Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What a new $10M Pajaro River levee design means for Watsonville

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Hello Watsonville! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • What a new $10M Pajaro River levee design means for Watsonville
  • What changes with Watsonville's new freight rail operator?
  • Why Watsonville High's stadium is getting a new name

Today's riddle: What is the difference between a jeweler and a jailer? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Sunny to partly cloudy, with a high of 80 and low of 60 degrees.
  • Friday: Pleasant with sun and clouds, temps: high: 76, low: 53.
  • Saturday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, with a high of 73 and low of 54 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Raytheon Wins $603M Air Force B-52 Radar Modernization Contract (clearancejobs.com) — Watsonville is set to see major federal investment, with MGE Engineering awarded over $10 million to design new levees and floodwalls for reaches two and three of the Pajaro River. This long-term Army Corps project, running through 2031, aims to strengthen local flood protection and resilience after years of vulnerability for Watsonville-area neighborhoods and businesses.
   

2. RTC names new freight carrier (pajaronian.com) — Freight trains serving Watsonville's branch line now have a new operator, Chicago Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, under a 10-year deal with the regional transportation commission. The company will maintain and potentially upgrade the short stretch of active track between Pajaro/Watsonville Junction and Lee Road, with an eye toward improving service for local businesses and preserving future rail and trail options.
   

3. PVUSD board honors former coach Roland Hedgpeth (pajaronian.com) — Watsonville High School's athletic facility is being renamed Hedgpeth Stadium-Geiser Field to honor legendary coach and longtime PVUSD teacher Roland Hedgpeth, following unanimous support from school and community groups. Supporters say his decades of coaching, academic emphasis, and leadership helped put Watsonville soccer on the map and inspired generations of local students and alumni coaches.
   

4. James Durbin and The Lost Boys (tpgonlinedaily.com) — A hometown-connected rock singer, James Durbin, highlights his deep Watsonville roots and memories of the Santa Cruz County Fair, where his grandfather played in The Watsonville Band and ran a food stand. Now raising his own family locally, Durbin returns to the Fair's amphitheater stage, bringing his American Idol-honed voice and advocacy for people with disabilities back to a familiar community venue.
   

5. Monterey County delays vote on new Flock cameras as privacy fears grow over 10-year deal (ksbw.com) — Monterey County supervisors have postponed a vote on expanding Flock license plate cameras amid growing privacy concerns, even as these systems spread across the Central Coast. Watsonville already has 20 Flock cameras in operation, placing it among the more heavily monitored local communities while nearby cities reconsider how much access outside agencies should have to this data.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. posted a job opening for Crew Member in Watsonville. Apply here.
  • Yogurtland posted a job opening for Shift Leader 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: A jeweler sells watches and a jailer watches cells. (Thank you Jean D. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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