Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a distracted pilot caused a costly mishap at Watsonville airport

Coming up: Mat Pilates on the Watsonville Patch calendar

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Sunday September 20th Patch AM
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Greetings Watsonville! We're your go-to source for what's happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a distracted pilot caused a costly mishap at Watsonville airport
  • How Watsonville's Wildcatz stunned Stevenson on the road Saturday
  • Meet the Watsonville native using repair skills to fight e-waste

Also on today's calendar: El Mercado Farmers Market and 8 more events.

Today's riddle: What do an island and the letter "t" have in common? 🤔 (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.
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Weather forecast:

  • Sunday: Low clouds breaking and cool, with a high of 69 and low of 57 degrees.
  • Monday: Partly sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 70, low: 57.
  • Tuesday: Cool with clouds and sun, with a high of 69 and low of 54 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Distracted Pilot Causes Yak-50 Ground Collision on Taxiway (generalaviationnews.com) — A recent NTSB report details how a Yak-50 pilot, taxiing for a formation flight at Watsonville's airport, struck a Beechcraft after skipping standard S-turns and becoming distracted by cockpit concerns. The collision caused substantial wing damage but now serves as a safety lesson for local pilots about visibility, distractions, and careful taxi techniques on home turf.
   

• High School football: Watsonville upsets Stevenson (sacbee.com) — Watsonville High's Wildcatz pulled off a 13–7 upset over Stevenson in Pebble Beach, their second straight win after early-season losses. The story highlights key defensive performances and notes Stevenson's upcoming trip to face St. Francis of Watsonville, giving local fans a clear picture of how their team is building momentum this fall.
   

• iFixit Alum Arielle Sampson Is Taking Repair to New Heights (ifixit.com) — Arielle Sampson, who grew up in Watsonville, is now an aerospace engineering student at Cal Poly and a standout alum of iFixit's Technical Writing Program. She credits her Watsonville roots and hands-on repair work with inspiring her focus on sustainability, creating popular repair guides that help keep devices out of landfills and encouraging others to fix instead of toss.
   

📸 Around Watsonville

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! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • I want to give a shout out to Luis of Kingz AutoCare he spent 3--4 hours detailing my 2013 Ford inside and out, he worked his magic on the chrome wheels and front grill, everything looks Brand New again, he is Very Reasonably priced and his
    attention to detail is unsurpassed, I Highly Recommend him, you can find him on Instagram (Nextdoor Watsonville Square Center)
  • Home Depot (Retail) posted a job opening for Retail Stock Support in Watsonville. Apply here.
  • Babki posted a job opening for Part-Time Game Tester 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)

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: They are both in the middle of water. (Thank you Curt K. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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