Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What Rudy López’s retirement means for Watsonville’s fire department next year

Coming up: El capulin nursery on the Watsonville Patch calendar

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Thursday December 18th Patch AM
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Good morning Watsonville! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What Rudy López’s retirement means for Watsonville’s fire department next year
  • What led Watsonville police to charge a teen with murder?
  • How did Watsonville’s Cienega Heights farmworker housing finally get financed?

Also on today's calendar: El capulin nursery and 3 more events.

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

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

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

  • Thursday: Fog in the a.m.; partly sunny, with a high of 65 and low of 46 degrees.
  • Friday: Clouds giving way to some sun, temps: high: 65, low: 55.
  • Saturday: Chance of a little p.m. rain, with a high of 64 and low of 54 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Watsonville Fire Chief Rudy López announces retirement after 35 years (publicceo.com) — Watsonville’s longtime Fire Chief Rudy López is retiring December 31 after 35 years serving his hometown department, from reserve firefighter to chief. City leaders praise his decades of work strengthening public safety, while Acting Chief Corey Schaefer will lead during the search for a permanent replacement.
   

2. Watsonville police charge teen suspect for deadly October shooting (santacruzsentinel.com) — Watsonville police have arrested a 16-year-old in connection with an Oct. 29 shooting on Main Street that killed 34-year-old resident Erivan Chavez Martinez. The teen faces murder and several related charges, and detectives served multiple search warrants around Watsonville and Santa Cruz County as the investigation continues. Authorities have not confirmed whether another teen detained that night is the same suspect.
   

3. The Creative Capital Strategies Driving Today's Affordable Housing Deals (multifamilyaffordablehousing.com) — Watsonville’s new Cienega Heights development is bringing 80 affordable apartments, including 39 reserved for farmworker families, as part of a three-phase project on nearly 15 acres the city plans to annex. The article explains how nonprofit MidPen Housing assembled complex public and private financing to make the Watsonville project, and similar efforts nationwide, financially viable despite rising construction costs.
   

4. Revolutionaries, relationships, and ramen, Oh my!: Top 10 reads of 2025 (nwasianweekly.com) — One recommended novel in this AAPI book roundup follows a Filipino family whose story begins in 1930s Watsonville and touches on the historic Watsonville riots. The broader list highlights ten 2024–25 titles spanning revolution, family drama, fantasy, mystery, and memoir, all centered on Asian and Asian American experiences that might resonate with Watsonville’s own diverse community.
   

5. Remembering longtime Inland sportswriter John Murphy (santacruzsentinel.com) — Longtime sportswriter John Murphy once led sports coverage at the Watsonville Register-Pajaronian before building a decades-long career covering high school and pro athletes across Southern California. This remembrance traces his Bay Area roots, Inland Empire reporting, mentoring of younger journalists, and his impact as a coach and educator, while noting his recent passing at 69 and the legacy he leaves behind.
   

📸 Around Watsonville

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Watsonville

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Thursday December 18
  • Passionate Readers Book Discussion Group @ La Selva Beach
    La Selva Beach Library , 316 Estrella Ave , La Selva Beach
    10:30 am
  • Mah Jongg Club
    Aptos Branch Library , 7695 Soquel Dr , Aptos
    2:00 pm
  • Kids Crafternoon
    La Selva Beach Branch Library , 316 Estrella Ave , La Selva Beach
    4:00 pm
  • Tech Drop-In
    Watsonville Public Library , 275 Main St STE 100 , Watsonville
    4:30 pm
    • Friday December 19
  • Mindful Movement with Horses
    Beyond Liberty , 185 Dans Dr , La Selva Beach
    9:00 am
  • Bridge Club @ La Selva Beach
    La Selva Beach Library , 316 Estrella Ave , La Selva Beach
    10:30 am

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

 

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • After 35 years of service to the residents of Watsonville, Fire Chief Rudy López has announced his retirement, effective December 31, 2025.
    Chief López began his career in January 1990 as a Reserve Watsonville Firefighter and steadily advanced through the ranks, serving as a Firefighter,… (Nextdoor )
  • Does this cat belong to anyone?
    It’s been around our house for about a month and we’ve been feeding it. (Nextdoor Seaview Ranch)
  • Tractor Supply Company posted a job opening for Team Member in Watsonville. Apply here.
  • Monte Vista Christian School, Inc. posted a job opening for Head Varsity Softball Coach and Program Builder 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 don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
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