🌧️From Flooding to a Fire Horse – It’s a Week in Santa Cruz 🌧️🧧🐎✨
Hello Soggy Santa Cruz! 👋🌊
If your President’s Day has included flooding, power outages, weather alerts, traffic snarls and the steady soundtrack of rain…you’re in good company!
And if your weather forecast app shows nothing but the rain emoji 🌧️for the foreseeable future, you’re not hallucinating. A parade of back-to-back storms is rolling through Santa Cruz County, bringing heavy downpours, gusty winds and hazardous ocean conditions – the kind of weather that calls for a slower commute and a quick check of the tides before heading out. 🌊💨
⚠️What to know:
• Street flooding & slick roads: Expect ponding in low-lying areas during heavier bursts of rain. 🚗💦
• Coastal flooding at high tide: Water over beach access points, harbor edges and stretches of West Cliff. 🌊
• Powerful surf: Strong rip currents and sneaker waves – admire from a distance. 🏄♂️🚫
• Post-storm ocean water: Skip the dip for 72 hours after rainfall due to runoff. 🚫🌊
• More systems on the way: This isn’t a one-day storm….hang in there friends! ⏳🌧️
Translation: maybe trade the beach walk for a coffee run this week. ☕️🌧️
🌧️➡️🔥But there is some heat on the horizon. Lunar New Year arrives tomorrow (Feb. 17), ushering in the Year of the Fire Horse and its bold, forward-moving energy. 🧧🐎✨
🗳️Meanwhile, 2026 local politics is officially on. Former Santa Cruz councilmember/Mayor/county supervisor Ryan Coonerty has announced he’s running for Santa Cruz mayor and Watsonville/Pajaro Valley civic leader Tony Nuñez is running for the District 4 supervisor seat; he will challenge incumbent Felipe Hernandez.
🌊And an important coastal call to action: Surfrider reminds us that we have until Feb. 26 to weigh in against the Trump Administration’s offshore drilling plan. Over 270,000 people have already urged the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to protect our coasts. Add your voice if you haven’t yet.
⛳ And finally, in proof that not everyone should keep their head in the game…at Pebble Beach, Travis Kelce sent a wayward tee shot into the gallery and bonked a fan in the noggin. She’s fine, he signed an autograph, and somewhere in the merch tent “I got hit by Kelce” just became the most exclusive collectible in golf.
Ok, rain boots on, coffee in hand – let’s dive into the news.☕️🗞️
News Highlights
Early Morning Watsonville Crash Causes Power Outage
Fatal Car Crash in Felton
McGregor Drive to Close Feb. 18-19
Body Identified as Missing Woman
41st Ave. Will Get Improvements
Santa Cruz Library Construction Takes a Toll on Local Businesses
Jeffery’s Diner Suddenly Closes, Raising Questions
County Supervisors Approve Live Oak Housing Project
County to Seek Federal Disaster Funding
Santa Cruz Canceled Flock Surveillance Cams, But Watsonville, Capitola Remain
Plus…the New Cat Alley Club, a California Weed Murder, Lovestruck Newts and More!
TOP STORIES
Early Morning Watsonville Crash Causes Power Outage
For unknown reasons, a woman driving an SUV on Airport Blvd. veered across both westbound lanes, over a curb and struck a power pole.The woman was not injured, but the impact toppled the pole and shattered two transformer containers, emptying a large amount of mineral oil onto the pavement. Power lines also fell across her SUV and onto the pavement.
A man is dead after a car crashed into multiple vehicles and a tree Sunday morning.
McGregor Drive to Close Feb. 18-19
McGregor Drive will be fully closed between Park Avenue and State Park Drive from 6am to 3:30pm Wednesday, Feb. 18, and Thursday, Feb. 19, weather permitting, due to construction on Highway 1.
Body Identified as Missing Woman
A woman’s body recovered on Jan. 18 has been identified as 73-year-old Jeanne Burke, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.
41st Ave. Will Get Improvements
The Capitola City Council has approved plans for pavement rehabilitation, new striping and other improvements to 41st Ave. The work is expected to cost $1.6 to $2.1 million.
Santa Cruz Library Construction Takes a Toll on Local Businesses
Downtown Santa Cruz businesses near the construction of the new library and affordable housing project complain about decreased foot traffic and parking hassles and for their customers.
Jeffery’s Diner Suddenly Closes, Raises Questions
Jeffery's, a nearly 50-year-old diner near Live Oak, abruptly closed Jan. 28, leaving longtime customers with questions. Some speculate the restaurant was sold and will eventually re-open, but the owners haven’t clarified.
County Supervisors Approve Live Oak Housing Project
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors approved a controversial five-story apartment complex in Live Oak, to the dismay of residents who were vehemently against it. The approval came in a 4-1 vote, with Supervisor Justin Cummings dissenting.
County to Seek Federal Disaster Funding
Santa Cruz County can now apply for roughly $13.7 million in federal disaster recovery funds for “urgent need” infrastructure repairs and mitigation projects tied to the 2023 winter storms.
Santa Cruz Canceled Flock Surveillance Cams, but Watsonville, Capitola Remain
Santa Cruz’s contract for its Flock cameras has now ended, but Capitola still has 10 Flock systems and Watsonville has 37. Residents in those cities have ramped up their own campaigns for contract termination.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
What’s Love Got to Do With It?
Good Times writer and comedian Richard Stockton asks life’s eternal question: Is Valentine’s Day good for us?
Cat Alley Street, a new club above the Catalyst, is already drawing crowds seeking late-night music with live DJs, dancing and something a little more inclusive of Santa Cruz’s diverse musical culture.
Love, Murder & California Weed
Investigative journalist Scott Eden’s latest book explores the shadowy realm of gangs, cartels, mafia, and Silicon Valley investors who were looking to cash in on the underground marijuana trade.
In this week’s Foodie File, writer Andrew Steingrube talks with Bottega del Lago’s owner, Lindsay Rodriguez, who describes her place in Live Oak as a quick-service New York/Italian-vibed market and deli.
“A hidden gem boutique winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains” is how owners Joshua and Sarah Stewman describe their winery in Ben Lomond – and, Good Times writer Josie Cowden agrees.
😳 Wait, What?! 🦎
While the rest of us are dodging puddles, volunteers in headlamps are escorting lovestruck California newts across the road so they can reach their breeding ponds. It’s basically a people-powered dating app for the romantic amphibians – but slower and with more reflective gear.