Hello Scotts Valley! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Santa Cruz Film Festival and 7 more events.
And lastly, we have a post from a neighbor, Derek W.!
Today's riddle: Why did the cookie go to the hospital? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Connor Wildey killed in motorcycle crash on Corralitos Road (newsline.com) — A 23-year-old Scotts Valley resident, Connor Wildey, died after his Yamaha motorcycle collided with a GMC pickup turning left from Corralitos Road onto Merk Road in Santa Cruz County on September 23. Authorities say he was taken to a hospital but did not survive, and they note that fatal motorcycle crashes are rising statewide, often linked to driver inattention and turning errors.
2. Locals Lorenzo Figueroa, Willy LaMacchia, and Jacob Horton competing at Legacy Fighting Alliance 243 (santacruzsentinel.com) — Scotts Valley fight fans can cheer on local alum Jacob Horton as he seeks his first professional MMA win at Legacy Fighting Alliance 243 on Friday at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz. Horton joins fellow Santa Cruz County natives Lorenzo Figueroa and Willy LaMacchia on a full card of prelim and main-event bouts, with tickets available through Ticketmaster and fights starting in the late afternoon.
3. Grape Escapes: The Deep(est) Dive on 2026 Harvest (ediblemontereybay.com) — Vineyards across the Santa Cruz Mountains, including a Scotts Valley site, saw some of their lowest grape yields in years after an odd winter and cold, windy bloom period. While one local Viognier planting in Scotts Valley produced no crop at all, winemakers still found bright spots in small but high-quality harvests of varieties like Riesling, Aligoté, and Syrah throughout the region.
4. Bill inspired by the rape and murder of 8-year-old Maddy Middleton passes into California law (mercurynews.com) — A new California law inspired by the Maddy Middleton case changes how long dangerous juvenile offenders can be kept in secure detention, extending possible confinement from two to three years. Scotts Valley Police joined other Santa Cruz County agencies in backing the bill, which supporters say gives victims' families more time between painful court hearings and clarifies procedures for these rare but serious cases.
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What your neighbors are talking about on social media
Ok Scotts Valley! 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: "Why did the cookie go to the hospital?" — Because he felt crummy. (Thank you Sanda J. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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