Good morning! It’s January 20 — here’s what’s going on in your community today…
Partly sunny in Aptos
Today will be partly sunny. The high will be 67 with a low of 47. Mostly sunny now, changing to partly sunny at 9 a.m.
Looking ahead: Cool Saturday night
Aptos news
A gun and ammunition were found in a bag at Aptos High School Sunday; the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is investigating, with increased law enforcement presence expected on campus.
Poisonous death cap mushrooms kill three, sicken dozens on Central Coast, including two in Santa Cruz County
By Lily Belli
Jan 20, 2026
What’s new around you
▼︎ real estate ▼︎ code violations ▼︎ events
Read on to see the details about each item…
Things to do in Aptos
Schedule – The Circle Family Center
We are thrilled to be offering a variety of classes, support groups & workshops in both English and Spanish. We suggest reserving your spot ahead of t…
At The Circle Family Center on January 20
Repeats 11 more times until January 31
Pilates & Posture in the Pasture
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 on January 21
Repeats 55 more times until February 10
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 22
Repeats 38 more times until October 15
Yoga In The Pasture
Stretch, breathe, and ground yourself in the serene presence of free-roaming horses. This gentle yoga class invites you to move mindfully , connect wi…
At Beyond Liberty on January 22
Repeats 8 more times until May 14
Property development
- The Santa Cruz County Planning Department has formally approved a zoning application for a project at 325 Hillcrest Drive in Aptos as of January 16. The approved project proposes to operate a new two-bedroom vacation rental within the existing single-family home at this address. The vacation rental will be available for overnight lodging, with stays limited to no more than 30 days at a time, and will require a vacation rental permit. (view application)
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.
- The code violation case (NV25014) for the property at 763 Las Olas Dr, Aptos 95003-3501, first cited on November 6, 2023, has now been resolved. The violations included the construction of an unpermitted deck in a coastal zone, installation of an unpermitted hot tub, and the addition of an unpermitted concrete stairway leading to the beach. These modifications were made without the required permits, which is especially significant given the stricter regulations in coastal areas and the potential environmental impacts. The property owner has been assessed fees that must be paid to the county as a result of these violations.
Roadwork is affecting traffic in the region
- 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: The southbound Highway 1 offramp at Park Avenue in Santa Cruz County will be closed today from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. while crews pour concrete for a new soundwall near the ramp.
No crimes to report today
We checked with local police and there were no new incidents to report.
Disclosure: Traffic incidents, property development updates 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.