Good morning! It’s December 22 — here’s what’s going on in your community today…
Rain and drizzle this morning in Aptos
Today will be cloudy; occasional rain and drizzle this morning followed by a shower in spots this afternoon; rain can lead to slower travel and reduced visibility. There is a 90% chance of rain. The high will be 62 with a low of 52. Rain now, changing to cloudy at 9 a.m.
Looking ahead: An atmospheric river will bring flooding rain and locally damaging winds this week
Aptos news
ADVERTISEMENT
What’s new around you
▼︎ road incidents ▼︎ real estate ▼︎ food inspections ▼︎ events
Read on to see the details about each item…
Things to do in Aptos
Native American Art Exhibit Aptos Branch Library Until Dec. 31
This fall, the Aptos Library will feature a tribute to Native American heritage and culture through the work of local artist Becky Olvera Schultz. Fro…
At Aptos Branch Library on December 22
Repeats 8 more times until December 31
Pilates & Posture with Horses
Horses are deeply attuned to nonverbal cues; our posture, breath, and inner state shape how they respond. When we’re centered, they notice. This gentl…
At BEYOND liberty, Center for Learning, Wellness, Sanctuary and Horse Retirement on December 24
Repeats 3 more times until January 14
Persephone Restaurant Thursday Night Pasta Special
Every Thursday along with our regular menu we offer a prix fixe pasta dinner! Enjoy three courses starting with a fresh farmers market mixed green sal…
At Persephone Restaurant on December 25
Repeats 42 more times until October 15
Roadwork is affecting traffic in the region
- On December 21, several roads in Santa Cruz County were closed due to utility work or hazards reported by PG&E. Cathedral Dr at Mattison Ln had a hard closure, and Varni Rd at Corralitos was closed until about 5:00 a.m. Empire Rd to Empire Grade was also affected. Some roads reopened later, but Cathedral at Mattison was still closed as of 5:24 p.m., with plans to reopen around 6:30 p.m.
- A single car crash happened at 2:03 a.m. on northbound Highway 17 at the El Rancho Drive offramp in the Eastside / Live Oak area. One person had minor injuries and was taken to Dominican Hospital. The car went off the road, emergency services responded, and CHP later closed the incident. The incident was reported today.
- There is a one-way traffic closure on South Highway 9 at Lorenzo Avenue in San Lorenzo Valley because of emergency work. The closure is expected to last until 3:59 p.m. on April 1, 2026.
- A lane on North Highway 9 at Fern Street in the Westside / Downtown area is closed for utility work. The closure is expected to end at 2:30 p.m. today.
Property development
- The Santa Cruz County Planning Department has received a zoning application regarding 230 Rio Del Mar Blvd. #N in Aptos. The proposal seeks to renew a permit that allows the existing two-bedroom condo at this address to continue operating as a vacation rental, permitting overnight stays of up to 30 days at a time. If approved, the application would allow the property to remain available for short-term rental use in accordance with current county regulations. (view application)
Restaurant inspections
County officials regularly inspect food facilities to ensure compliance with state laws. Here, Lookout Santa Cruz reports both those who have passed the inspections and those that the county deems to have a “major” issue. The county’s full ongoing report can be accessed here.
- Hong Kong Garden Restaurant at 14 Seascape Village, Aptos, passed a county health inspection on December 19 with no critical issues.
No crimes to report today
We checked with local police and there were no new incidents to report.
Disclosure: Traffic incidents and property development updates are partially generated by artificial intelligence. We are constantly working to improve the accuracy and quality of our AI-generated content. However, there may still be errors or inaccuracies. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.