Good morning! It’s December 22 — here’s what’s going on in your community today…
Rain and drizzle this morning in Eastside / Live Oak
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 89% chance of rain. The high will be 62 with a low of 53. Allergy sufferers beware: there are high amounts of mold in the air. Rain now, changing to cloudy at 9 a.m.
Looking ahead: An atmospheric river will bring flooding rain and locally damaging winds this week
Eastside / Live Oak news
RTC requests public input on 205 transportation plan; Leif Ames’ murder trial set for April 2026; events include Holiday Mega Markets, Aptos Santa Con Pub Stroll, and festive countywide food events.
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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 Eastside / Live Oak
Free Photo With Santa
Get a photo with the Big Man himself! Get a photo with Santa Clause as he stops by the Capitola Mall during his historic yearly flight!
At Capitola Mall on December 22
Roadwork is affecting traffic in the region
- A single-car crash with minor injuries happened on northbound Highway 17 at the El Rancho Drive offramp at 2:03 a.m. today. One person was hurt and taken to Dominican Hospital. The vehicle went off the road, and emergency services responded. The incident was later cleared by CHP.
- 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 announced that it will stop accepting public comments on December 30, regarding a zoning application for a project at 860 41st Avenue. The proposed project involves reconstructing an existing nonconforming commercial building at this location and requires an Administrative Site Development Permit. Residents who wish to provide input or express concerns about this project must submit their comments to the Planning Department before the December 30 deadline. (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.
- S.c. Gardens Elementary School at 8005 Winkle Ave., Santa Cruz, passed a county health inspection on December 17 with no critical issues.
- Teen Kitchen Project at 2890 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, passed a county health inspection on December 17 with no critical issues.
- The Healthy Way Inc at 3251 Mission Dr, Santa Cruz, passed a county health inspection on December 17 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.