Good morning! It’s January 12 — here’s what’s going on in your community today…
Plenty of sunshine in Aptos
Today will be plenty of sunshine. The high will be 67 with a low of 42.
Looking ahead: Clouds and sun this weekend
Aptos news
Prescribed burns planned at Big Basin (Jan 17), Henry Cowell (Jan 31), and Forest of Nisene Marks (mid-Jan to early Feb.). Trails open; expect smoke. Burns depend on weather.
Prescribed burns scheduled for state parks around Santa Cruz County this month
By Ashley Palma-Jimenez
Jan 12, 2026
What’s new around you
▼︎ road incidents ▼︎ code violations ▼︎ food inspections ▼︎ events
Read on to see the details about each item…
Things to do in Aptos
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 January 15
Repeats 39 more times until October 15
Mindful Movement with Horses
Mindful Movement with Horses Blending Tai Chi, Qigong, Horses and Mindfulness and informed by Polyvagal Theory, this class supports nervous system re…
At BEYOND liberty on January 16
Repeats 9 more times until May 22
Roadwork is affecting traffic in the region
- CHP helped with construction on southbound Highway 1 at State Park. Starting at 9:00 p.m. last night, traffic had to exit at Bay Porter and use Soquel to get to Park. The highway reopened by 5:39 a.m. today.
- South Highway 9 at Lorenzo Avenue in San Lorenzo Valley has one-way traffic because of emergency work. This closure will last until April 1 at 3:59 p.m.
- Long-term projects: Overnight traffic control on Highway 9 in Felton between Graham Hill Rd. and the San Lorenzo Valley schools complex will start today and continue for one week due to utility relocation work.
Property code violations
County officials cite property owners for issues such as substandard housing, illegal uses of buildings, property maintenance, abandoned appliances or furniture, construction without permits, and other issues that affect public safety and quality of life.
- A code violation notice has been issued for case number **NV25329** at 545 Willow Heights, Aptos 95003-9798, citing the property for building code violations related to **neglected property conditions**. The specific issues identified include the presence of **trash and abandoned vehicles** on the premises. These conditions are violations of local property maintenance codes, likely due to the accumulation of debris and inoperable vehicles, which can create health, safety, and public nuisance concerns.
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.
- Churchill & Beers at 10110 Soquel Dr, Aptos, passed a county health inspection on January 9 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 code violations 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.