Watsonville
News Feed
Events
Local Businesses
Classifieds
Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why Watsonville High’s stadium just got a new name

Coming up on the Watsonville Patch calendar: Prunedale - Tech. Time

Friday August 28th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hello Watsonville! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why Watsonville High's stadium just got a new name
  • What this new PVUSD teacher deal means for Watsonville classrooms
  • See what's planned for Clifford Avenue's traffic circle next year

Today's riddle: What did the tree say when Spring arrived? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Watsonville Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Watsonville Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Watsonville.

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 76 and low of 54 degrees.
  • Saturday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, temps: high: 73, low: 54.
  • Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high of 69 and low of 55 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Pajaro Valley school board names Watsonville High stadium for Roland Hedgpeth (santacruzsentinel.com) — Watsonville High's athletic facility will now be called Hedgpeth Stadium/Geiser Field after the Pajaro Valley Unified school board unanimously voted to add legendary soccer coach Roland Hedgpeth's name. Trustees also approved a new chief business officer and swore in a student trustee, decisions that shape how local schools are run this year.
   

2. PVUSD and teachers union reach tentative agreement after 11 months of negotiations (santacruzlocal.org) — Watsonville families and teachers can finally see light at the end of a long contract fight, as PVUSD and the teachers union have a tentative deal after 11 months of negotiations. The agreement keeps health benefits, boosts pay by 4%, and adds support like more instructional aides and reduced workloads. It still needs approval from union members and the school board.
   

3. Artwork slated for Clifford Avenue traffic circle (pajaronian.com) — New public art is headed to the traffic circle at Clifford Avenue and Pennsylvania Drive, funded by an anonymous Watsonville resident. Three mosaic stelae—a bear, rabbit and egret—will be fabricated at Watsonville's Muzzio Mosaic Arts Center and, if approved, installed in spring 2027 to reflect local wildlife and cultural patterns.
   

4. 90-year old celebrated for helping new parents (pajaronian.com) — At Watsonville Community Hospital, staff and family recently celebrated 90-year-old Joyce Pearce, who has spent 43 years organizing layette care packages for newborns in need. Her handmade bundles, filled with blankets, clothes, toys and books, have quietly supported hundreds of young Watsonville-area families.
   

📸 Around Watsonville

Subscribe

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch 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

    Friday August 28
  • Prunedale - Tech. Time →
    Prunedale Branch Library, 17822 Moro Rd, Prunedale
    10:00 am
  • Fort Building Day
    Tierra Pacifica Charter Santa Cruz, CA 95062
    11:15 am
  • Spot Pizza & Baked Goods Fundraiser
    Tierra Pacifica Charter Santa Cruz, CA 95062
    12:15 pm
  • Movie Night
    Christopher High Gilroy, CA 95020
    7:30 pm
  • Saturday August 29
  • Sat Mornings "Come as You Are" Zen →
    Ocean Gate Zen Center, email:info@oceangatezen.org, 920 41st Ave F, Santa Cruz
    9:00 am
  • Sunday August 30
  • Free Mother/Daughter Lesson - Gilroy, CA →
    Eagle Ridge Golf Club, 2951 Club Dr, Gilroy
    4:00 pm
  • Wednesday September 2
  • LO:Fall Picture Day
    Ocean Alternative Education Center Santa Cruz, CA 95062
  • Back to School Night
    North Monterey County Middle School Moss Landing, CA 95039
    5:30 pm
  • NMCMS Back To School Night
    North Monterey County Unified Moss Landing, CA 95039
    5:30 pm
  • Thursday September 3
  • Prunedale Elementary Back To School Night
    North Monterey County Unified Moss Landing, CA 95039
    5:30 pm
  • LO:School Site Council Meeting
    Ocean Alternative Education Center Santa Cruz, CA 95062
    6:00 pm
  • Friday September 4
  • Oaks/Suns Field Trip - Blacks Beach
    Tierra Pacifica Charter Santa Cruz, CA 95062

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

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Watsonville PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Found or stray cat at Mesa Village Park in Watsonville.
    Seems like an indoor cat, hungry, and just wants to be pet. (Nextdoor Green Valley Terrace)
  • Pajaro Valley Unified School District posted a job opening for Adult Ed - Spanish GED Instructor in Watsonville. Apply here.
  • Navigator Schools posted a job opening for After School Group Leader Sub 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: What a re-leaf! (Thank you Flo G. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

More from Watsonville
News | Aug 16
News | Aug 11
News | Aug 2
See more on Patch >

Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Watsonville Patch

Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.

©2026 Patch Media. All Rights Reserved

Do Not Sell My Personal Information