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Author: Sara Beth Williams

Citrus Heights Water District sues San Juan Water District as ‘last resort’

File photo, Citrus Heights Water District office on Sylvan Road. // CH Sentinel

By Sara Beth Williams–
Citrus Heights Water District (CHWD) and Fair Oaks Water District (FOWD) have filed a joint lawsuit against San Juan Water District according to an April 11 press release.

The joint lawsuit was filed on April 10 “as a last resort” and alleges that a recent rate increase proposed by San Juan Water District illegally overcharges Citrus Heights and Fair Oaks customers.

The SJWD board of directors approved a rate increase in December 2023, despite Director Pam Tobin “urging more coordination” with other local city water districts, according to the release.

“Local residents, business owners, and our Districts pleaded with the SJWD Board to work with us, but they simply approved the rates over our opposition,” CHWD Board President Caryl Sheehan said in the news release.

The San Juan Water District responded to the suit in an April 12 press release, calling the lawsuit a “nuisance litigation” that “has no merit.” SJWD said it will be filing a response with the court by May 27.

This is the second suit filed by CHWD and FOWD against San Juan in the past seven months, the district said in its release, adding that the first lawsuit was dismissed by the Sacramento Superior Court in January.

San Juan is a wholesale water agency that provides water to five local water agencies, including those in Fair Oaks and Citrus Heights, who in turn deliver it to homes and businesses, according to its website.

According to the Citrus Heights Water District’s press release, plaintiffs allege that San Juan sells its least expensive water to other areas, which leaves Citrus Heights and Fair Oaks customers with higher water bills. The news release did not specify which areas are receiving less expensive water.

The legal complaint also suggests that under the newly approved rate plan, local water agencies are “disincentivized to conserve or use local, reliable groundwater.” The suit claims that discouraging conservation directly conflicts with state policy and “decades-long efforts” to build and conserve regional water supply resiliency.

San Juan addressed the allegations in its news release, stating that the board used industry consultants recommended by local water agencies, as well as independent industry consultants, to help prepare a five-year-wholesale rate plan, which was delivered to local water agencies five months before the San Juan board approved the rate increase “to allow for robust review and input.”

“San Juan’s wholesale rates that I and my fellow Board members approved in December are fair, reasonable, responsible and meet all legal requirements,” said Manuel Zamorano, president of the San Juan Board of Directors, adding that the five-year plan was based on operating and maintenance costs, future capital investment needs, and an “ultra-low” interest loan. Zamorano also added that rate increases were necessary to address growing inflation.

San Juan’s five-year wholesale rate plan includes annual rate increases of five percent for 2024-26, dropping to four percent in 2027 and 2028, according to the district’s release.

“This litigation will be a waste of ratepayer dollars,” Zamorano said.

San Juan Water District provides water service to approximately 265,000 retail and wholesale customers in eastern Sacramento and southern Placer counties according to its website. Citrus Heights and Fair Oaks water districts represent two-thirds of the San Juan Water District population, according to the Citrus Heights water district’s news release.

More information is posted at chwd.org/lawsuit.

April 18, 2024
Citrus Heights 99 Cents store among hundreds closing across 4 states

99 Cents Only Store, 7424 Greenback Lane. // SB Williams

By Sara Beth Williams–
Half-empty shelves and a “going out of business” banner now greet shoppers outside the Citrus Heights location of 99 Cents Only Stores at 7424 Greenback Ln.

A visit by Sentinel staff over the weekend found multiple empty and half-empty shelves throughout the store, with much of the store marked down from between 5 percent and 30 percent off. Checks are no longer accepted according to signage posted by the cash registers. All sales are final, and April 19 is the last day for anyone to use store gift cards.

Management did not know the exact date of closure for the Citrus Heights store but told The Sentinel that the location is expected to close before June 3. Further questions about the impact the local store closure would have on the community were referred to the store’s corporate office for comment.

The company announced the imminent closure of all 371 store locations across California, Nevada, Arizona, and Texas on April 5. The news release stated the company entered into an agreement with Hilco Global to liquidate all merchandise.

“This was an extremely difficult decision,” 99 Cents Only Stores Interim Chief Executive Officer Mike Simoncic told news outlets, adding that the “impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting consumer demand and persistent inflationary pressures” contributed to the decision to close. News reports further stated that the company “pursued alternatives to closing for months” before making a final decision.

The recent closure announcement was met locally with mixed reactions from residents, with several local commenters online citing the rise of minimum wage as a catalyst for the closure while others expressed surprise over the announcement.

Founded in 1982, 99 Cents Only Stores carries “a broad assortment of name brand and other attractively priced merchandise and compelling seasonal product offerings,” the release said.

Along with its location in Citrus Heights, the 99 Cents Only Stores has multiple locations in Sacramento, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, and Roseville.

Want to share your thoughts on this article? The Sentinel welcomes letters of all perspectives. Submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication: Click here

April 13, 2024
Citrus Heights property with Rally’s drive-thru listed for $2M

Rally’s Restaurant sits on a corner lot which is for sale. // SB Williams

By Sara Beth Williams–
A half-acre lot at the corner of Grand Oaks Boulevard and Auburn Boulevard is seeking a new owner.

According to a listing on the commercial real estate site LoopNet, the property includes an 890-square-foot drive-thru, where Rally’s restaurant operates. The property is listed as 100% leased.

Colliers Executive Vice President David Herrera told The Sentinel in a phone call that the property has been on the market for about two months, and has received two offers, but the offers were lower than the owner’s $2 million asking price. The asking price is not included in the posting on LoopNet.

The long-vacant parcel was once an eye-sore, but received significant improvements in curb appeal when Rally’s restaurant opened in October 2021.

Related: New burger drive-thru sees long lines after opening in Citrus Heights – Citrus Heights Sentinel

The drive-thru-burger joint is adjacent to Rusch Community Park and located in the same parking lot as Steve Cook’s Fireside Lanes. The eatery has no indoor seating by design, and a small outdoor patio area has tables for diners to use.

Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc, a Florida-based company, operates Checkers and Rally’s restaurants in 28 states and the District of Columbia. The drive-in restaurants specialize in hot dogs, hamburgers, French fries, and milkshakes.

April 13, 2024
Review: Hidden talent on display at Sunrise Mall, in performance of ‘Anastasia’

Lilly Burnett, 18 and Baz Meier, 17, played lead characters Anya and Dimitry in a production of Anastasia. // SB Williams

By Sara Beth Williams–
The theatrical production of Anastasia, recently performed at Royal Stage’s theater inside the Sunrise Mall on April 4-7, featured a strong cast of young adult and adult actors, singers, and dancers from across Citrus Heights and surrounding cities.

The nonprofit performing arts group has produced a multitude of family-friendly productions since 2011, with a strong focus on musical theater productions. After holding performances at various locations for over a decade, including at a local church in Citrus Heights, Royal Stage finally debuted their permanent theater space inside the Sunrise Mall in late 2022 and has held performances at the location since that time.

Related: Royal Stage to host grand opening next month at Sunrise Mall – Citrus Heights Sentinel

The plot of Anastasia centers around the fabled Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanov of Russia and is set during the Russian Revolution in the early 1900s. In the opening scene, through a neat montage sequence, it’s implied that the Romanov family have all perished, but rumors in St. Petersburg claim there is a reward for the safe return of Anastasia to her grandmother.

In the lively and fun rendition of “There’s a Rumor in St. Petersburg” we meet Dimitry (played by Baz Meier) and Vlad, (played by John Conner) two con-men who want to escape Russia and get rich. Knowing that a reward has been posted for the return of the true Princess Anastasia, they begin a search for the right woman to play the part.

Enter Anya (played by Lilly Burnett), a street sweeper with only scattered memories of her past. With the shared goal of getting out of Russia alive, the three devise a plan to get to Paris and present Anya as the true Anastasia to her grandmother, the Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia.

Poignant and skilled performances by experienced lead actors made up for several missteps in the opening scene. While the opening sequence of a complicated ballroom dance that included a majority of the cast was well executed, much of the dance lacked energy.

Powerful vocal performances throughout the production conveyed the raw emotions of each character as they endured the hardship of their home country in upheaval. Burnett’s performance of Anya surpassed the depiction of the legend brought back to life by the 1997 animated film. In Burnett’s performance, we see a broken and traumatized young woman who longs to discover her past. Meier’s portrayal of Dimitry likewise goes beyond the cartoon’s simplistic depiction of a typical conman and reveals deeper layers that give the character greater depth.

Meier, Conner, and Burnett carried the production with remarkable confidence and chemistry. The purposeful lightheartedness of Meier and Conner’s characters contrasted appropriately to Burnett’s portrayal of Anya’s weary demeanor. Whether by design or not, Burnett and Meier lacked chemistry between them during the first half of the play.

Director Spencer Gayden’s choice to weave amusing physical comedy sequences amid multiple emotional vocal performances provided a balanced production overall, however, some of the physical comedy felt underwhelming.

The most striking solo vocal performance came from Count Ipolitov (played by Andres Moreno) who sang a stunning version of “Stay I Pray You”, juxtaposing deep sorrow against a resilient national pride.

Anastasia, though family-friendly, included sequences with light physical violence and implied deaths and executions. In light of the theme and intensity of some sequences, Gayden successfully delivered a production that was both timely and nostalgic.

Royal Stage’s spring production lineup concludes with a run of The Aristocats KIDS, which features a cast of children actors and a host of familiar songs. Performances begin Thursday evening, April 18. Ticket information and showtimes are posted at Royalstage.org.

The Royal Stage Theater is located at 6174 Sunrise Boulevard, inside the mall in between Macy’s Men’s and Zumiez on the Greenback side.

April 13, 2024
Police conduct search of home near Mariposa Elementary

By Sara Beth Williams–
The Citrus Heights Police SWAT team served a search warrant in the 7700 block of Watson Way on Thursday morning, April 11, according to Citrus Heights Police Lt. Michael Wells. The search began at approximately 7:10 a.m. according to police.

“Due to the size of the property and the number of trailers and outbuildings on the property, it did take some time to safely secure the location,” Wells told the Sentinel on Thursday following the incident, adding that several subjects were detained during the warrant while the property was searched but no arrests were made at the time.

Local residents who live near Mariposa Elementary reported witnessing heavy police activity in the area of Watson Way and Mariposa Avenue in local Facebook groups. Parents of children attending Mariposa Elementary received a notification from the school that read in part:

“After checking in with Citrus Heights Police Department, the school is safe. There is a police car down the street from the school, blocking off a side street. There is no lock down.”

Police confirmed that the location of the residence was near a local elementary school but that there were “no threats to the students.” According to police, the department notified the school in advance and said there were no concerns and no need to lock down.

Residents expressed concern on social media regarding dropping students off in the morning amid police activity nearby. Mariposa Elementary school lists a start time of 7:45 a.m.

According to police, the investigation is ongoing. At this time the police are not releasing details about what was recovered at the scene.

April 13, 2024
Mesa Verde alum wins ‘Rising Star’ award at Sac film festival

Chris Laird, second from the right, with the cast of “The Ghost Hunt.” // Chris Laird

By Sara Beth Williams–
Mesa Verde High School alumnus Chris Laird recently received the Rising Star Award at the SacTown Movie Buffs Film Festival on April 5 in downtown Sacramento for his role in the short film “The Ghost Hunt.” Laird was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the film festival.

Laird starred in the short film which debuted in October 2022, alongside five co-stars, according to the film’s IMDB page.

Laird said receiving the Rising Star Award was “awesome” and that it was a surprise, as the judges had kept some of the awards hidden on purpose.

At the festival, “The Ghost Hunt” was nominated for five awards and received an award for Best Comedy. The short film has aired at multiple festivals locally and abroad, and recently received the Gold Award for Comedy from the Paris Film Awards, according to the group’s Facebook page.

“The Ghost Hunt” features two buddies, one played by Laird, who start up a Youtube Channel where they hunt for ghosts. Laird labeled it a comedy with suspense.

“It was a really fun project, it’s one of my favorites,” Laird said.

In 2022, Laird was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the same film, which also won the 2022 Producer’s Choice Award during the “A Place Called Sacramento” put on by Access Sacramento.

Related: Meet this Mesa Verde High School alumni who’s now an actor – Citrus Heights Sentinel

Laird grew up in Citrus Heights from the age of 9, and attended elementary, middle, and high school, in the city. During high school, Laird was involved with football, baseball, and theater. After graduation, Laird’s involvement in Mesa Verde’s Alumni Theater group over several years spurred him on to pursue film acting, specifically comedic acting. Laird has participated in multiple alumni theater events over the years, including “improv showdowns” and Mesa Verde’s Ghost Tour that took place in 2022.

Related: ‘Ghost Tour’ taking place at Mesa Verde HS just in time for Halloween – Citrus Heights Sentinel

Currently, Laird said he is participating in pre-production of a new TV series called “You Had a Bad Day” produced by Renee Sava and Miranda Forcier. Laird says he has participated in one table read so far and expects another one to occur soon. The series will be filmed in Sacramento.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Laird said, calling this a “big project” and adding that he’s excited for the potential of the project.

Laird’s IMDB page credits him with 13 film appearances in multiple short films and one additional production assistant credit, beginning in 2018. The credits do not include his role in Season 3 of the Netflix series “13 Reasons Why.”

April 13, 2024
SJUSD drafts new dress code policy, seeks public input

File photo, Mesa Verde High School is located 7501 Carriage Drive, in Citrus Heights. // CH Sentinel

By Sara Beth Williams–
San Juan Unified School District has drafted a proposal for a revised dress code policy for all its schools, including 12 public schools located in Citrus Heights.

A new draft proposal of the district’s dress code policy was developed in response to concerns brought forward by students and staff regarding “inequitable dress code enforcement” specifically concerning female and minority student populations, according to the district’s website.

During the 2020-21 school year, student listening sessions were held to gather feedback at several schools, including El Camino Fundamental High School, Bella Vista High School and Will Rogers Middle School.

In response to concerns across the district, a student committee was formed, and joined with the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC) to create surveys for students, staff, and families. According to the district, over 4,800 staff, students, and families have completed the survey to date.

The district said survey responses raised multiple concerns regarding the existing dress code policy, including, wording that exhibited gender bias and discriminatory, exclusionary and racially sensitive language, shaming, and inconsistent enforcement. Concerns about missed class time were also raised.

In the 2022-23 school year, a District Dress Code Committee (DDCC) was formed to draft a revised dress code policy, which can be found on the district’s website.

The dress code committee’s primary goals and points of discussion included examining policy objectives of public school dress codes, examining school discipline policies at different grade levels, and developing a policy that promotes equity, student dignity and student self-determination. The objectives in forming a new policy also included developing a policy that promotes consistent enforcement across all schools in the district.

The committee also examined feedback from community focus groups on the existing dress code and its enforcement, and then presented recommendations to update the dress code policy using that feedback, along with information from dress code policies adopted by other school districts.

A community survey is available on the San Juan school district’s website, where community members can give feedback on the drafted dress code policy. The survey will remain open until May 17.

The district also recently held community meetings April 10 and 11 where they discussed the process of how feedback was collected and offered additional feedback on the draft policy. Another virtual informational meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 6 at 6 p.m.

Community members can find out how to participate in the next meeting on the district’s website.

April 13, 2024
Rare 10-acre property listed for sale in Citrus Heights

A nearly 10-acre parcel at 7101 Van Maren Lane has been listed for sale in Citrus Heights. // Property lines approximated

By Sara Beth Williams–
A nearly 10-acre parcel on Van Maren Lane has been listed for sale at $1.95 million.

The residential plot of land, listed by Lyon Real Estate, has been on the market for a month, according to Zillow, and measures 9.87 acres. The land features plentiful trees, brush and natural walking paths.

Maps show Cripple Creek runs through the property, with no standing structures listed as part of the lot. A portion of the land borders the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

According to the listing, the property is zoned as RD-5, low-density residential, and “affords serene privacy yet is located conveniently close to services, schools, and recreation with easy commutes in all directions.”

Steve Carpenter, with Lyon Real Estate, said the land does not belong to the church or any other home located adjacent to the property, and the entire property boundary is fenced. He could neither confirm nor deny the existence of a flood plain on the land.

Regional residential appraiser and housing market analyst Ryan Lundquist told The Sentinel that large plots for sale like the one on Van Maren Lane are rare for Citrus Heights. According to Lundquist, the last sale of a lot larger than five acres was a 5.11-acre lot sold back in 2012 for $2 million. Lundquist also said it’s possible that other large lots have sold privately, but very few lots over five acres are listed for sale publicly.

“There is a limited pool of buyers for something like this, but there is a market for larger parcels,” Lundquist said, adding that larger parcels do take longer to sell, but can sell quickly if the right buyer takes notice.

An archived Sacramento County assessor’s map of Citrus Heights, from 1921, provided by Citrus Heights Historical Society President Larry Fritz shows that the plot of land for sale at one point may have belonged to the Van Maren family.

Carpenter confirmed there was a home on the property “many, many decades ago,” but the home is long gone.

April 11, 2024
Helicopter aids in search for fleeing person in Citrus Heights, after domestic violence call

By Sara Beth Williams–
Citrus Heights Police officers responded to a call in the 7000 block of Zeeland Drive late Sunday night in response to a domestic violence call.

According to police, the second party in the domestic dispute fled the scene before officers arrived. Because of privacy rights for domestic violence victims, police did not disclose the gender or age of either party.

Several local residents reported hearing a helicopter in the area, and indicated police were searching for an adult male late Sunday night.

Sgt. William Dunning with the Citrus Heights Police Department told The Sentinel Tuesday afternoon that a Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office helicopter was dispatched just after 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, and that a perimeter was established.

According to police, the helicopter searched the perimeter for roughly 40 to 45 minutes before the scene was cleared. Dunning confirmed that a K9 Unit was deployed during the search. Police could not confirm whether the person of interest was on parole at the time of the search.

As of Tuesday, Dunning said the person being sought by police had not yet been apprehended.

April 11, 2024
Citrus Heights educators honored with ‘You Light the Way’ awards

Carriage Drive Elementary Special Education staff, along with Principal Beth Holcomb. // S.B. Williams

By Sara Beth Williams–
San Juan Unified School District honored several Citrus Heights educators at their annual You Light the Way awards ceremony on Wednesday evening, April 10 at San Juan High School.

Matthew Costa, a special education teacher at Mesa Verde High School, was among the honorees, along with fourteen special education teachers, support staff and instructional assistants from the special education team at Carriage Drive Elementary.

Sara Larian, moderate/severe special education teacher at Carriage Drive, said it was exciting to be honored at the awards ceremony and that she was grateful the entire team was honored, as opposed to one individual within the team.

Carriage Drive principal Elizabeth Holcomb originally nominated the entire team and echoed Larian’s sentiment.

“Each member is an integral part of ensuring the success of our students receiving special education services as well as those in the general education population,” Holcomb wrote in her nomination letter to the district.

The You Light the Way Award honors “outstanding individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to the district’s special education programs” said Raj Rai, director of communication with the San Juan Unified School District.

Rai said recipients are nominated by a variety of people, including school staff and teachers, parents and students, administrators, and local community members. Each nomination submission includes specific details regarding the nominee, which help determine decision making. The district’s Community Advisory Committee (CAC), along with special education department staff, review all nominations and select annual recipients, Rai said.

The full list of individuals and groups honored in the 2024 awards ceremony included at least one parent, multiple teachers, certified support staff, instructional assistants, and other classified staff. The entire list can be found on the district’s website.

The first You Light the Way award program was established in 1990 and the program is now in its 35^thyear, according to Rai.

April 11, 2024