Watsonville
News Feed
Events
Local Businesses
Classifieds
Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why a tiny Aptos parking strip matters for Watsonville’s rail corridor.

Also check out Mat Pilates on the Watsonville Patch calendar

Saturday September 19th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Good morning to you Watsonville! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why a tiny Aptos parking strip matters for Watsonville's rail corridor.
  • How a Watsonville plant helped build a $500 million cider brand
  • What does the Moss Landing fire mean for Minto Road's battery plan?

Also on today's calendar: El Mercado Farmers Market and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call cows dancing in the dark 🤔 (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:

  • Saturday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, with a high of 73 and low of 55 degrees.
  • Sunday: Mostly cloudy and cool, temps: high: 69, low: 57.
  • Monday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 70 and low of 57 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Trial Delayed in RTC Dispute Over Aptos Parking Lots (tpgonlinedaily.com) — A long‑running court fight over who owns part of an Aptos parking lot along the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line, which runs from Watsonville to Davenport, has been delayed again while a judge sorts out evidence disputes. The outcome will help clarify how much control the Regional Transportation Commission has over the rail corridor, potentially affecting future transportation and trail decisions that start in Watsonville and extend up the coast.
   

• How Martinelli's Juiced Apple Cider Into A $500 Million Family Business (forbes.com) — Martinelli's long-running apple juice and cider company traces its roots to a Gold Rush–era farm in what is now Watsonville and still runs its main production plant in town. The family-owned business has invested about $100 million modernizing that Watsonville facility, securing local orchards and expanding into new products, while insisting it has no plans to sell to outside investors.
   

• Fire breaks out at Moss Landing battery plant (pajaronian.com) — A new fire at the Moss Landing battery storage facility has prompted a shelter‑in‑place order and fresh concerns about hazardous smoke, reviving worries that began with the larger 2025 blaze. For Watsonville‑area residents, the incident is especially relevant because it's fueling scrutiny of a proposed battery energy storage project on Minto Road just outside town, raising questions about safety, air quality, and emergency planning.
   

📸 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!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Watsonville

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

    Wednesday September 23
  • Mat Pilates →
    Kathleen King Community Room, 85 Nielson St, Watsonville
    9:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 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!

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

  • I'm looking for someone that works with installing residential metal railings.
    I'd like to install 33 feet of the railing style shown in this pic along with 2 handrails of 2 steps each. I need help finding the railing and then… (Nextdoor Corralitos)
  • Don Roberto Jewelers posted a job opening for Retail Sales Associate Full Time (Bilingual English/Spanish) in Watsonville. Apply here.
  • T-Mobile US, Inc. posted a job opening for Mobile Associate - Retail Sales in Watsonville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Watsonville here.

🗞 Nearby News

Pajaro

  • The Monterey Herald local football scoreboard/schedule (fresnobee.com)

Aptos

Capitola

  • California's "Cigarette Surfboard" documentary highlights scourge of discarded cigarette butts (cbsnews.com)
  • Future Motion Turns a Onewheel XR Classic Into a Self-Balancing Track Cart (techeblog.com)

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: Night Moo-s (Thank you John S. 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 | Sep 4
News | Sep 2
News | Sep 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