Good morning! It’s February 23 — here’s what’s going on in your community today…
Partly sunny and pleasant in Corralitos / Freedom
Today will be pleasant with periods of clouds and sunshine. There is a 1% chance of rain. The high will be 71 with a low of 51. Allergy sufferers beware: there are high amounts of tree pollen in the air. Partly sunny now, changing to intermittent clouds at 9 a.m.
Looking ahead: Expect showery weather tomorrow morning through late tomorrow night
Top news from nearby
OPINION: Santa Cruz County votes early and often — our tradition could be in jeopardy this November
By Michael Polhamus
February 22, 2026
What’s new around you
▼︎ police incidents ▼︎ road incidents ▼︎ food inspections ▼︎ events
Read on to see the details about each item…
Things to do in Corralitos / Freedom
Candle-Making Workshop
Participants will make candles with natural, sustainably & ethically sourced materials from the farm. Feel free to bring your own jars!
At Farm Discovery at Live Earth Farm on February 28
Corralitos Farm and Garden Market
A small but mighty amazing community market. In beautiful Corralitos, which is located in south Santa Cruz county. The country feel is real with local…
At Corralitos farm and garden market on March 1
Repeats 43 more times until December 27
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.
- 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.
- A traffic collision with no injuries happened at 570 Mount Madonna Rd at 4:40 a.m. today. The incident involved a stolen vehicle, which was found at the bottom of the hill on Mt Madonna Rd after the owner flagged down officers. Tow services were called, and the owner was told to file a report with the local police department.
- A driver in a white Kia drove through a closed section of Paulsen Rd and Green Valley Rd in the dark and hit a barrier, causing major damage. The road was closed at the time. No one was hurt. The incident was reported today.
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.
- Circle & Square Bistro at 2904 Freedom Blvd. Ste A, Watsonville, passed a county health inspection on February 20 with no critical issues.
Community crime report
- A person was arrested for shoplifting after being stopped by a citizen. The incident happened near the 2000 Block of Freedom Blvd., Watsonville, at 11 a.m. on February 19. The person was taken to the Santa Cruz County Jail because they did not have proper identification, and the case was sent to the District Attorney’s Office. (source)
- A person was found trespassing in a vacant commercial building and was arrested for trespassing and violating parole. This happened near the 1900 Block of Freedom Blvd. in Watsonville at 10 a.m. on February 19. (source)
Disclosure: Traffic incidents and police 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.