Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What changes will Watsonville’s new fire chief bring in January?

Be sure to catch El capulin nursery on the Watsonville Patch calendar

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Tuesday December 30th Patch AM
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Hello again Watsonville! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What changes will Watsonville’s new fire chief bring in January?
  • How did Watsonville’s Wildcatz fare in holiday tournament showdowns?
  • Watsonville’s cemetery holds a legendary 19th‑century stagecoach driver’s secret

Also on today's calendar: El capulin nursery.

Find out what's happening in Watsonvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: The world champion tongue twister just got arrested! 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Watsonvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Tuesday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 67 and low of 52 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Cooler with a few showers, temps: high: 57, low: 52.
  • Thursday: Periods of rain, with a high of 63 and low of 53 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Watsonville names new fire chief (pajaronian.com) — Watsonville has promoted longtime firefighter Corey Schaefer to become the city’s new fire chief on Jan. 1, following the retirement of Chief Rudy López. A 27-year veteran of the Watsonville Fire Department, Schaefer has led as acting chief since August and helped expand local emergency medical services and modernize the fleet, while remaining active in countywide firefighter training and wellness efforts.
   

• Cardinals' Conn is on: Santa Cruz steals win from Los Altos on junior's late basket (santacruzsentinel.com) — Watsonville High’s girls basketball and boys soccer teams both saw action Monday, with the Wildcatz hoop squad falling at the West Coast Jamboree despite a huge night from Leilani Yasin, while boys soccer rallied past San Pasqual at the SoCal Classic. Several other nearby schools, including St. Francis, Aptos, Soquel and Santa Cruz, also continued holiday tournament play with more games set for today.
   

• Sun, Dec 28 (nhgazette.com) — One entry in this historical timeline highlights Watsonville as the burial place of famed 19th‑century stagecoach driver “One‑Eyed Charlie” Parkhurst. Only after Parkhurst’s death in 1879, as the body was prepared for burial in Watsonville, did locals learn the celebrated driver had been assigned female at birth.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • We are eating at Panda Inn again.
    I keep forgetting how good the new owners and chef are! Don’t let this gem out of our south county community! Let’s support them more so they stay… (Nextdoor Briarwood)
  • Does anyone recognize this dog?
    We found her around 5:30 pm today on Browns Valley Road about 2 miles from split near the bridge near the nursery. 3-4 year old? German Shepard… (Nextdoor Corralitos)
  • 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.
  • Yogurtland posted a job opening for Store Associate in Watsonville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Watsonville here.

🗞 Nearby News

Aptos

  • Santa Cruz Warriors sloppy in G League loss to Osceola Magic (fresnobee.com)

Soquel

Santa Cruz

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 hear they’re giving him a really tough sentence.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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