Good morning! It’s February 17 — here’s what’s going on in your community today…
Windy with rain and a t-storm in Capitola / Soquel
Today will be windy and cool with periods of rain and a thunderstorm; thunderstorms can bring localized damaging wind gusts. There is a 98% chance of rain. The high will be 52 with a low of 40. Rain now, changing to cloudy at 9 a.m.
Capitola / Soquel news
McGregor Drive (Park Avenue to State Park Drive) closes Wednesday-Thursday, with more closures over eight months. Caltrans hosts a Highway 17 corridor plan workshop Thursday for public input.
OPINION: Finding female friends over 50 is hard – but I’m starting a Santa Cruz group. Want to join?
By Lida Berliner
February 17, 2026
OPINION: I grew up in an education desert but made it to UCSC – rural California needs funding so students can thrive
By Ava Thornock
February 15, 2026
What’s new around you
▼︎ road incidents ▼︎ food inspections ▼︎ events

Read on to see the details about each item…
Things to do in Capitola / Soquel

Karaoke with Moondog
Come out on the all the Tuesdays to Karaoke with Moondog! Full Bar, Appetizers & Food Menu
At Bay Bar and Grille on February 17
Repeats 14 more times until May 26

Cancer Support Group
Weekly Cancer Support Group: Open to women with cancer at all stages, from diagnosis through treatment and the healing process. Meets every Tuesday f…
At WomenCARE on February 17
Repeats 30 more times until September 15

Illuminated Sound: An Energy-Infused Sound Bath
Bask in the soothing alchemy of sound and light. Join Susan every first Thursday evening for this unique session that combines the higher-dimensional …
At Breath + Oneness on February 19
Roadwork is affecting traffic in the region
- A mud or rock slide was reported at the intersection of N Rodeo Gulch Rd and Soquel Dr today. Authorities have been notified.
- One lane of South Highway 9 at Lorenzo Avenue in San Lorenzo Valley is closed for emergency work. The closure is expected to last until April 1 at 3:59 p.m.
- One lane is closed on North Highway 9 at Encinal Street in the Westside/Downtown area because of shoulder work. The closure will last until 3:01 p.m. on February 28.
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.
- Grady’s Market And Casa Birria at 509 Bay Ave., Capitola, passed a county health inspection on February 12 with no critical issues.
- Gayle’s Bakery & Rosticceria at 504 Bay Ave., Capitola, passed a county health inspection on February 12 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 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.





