Good morning! It’s July 30 — here’s what’s going on in your community today…
Clouds giving way to sun in Watsonville / Pajaro
Today will be clouds giving way to sun; watch for unusually rough surf and rip currents. The high will be 74 with a low of 51. Wear your sunblock — the UV Index is very high (10/11). Cloudy now, changing to intermittent clouds at 9 a.m.
Looking ahead: Expect showers late Wednesday night
Watsonville / Pajaro news
The Watsonville Strawberry Festival returns downtown this weekend with food booths, live music, carnival rides, and family activities. Streets will be closed; check parking and event schedules before attending.
Here’s everything you need to know about this weekend’s Watsonville Strawberry Festival
By Tania Ortiz
Jul 30, 2026
ADVERTISEMENT
What’s new around you
▼︎ police incidents ▼︎ code violations ▼︎ events
Read on to see the details about each item…
Things to do in Watsonville / Pajaro
Business After Hours: K&D Landscaping – 40th Anniversary Event!
Join the Santa Cruz Area Chamber for Business After Hours on July 30 from 5:00–7:00 P.M. at K&D Landscaping in Watsonville…
At K&D Landscaping Inc. on July 30
Spa Day Passes
A notable new offering for the property, La Bahia has introduced Spa Day Passes, now available via ResortPass (based on availability)…
At La Bahia Hotel & Spa – Santa Cruz on July 30
Repeats 3 more times until August 2
Tech Café: iPad Stop Motion Movies
Event date: July 30 Event Time: 04:30 P.M. – 06:30 P.M. Location: 275 Main Street, Suite #100 Watsonville 95076
At Watsonville Civic Plaza on July 30
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 the property at 21 Bradford Rd, Watsonville 95076-1005, following an inspection on July 20. According to case number NV25387, county officials observed at least four travel trailers (RVs) and a food truck located in the rear yard of the property. This exceeds the number of recreational vehicles permitted on a residential parcel under county regulations. As a result, a Notice of Violation (NOV) was posted, and the property owner has been ordered to address the issue to bring the property into compliance with local building codes.
- A code violation notice has been issued for the property at 55 Crest Dr, Watsonville (APN: 04625108) under case number NV25388. The violations include the addition and conversion of a detached structure to habitable use without obtaining the required permits or approvals, as well as the unauthorized placement of a modular unit of approximately 300 square feet on the property. Additionally, electric landscape lighting—possibly solar and low voltage, but still requiring confirmation—was installed without the necessary permits or inspections. These violations center on unpermitted construction and conversion of structures for habitation, unauthorized placement of a modular unit, and installation of electrical landscape lighting without proper authorization.
Roadwork is affecting traffic in the region
- There are alternating lane closures on both northbound and southbound Highway 9 at Pool Drive in San Lorenzo Valley because of bridge work. The closures will continue until April 30, 2027, at 6:59 a.m.
- Highway 9 at Cascade Avenue in San Lorenzo Valley has one-way traffic due to ongoing work. This closure will last until August 31 at 7:01 a.m.
- CHP helped with construction work at the intersection of Highway 1 South and Park in Capitola / Soquel. The incident was reported yesterday.
- Long-term projects: Panther Beach Parking Lot Ribbon Cutting is happening at the Panther Beach Parking Lot on Coast Road (Highway 1), near Panther Beach in Santa Cruz County.
Community crime report
- A person was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, having a blood alcohol content above 0.08 percent, driving with a suspended license due to a previous DUI, and driving with alcohol in their system while on DUI probation. The incident happened near the 100 Block of Ginos Ct, Watsonville at 9 p.m. on July 28. (source)
- A person threatened someone with a knife. This happened near the 100 Block of W Lake Ave. in Watsonville at 4 p.m. on July 28. (source)
Disclosure: Traffic incidents, code violations 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.