsentinel.com) — A regional economic nonprofit that supports Pajaro Valley and other nearby communities has been named Bank of America’s 2025 Neighborhood Builder, bringing $50,000 in grant funding and leadership training to the Monterey Bay region. Monterey Bay Economic Partnership plans to use the money to bolster efforts like the Pajaro Alliance and regional affordable housing, which can influence jobs, housing, and recovery work affecting Watsonville-area residents.
   

📸 Around Watsonville

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Watsonville

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Sunday December 14

• Breakfast With Santa
  2401 E Lake Ave , Watsonville
  9:00 am

Tuesday December 16

• Enthusiastic Bird Watchers @ La Selva Beach
  La Selva Beach Branch Library , La Selva Beach
  10:30 am
• Sensory Play
  Main Library , 275 Main Street, Suite #100 , Watsonville
  11:00 am

Thursday December 18

• Passionate Readers Book Discussion Group @ La Selva Beach
  La Selva Beach Branch Library , 316 Estrella Ave , La Selva Beach
  10:30 am
• Bilingual Toddler Storytime
  Main Library Meeting Room , 275 Main Street, Suite #100 , Watsonville
  10:30 am

Friday December 19

• Bridge Club @ La Selva Beach
  La Selva Beach Branch Library , 316 Estrella Ave , La Selva Beach
  10:30 am
• Bilingual Baby Laptime
  Main Library Meeting Room , 275 Main Street, Suite #100 , Watsonville
  10:30 am

Saturday December 20

• In-Person Tech Help @ La Selva Beach
  La Selva Beach Branch Library , 316 Estrella Ave , La Selva Beach
  10:00 am

📣 Watsonville Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Sunday December 14

• Noche De Brillo
  Watsonville Plaza , 358 Main St , Watsonville
  2:00 pm
• Night of Sparkle
  Civic Plaza Parking Garage , 260 Rodriguez St , Watsonville
  2:00 pm
• Read to the Rescues
  Beyond Liberty , 185 Dans Dr , La Selva Beach
  3:30 pm
• Breakfast With Santa
  2401 E Lake Ave , Watsonville
  4:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Watsonville PatchAM possible:

• El Capulin Nursery — (831) 840-9195
  El Capulin Nursery

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• The City of Watsonville, in partnership with Santa Cruz METRO and MidPen Housing, has been awarded a $39 million state grant to build the Watsonville Metro Project, a new downtown development focused on affordable housing and transit.
  The project will redevelop the current Watsonville Transit Center at 475 Rodriguez Street into a multi-story, mixed-use hub, including 79 affordable… (Nextdoor )
• New to town, same mission…
  Officer Tyler Provost was sworn in this week as the newest member of the Watsonville Police Department! With 10 years of experience as a police… (Nextdoor )

• Mechanics Bank posted a job opening for Area Production Manager in Watsonville. Apply here.
• Pajaro Valley Unified School District posted a job opening for 25/26 School Year - Dance Teacher - Hall District (0.4 FTE) in Watsonville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Watsonville here.

Ok Watsonville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I didn’t lose a tooth, Mom. It’s right here in my pocket.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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