By Sara Beth Williams–
The City of Citrus Heights is seeking to fill a vacancy on its Planning Commission, left by the resignation of Max Semenenko last month.
The Planning Commission vacancy is a volunteer position, but the city confirmed with The Sentinel on Monday that stipends are provided based on the number of meetings attended.
Responsibilities listed on the city’s website include, making land use decisions consistent with current policy plans adopted by the City Council, and weighing professional input given in staff reports, environmental impact reports and consultant reports. Commission members may also review proposed local ordinances, along with the city’s Capital Improvement Plan and the General Plan.
Commission members must be residents of Citrus Heights, be at least 18 years of age, and able to attend two meetings per month in the evenings.
Appointment Process:
Interested Citrus Heights residents can apply to be considered using a standard application on the city’s website. Applications are then forwarded to the City Council, where formal appointments are made during council meetings. Applications of those who are not selected will remain on file for two years, according to the city.
More information regarding the Planning Commission appointment process and how to apply can be found on the city’s website.
The entrance to the Citrus Town Events Center. // Citrus Heights Sentinel
By Sara Beth Williams– A new 6,000-square-feet event center in Citrus Heights is now welcoming patrons, according to the hall’s owner, Sam Hameed.
The center’s website says the banquet hall boasts indoor seating for up to 300 guests, along with an outdoor patio featuring barbecue facilities and a gazebo.
A single-day rental package includes full décor, chairs, tables, tablecloths and runners, centerpieces, and backdrops. Additionally, the package encompasses set-up, serving staff, bartenders, security personnel, and cleanup, all provided by the venue.
Situated at 7942 Arcadia Drive, opposite the Mitchell Village housing community, the center occupies the former premises of various nightclubs, including Alley Katz, Paradise Beach, and Sand Bar.
According to a previous report by The Sentinel, a usage permit stipulates a 10 p.m. cutoff for music and patio activities, which was approved in a 5-0 vote by the Planning Commission last year. To mitigate noise disturbances, no music or organized events are permitted in the patio area, and doors must remain closed during events. These regulations were implemented due to the close proximity of residential properties in Mitchell Village along Arcadia Drive.
The center’s website showcases a gallery of photos portraying a fully decorated hall, with high ceilings, illuminated wall sconces, and two-story windows. A balcony overlooks the main hall. The second floor features a bridal suite and “beautiful stairs for a bride to come down.”
Crosswoods Community Center, Auburn Boulevard. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams–
The City of Citrus Heights last month announced the return of a Meals on Wheels program to local seniors, with lunches now served three days a week.
Sunrise Recreation and Park District board members approved a one-year contract for Meals on Wheels in December 2023, according to the news release. The program will run through Crosswoods Community Center next to Crosswoods Community Park.
The program is made possible through a partnership with the park district and funded through the city’s Community Support Funds and the 2024 Community Development Block Grant, the release said. Agency on Aging Area 4 provided additional funding for the program.
Meals on Wheels began serving lunches to seniors on March 5 according to the parks district’s website. Meals are served Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings beginning at 11:30 a.m. at Crosswoods Community Center, located at 6742 Auburn Blvd. in Citrus Heights.
The program serves 20 meals daily and up to 60 per week, according to the city. Meals are planned by registered dietitians and delivered by staff and volunteers who are also trained to provide monthly nutrition information.
Previous Sentinel reports indicate that Meals on Wheels by ACC was formed in 2010 in response to county budget cuts, which resulted in discontinuing its senior meals program. Meals on Wheels replaced the county-run program and served thousands of seniors per day before it was shuttered in 2020, according to its website.
“Our community’s seniors are a prime example of our City’s tagline—Solid Roots, New Growth,” Mayor Bret Daniels said in the city’s news release, adding that the City Council strongly supports the program and is proud to partner with the local parks district.
“Creating a space for seniors to come and enjoy a hot meal with others is crucial to addressing social, emotional, and nutritional needs,” Sunrise Recreation and Parks District Administrator Kevin Huntzinger said, adding that the district is proud to provide a space where seniors can connect. Huntzinger hopes that, by partnering with the city, the district can “prevent isolation and promote health” in the community.
Entrance to the Arcade Cripple Creek Trail. // CH Sentinel
By Sara Beth Williams– The City of Citrus Heights is inviting community members and neighbors to join in the grand opening for the new 2.9-mile Arcade-Cripple Creek Trail.
The event is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Sunday, May 5, at Tempo Park on Fair Oaks Boulevard and will begin with a short presentation and ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ceremony will be followed by a community “walk, bike and run” along the trail to C-Bar-C Park where a celebration is set to take place at 10:30 a.m.
The celebration at C-Bar-C Park will feature food and family friendly activities and guests are encouraged to explore the many access points of the trail. A shuttle will be provided at C-Bar-C Park for guests who attend the ribbon cutting ceremony and leave cars at Tempo Park.
The newly constructed trail measures 2.9 miles and spans from Arcade Creek Park Preserve in the west to Wachtel Way in the east, crossing over Arcade and Cripple Creeks. The Arcade-Cripple Creek Trail travels through Mitchell Village Park before veering off to connect with the back of Tempo Park. The trail travels through six Citrus Heights parks and a small portion will travel through two parks in Orangevale. The City of Citrus Heights, Sunrise Recreation and Park District, Orangevale Recreation and Park District, San Juan Unified School District, Sacramento County, and SMUD have all partnered together throughout the project’s development and execution.
Locally, the trail will connect to other existing trails, including an existing one-third-mile walking and biking trail that runs through Arcade Creek Park Preserve. When counting the existing park preserve and new trail running through Mitchell Village, the total trail length is over four miles long,
The completion of the trail project is part of the City’s effort to “increase walkability, safety and provide improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists throughout a system of Creekside trails, passive open space, and parks.”
According to the city’s website, the City of Citrus Heights first began exploring the feasibility of a multi-use trail in 2014 and then adopted a Bikeway Master Plan in 2015, making the Arcade-Cripple Creek trail a priority project. The trail was also identified in the Sacramento County Bikeway Master Plan. Funding was acquired in 2017 and the project’s design phase began in 2018. Construction officially began on the trail in 2022 at Arcade Creek Park Preserve.
The Arcade-Cripple Creek trail is part of the Sacramento Area Council of Government (SACOG) Regional Trail Network and is anticipated to be a step in a regional plan to ultimately connect to the American River Parkway.
Leatherby’s Creamery at City Scoop, at Greenback, 2023. // photo courtesy City of Citrus Heights
By Sara Beth Williams–
The City of Citrus Heights recently announced the return of the City Scoop Summer Series in an April 1 post on its Facebook page, inviting residents to vote on preferred locations for 2024.
The monthly ice cream social events are designed to encourage and facilitate community gatherings among neighbors, city staff and other community members, according to the city’s website. Last year, the inaugural City Scoop summer series featured ice cream socials throughout the summer at various locations throughout Citrus Heights, including Greenback Greenspace, Sylvan Community Center, and Westwood Park.
“We had so much fun at last year’s City Scoop Summer Series,” the city wrote in its April 1 post, adding that they are “excited” to bring back the series of social gatherings.
This year, the city has selected 10 location options and is asking for members of the community to vote on their preferred location. The 10 locations listed on the city’s website include: Madera Park, Lichen K-8 school, Misty Creek Greenspace, located at the corner of Misty Creek Drive and Van Maren Lane, B0rooktree Park, Mariposa Avenue Elementary, Arcade Creek Park Preserve, Sylvan Oaks Library, San Juan Park, Greenback Wood Park, and Metro Fire Station 27 located at 7474 Grand Oaks Blvd.
The top three locations with the most votes will be selected for the City Scoop series this summer. Voting for preferred locations opened on Friday, April 5 and will close at 4 p.m. on April 12, according to the city’s website. Community members can vote here.
Vanessa D. Caigoy, Trustee Elect, Sacramento County School Board Area 4, 2024. // Courtesy Vanessa D. Caigoy
By Sara Beth Williams–
With the vote count now certified, Citrus Heights resident and charter school advocate Vanessa Caigoy has been declared the winner in the race for Sacramento County Office of Education School Board Area 4 with 32 percent of the vote out of 50,700 votes.
Caigoy ran for an open seat left by board member Joanne Ahola who did not seek reelection.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to make a positive impact on education in our region,” Caigoy wrote on her LinkedIn profile, adding that she’s “looking forward” to helping ensure that all students have access to a “high quality education that is rigorous and equitable.”
In an extremely close contest, second and third place candidates Linda Christopher-Dewilde and Jennin (Jay) Martinez, both received 20 percent of the vote, with 10,655 votes and 10,650 votes respectively. Dewilde noted on her website that coming in second place was “not bad for someone who didn’t take any funds from special interest groups.”
Caigoy’s current role is Managing Director of Member Marketing for the California Charter Schools Association.
According to her website biography, Caigoy grew up in Citrus Heights and is the oldest of two in a family with “deep roots in the U.S. Air Force.”
In an interview with The Sentinel, Caigoy said both her parents, grandfathers, step-grandfather, grandmother, and uncle all served in the United States Air Force. Caigoy attended Arlington Heights Elementary in Citrus Heights, as well as Arcade Fundamental Middle School, Del Campo High School and graduated from Center High School. Caigoy briefly lived in Antelope, CA and in North Carolina during her childhood before returning to Citrus Heights.
Caigoy said she has “fond” memories of growing up in Citrus Heights and enjoyed visiting the Sunrise Mall with friends, playing basketball, and eating ice cream at Thrifty’s.
Caigoy earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from California Baptist University, and then a Master’s in Business Administration from Drexel University. Caigoy founded the Financial Youth Summit under the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority local chapter, a conference focused on teaching financial literacy to middle and high school students from under-served communities.
“I’m most excited to get out there and hear from parents and students,” Caigoy told The Sentinel, adding that she also enjoyed volunteering with her former teachers at Arlington Heights while growing up.
When asked what her top priorities are for improving education, Caigoy listed community engagement, collaboration for enhanced opportunities, and effective funding oversight, along with ensuring school safety and equitable public education. On her website, Caigoy also lists other top commitments including allowing parents to freely choose their child’s educational program based on their child’s specific educational needs, more efficient funding for students, stronger support for teachers and educators, transparent collaboration between parents and educators, and amplifying student voices within the realm of education.
Trustee Area 4 covers parts of Sacramento County, including Fair Oaks, Citrus Heights, and Orangevale. School districts represented in Area 4 are the majority of San Juan Unified and small portions of Twin Rivers Unified and Folsom Cordova Unified.
The March 5 primary election results were certified by the Sacramento County Elections Division on April 2, 2024. Officials reported a 39.89% voter turnout, with 346,502 ballots counted countywide out of 868,750 registered voters in Sacramento County, according to an April 2 news release.
By Sara Beth Williams–
A new restaurant is slated to open in the former Starbucks location adjacent to Barnes & Noble in the Marketplace at Birdcage shopping center.
According to the Sacramento Business Journal, Marketplace at Birdcage leasing materials from August 2023 indicated that the chain planned to occupy a 1,400-square-foot space at 6121 Sunrise Blvd. in Citrus Heights, which is the suite adjacent to Barnes & Noble. As of Tuesday, April 2, Gerrity, which lists all tenants within Marketplace at Birdcage, confirmed the future Teriyaki Madness location as 6121 Sunrise Blvd.
A visit to the future location at the end of March by Sentinel staff observed a banner posted on the front of the building announcing Teriyaki Madness “coming soon,” but the interior was empty with no improvements installed. The former Starbucks, which used to be accessible through Barnes & Noble, has been blocked off from within the bookstore.
Teriyaki Madness has expanded to the Sacramento area with two known locations so far in 2024. A location in West Sacramento is listed as open on the company’s website. Several other California locations are listed as “coming soon” including a location in El Dorado Hills.
The fast-casual-Asian restaurant chain was founded in 2003 and currently has over 150 locations in the U.S., according to its website. The franchise was named one of Denver Business Journal’s fastest-growing companies in 2022, according to Sacramento Business Journal, and was listed in the top 100 franchises of 2024.
The Marketplace at Birdcage is anchored by Walmart Neighborhood Market, Best Buy, Old Navy, Michaels, Barnes & Noble and Chuze Fitness.
Newly constructed garden boxes at Woodside K-8. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams–
More than a dozen students spent part of their Spring Break giving back to the local community by helping establish a gardening center at a local K-8 school in Citrus Heights.
15 to 20 junior high and high schoolers from The Heights Church in Citrus Heights spent March 25-27 helping with cleaning, painting, and building garden boxes at Woodside K-8. Student Ministries Pastor Bronson Aalgaard led the group of students, along with other parent and community volunteers, in the “Love This City” outreach project, which is the church’s second annual event.
“It all started from wanting to serve the community in a bigger capacity,” Aalgaard said last week, adding that he wanted students to see how they can impact current and future generations.
At Woodside K-8, the students and community volunteers helped build several garden boxes, repainted existing garden boxes in the school’s courtyard, and pressure washed and painted a wall slated to become an outdoor garden center for a new Innovative Schools program set to launch at Woodside K-8 in the 2024-25 school year.
On Thursday, March 28, the team of students and volunteers spent the last day of the outreach event helping package and distribute food to families at the Sunrise Food Closet in Citrus Heights. The food closet, run by the Sunrise Christian Food Ministry, operates from Advent Lutheran Church on San Juan Avenue.
In a newsletter update following the event, Heights Church praised the students for “sacrificing their Spring Break to love others and bless this community!”
Sheri Merrick receives Woman of the Year 2024 award. // photo courtesy of Office of Josh Hoover
By Sara Beth Williams —
Assemblyman Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) recognized Sheri Merrick as the 7th Assembly District’s Woman of the Year for 2024 last week during an annual celebration with the California State Assembly that honors women during Women’s History Month.
“We are so lucky to have her in Citrus Heights using her years of experience supporting small businesses in our community,” Hoover said in an April 1 press release.
A small gathering to honor Merrick took place at El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant on March 29, according to Hoover’s social media posts.
In March, Merrick was appointed the new Executive Director for the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce. Previously, Merrick served as Chief Operations Officer for the Folsom Chamber of Commerce and volunteer coordinator for the Folsom Pro Rodeo. During her time in Folsom, Merrick worked to establish a Joint Chamber Mega Mixer that brought together 350 business professionals from 11 different chambers of commerce throughout the Sacramento region, according to the press release.
Merrick thanked Hoover in a social media post and said she was “honored” to be selected as Woman of the Year for 2024.
Hoover represents Assembly District 7, which includes the cities of Citrus Heights, Folsom, and Rancho Cordova and other unincorporated communities of Sacramento County.
A future Sonic restaurant and gas station under construction at the corner of Antelope Road and Roseville Road. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams–
Construction activity can be seen at the long-vacant lot on the corner of Antelope Road and Roseville Road, just outside the border of Citrus Heights.
The lot, across from Home Depot and Chevron, is slated to become an ARCO gas station and Sonic restaurant, according to previous reports.
Sacramento County Associate Planner Eric Stackhouse told The Sentinel via email on March 21 that building permits have now been issued, construction is occurring, and the first building inspection took place on Feb. 14. Framing could be seen going up at the site over the past week, with grading and other preliminary work beginning last year.
The site under construction is located at Roseville Pointe, a portion of unincorporated Sacramento County that was previously under consideration for annexation by the city. Potential annexation would expand the borders of Citrus Heights to include the lot at the corner of Antelope Road and Roseville Road, as well a strip of nearby homes located along Roseville Road.
A representative of Inspire Brands, the parent company of Sonic, previously told The Sentinel the location was scheduled to open in late 2024. In an earlier report, Stackhouse said that the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors approved the project back in 2017.
Inspire Brands also owns Arby’s, Baskin Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Jimmy John’s Sandwiches. The company lists 32,000 restaurants on its website.
