By Sara Beth Williams– The city of Citrus Heights issued a new FlashVote survey on Monday, with questions focusing on commercial building vacancies.
FlashVote surveys are issued occasionally to Citrus Heights residents who sign up for the survey and data is used to inform city policymaking decisions. Residents interested in signing up to receive surveys can visit the city’s FlashVote sign-up page. FlashVote surveys are only open for 48 hours.
The survey comes on the heels of a proposed commercial property reoccupancy ordinance which several business and property owners spoke out against during a public workshop held on Aug. 11.
The reoccupancy ordinance is designed to provide guidelines and support for property owners in order to ultimately help reduce blight, prevent crime, practice proactive maintenance, and maintain properties so that they are “market ready.” the city said during the workshop.
The ordinance would require owners of long-term vacant commercial properties to register annually with the city for a $1,300 fee, follow maintenance standards (such as signage, security, and appearance), and pay fees to cover the cost of program administration and enforcement.
Property owners would also be required to pay monitoring fees annually, which would cost about $1,100 for properties that are less than one acre and $5,600 for vacant properties that are larger than one acre.
The latest survey offers residents several questions to consider related to commercial vacancies, including, asking residents about their experiences with vacant commercial buildings in the city, asking residents what concerns them the most regarding long-term commercial vacancies, asking how the city should address potential concerns, and asking residents if they would support or oppose a commercial vacancy property ordinance.
Survey results are typically available in two days. To find the survey, and to sign up to receive surveys, visit FlashVote’s website.
By Sara Beth Williams– Fire crews responded early Monday morning to reports of an exterior fire near a cell tower and commercial building at 6379 Tupelo Drive in Citrus Heights.
The call came in at 5:26 a.m., according to Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District spokesperson Mark Nunez. Crews arrived on scene to find flames burning near the outside of the structure.
Firefighters quickly knocked down the blaze, which had extended into part of a wall inside the building. Nunez said the damage was contained to that area, with no spread to the rest of the structure.
No injuries were reported, and fire crews began clearing the scene around 6 a.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
A map of districts within Citrus Heights. // City of Citrus Heights
By Sara Beth Williams– Interested to find out which roads in Citrus Heights are slated to be paved over the next year?
Sections of more than 100 roads in Citrus Heights are slated to be resurfaced this year and next, after the Citrus Heights City Council approved an $8 million contract with Valley Slurry Seal International, Inc. The resurfacing effort is part of the city’s Three-Year-Pavement-Preservation plan.
The Sentinel has broken down the list of roads into five districts based on this district map. Below is a list of all the roads expected to be resurfaced through 2026, with available details if known. District 1 includes the majority of the 125 roads, with over 80 roads planned for resurfacing District 3 comes in second, while District 2 has only one major road resurfacing project planned. The list does not include any roads from District 5.
The full list of roads in alphabetical order can be seen below, taken from a city staff report:
District 1
Amsterdam Ave from Valeriana Ave to the southernmost end
Annwood Court from Brockwood Way to its end.
Antelope Road from western city limits, west of Saybrook, to Lauppe Lane (extends into District 4) This resurfacing is expected to be done at night.
Apache Way from Navion Drive to Skyline Drive
Ashmont Street from Burntwood Way to Stonehand Ave.
Basswood Way from Butternut Drive to Treebine Avenue.
Binet Drive from Mercedes Avenue to Greenback Lane
Bitterbush Way from Cornerstone Way to Zenith Drive
Blackstar Drive from Summerplace Drive to Zenith Drive
Bridgemont Way from Oak Bend Way to Van Maren Lane.
Brockwood Way from Stonehand Avenue to Mesaview Drive
Brushcreek Court from Mountainside Drive to its end
Butternut Drive from Lichen Drive south to Villaview Drive
Buttonwood Way from Basswood Way to Treelark Way
Canevalley Circle from Mountainside Drive north to Mountainside Drive east
Carmelwood Drive from Summerplace Drive to Lichen Drive
Castleberry Circle from Villaview Drive west to Villaview Drive east
Convair Way from Navion Drive to Skylane Drive
Cobra Court from Blackstar Drive
Copa Court from Sandridge Way
Dancing Creek Court from Bridgemont Way.
Geoffwood Court from Lonewood Way
Ebonywood Court from Brockwood Way
Erickwood Court from Brockwood Way
Ironbark Court from Navion Drive to its end
Lichen Drive from Antelope Road to Whyte Avenue
Leaoak Court from Treebine Avenue
Lonewood Way from Antelope Road to Stonehand Avenue
Lovewood Court from Erickwood Court
Mar Vista Way from Glenhurst Way to Tupelo Drive
Maranta Court from Sunmist Way
Mesaview Drive from Brockwood Way to Summerplace Drive
Mimosa Court from Buttonwood Way5
Misty Wood Way from Sunmist Way to Sunburst Way
Mossview Way from Misty Creek Drive to Sunwood Way
Mugho Court from Navion Drive
Muschetto Court from Amsterdam Avenue
Myrtle Wood Court from Brockwood Way
Oak Bend Way from Wonner Way
Oak Branch Court from Wonner Way
Oak Myrtle Way from Buttonwood Way to Butternut Drive
Outlook Drive from city limits west of Villaview Drive
Pebblebrook Way from Sunmist Way to Twin Woods Way
Pebbletree Way from Ramblewood Way to Carmelwood Drive
Piper Court from Convair Way
Radford Street from Butternut Drive to Mannerly Way
Ramblewood Way from Summerplace Drive to Carmel Wood Drive
Ravencrest Way from Briartree Way to Summerplace Drive
Reina Court from Summerplace Drive
Sage Oak Court from Mossview Way
Skylane Drive from Navion Drive to Van Maren Lane
Summerplace Drive from Antelope Road to Zenith Drive
Sandwood Court from Brockwood Way
Serrano Court from Blackstar Drive
Tupelo Drive from Antelope Road to Daily Avenue (city limits)
Stonecrop Court to Lichen Drive
Sky Vista Court from Mar Vista Way
Skylane Drive from Navion Drive to Van Maren Lane
Softwood Court from Brockwood Way
Springleaf Court from Suburst Way
Starling Court from Zeith Drive
Starwood Court from Erickwood Court
Stearman Way from Navion Drive to Skylane drive1
Kaestner Court to Lichen Drive
Tanbark Court to Navion Drive
Tanoak Way from Outlook Drive to Lichen Drive
Oakmyrtle Way From Buttonwood Way to Butternut Drive
Treebine Avenue from Lichen Drive to Buttonwood Way
Treelark Way from Lichen Drive to Butternut Drive
Treetop Court from Oak Bend Way
Treefoil Court from Butternut Drive
Tupelo Drive from Antelope Road to Daily Avenue (city limits)
Twin Brook Court from Oak Branch Court
Twin Park Drive from Sunburst Way to Wonner Way
Twin Wood Way from Sunmist Way to Sunburst Way
Twining Way from Villaview Drive to Radford Street
Viscount Way from Woodyard Way to Zenith Drive
Voyager Way from Navion Drive to Skylane Drive
Woodyard Way from Butteruut Drive to Outlook Drive
Yardgate Way from Viscount Way to Outlook Drive-
Zenith Drive from Outlook Drive to Butternut Drive
Whyte Avenue from Roseville Road to Crescendo Drive
Basswood Way from Butternut Drive to Treebine Avenue
Wildoak Drive from Mar Vista Way to Tupelo Drive
Willow Tree Way from Cloverleaf Way north to Cloverleaf Way south
District 2
Oak Avenue from Sunrise Boulevard to Wachtel Way. Likely resurfacing work will be completed at night, the city said.
District 3
Stock Ranch Road from Sylvan Road to Fountain Square Drive
Binet Drive from Mercedes Avenue to Greenback Lane
Bremen Drive from Greenback Lane to Van Maren Lane
Burnham Drive from Binet Drive to Mercedes Avenue
Carlow Drive from Donegal Drive to Bremen Drive
Cavan Drive from Donegal Drive to Bremen Drive
Chivalry Way from Auburn Boulevard
Crosswoods Circle from Crosswoods Parkway to Crosswoods Parkway
Crosswoods Parkway from Auburn Boulevard to Crosswoods Circle
Dawn View Court from Twin Wood Way
Dearborn Drive from Mercedes Avenue
Donegal Drive from Auburn Boulevard to Van Maren Lane
Greenback Frontage Road from Brookhaven Way to Brooktree Drive
Greenback Frontage Road from Brooktree Drive to Peolria Drive
Greenback Frontage Road to Paris Street
Gallant Drive from Chivalry Way north to Chivalry Way South
Hyssop Court from Gingerblossom Drive
Janet Drive from Auburn Boulevard Frontage Road to Somersworth Drive
Lettrim Court from Louth Way
Longford Drive from Donegal Drive to Bremen Drive
Louth Way from Donegal Drive to Bremen Drive
Mercedes Avenue from Burnham Drive to Van Maren Lane
Paris Street from Mercedes Avenue to Greenback Lane
San Tomas Drive from Auburn Boulevard to Crosswoods Circle
Le Havre Way from Binet Drive to Mercedes Avenue
Le Mans Avenue from Paris Street to Binet Drive
Shalimar Way from Paris STreet to Le Mann Avenue
Steffano Court from Louth Way
Sutro Court from Gallant Circle
Woodside Drive from Sylvan Road Gate, east of Thalia Way
District 4
Antelope Road from Western city limits, west of Saybrook to Lauppe Lane (extends from District 1 into 4) This resurfacing is expected to be done at night.
Rollingwood Boulevard from Antelope Road to Auburn Boulevard
Sara Lynn Way from Pratt Avenue
Sycamore Drive from Mariposa Avenue eastward
Summer Avenue from Rusch Drive to Oak Forest Street
Pratt Avenue from Carriage Drive to Auburn Boulevard
Pimienta Drive from Carriage Drive to Sadro Street
Poplar Avenue from Antelope Road
Deville Oaks Way from Sandalwood Drive to Deville Oaks Way north
Sentinel Staff report– Latest police logs for Citrus Heights show 14 animal services calls, 356 vehicle violations, and other incidents.
Below are police log incidents from Sept. 2-10. Due to a recent state and federal holiday, police incident logs from the prior week didn’t count Sept 2 and 3. We have included Sept. 2 and 3 in this week’s logs.
Fireworks: 0
Animal control: 14
911 hangups: 47
Code enforcement: 46
Traffic accidents: 44
Vehicle violations: 356
Theft: 41
Homeless-related: 21
Vandalism: 9
Violent/threats: 54
Disturbance: 128
Suspicious circumstances: 252
All incidents: 1,567
Arrest logs are available here. Incident Logs are accessible below.
The Citrus Heights Police Department notes that its logs “are not intended as a full and complete list of all police activity,” with some information not displayed for legal reasons, such as arrests of minors. As such, police advise that summary totals based on public logs may differ from weekly incident and arrest totals posted by police on social media.
The department notes on its website that: “All arrested suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty. Additionally, the original crimes, nature of offenses, and charges may be amended or dismissed as further information is made available.”
The Citrus Heights Police Department notes that its logs “are not intended as a full and complete list of all police activity,” with some information not displayed for legal reasons, such as arrests of minors. As such, police advise that summary totals based on public logs may differ from weekly incident and arrest totals posted by police on social media.
The department notes on its website that: “All arrested suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty. Additionally, the original crimes, nature of offenses, and charges may be amended or dismissed as further information is made available.”
Editor’s Note: police log summaries are published with assistance from AI, but edited by humans. Please contact us if you spot an error.
A Spirit Halloween store is temporarily occupying the former site of JOANN Fabrics, at 5489 Sunrise Blvd. // Sb Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– The go-to Halloween retailer famously known for setting up shops in vacated buildings, has opened this year in the former JOANN fabrics building in Citrus Heights.
The seasonal costume and decor retailer began opening locations in some areas as early as August 7 according to local news reports. Just under a dozen locations are expected to operate in the Sacramento County region. A full list of stores can be viewed here.
The Halloween retailer also frequently operated in the former Sears building at Sunrise Mall, which has been vacant since 2018.
After escaping the first round of closures, JOANN in Citrus Heights had been named on a subsequent list of hundreds of store locations expected to shutter throughout the country following the beginning of bankruptcy proceedings.
The major retailer announced in mid-January it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for a second time within 12 months. Almost one month later, the company announced that 500 more stores, on top of six initial store closures, would shutter nationwide.
The fabric store closed within the third or fourth week of May of this year.
The Citrus Heights Spirit Halloween Store is temporarily located at 5489 Sunrise Boulevard.
By Sara Beth Williams– Citrus Heights Arts announced last week that, at the request of the city, the final submission deadline for artists to submit art to be exhibited at City Hall has been extended to Sept. 20.
Organizers said the extension comes in response to the “strong interest” already shown for the upcoming exhibit.
“This adjustment reflects the strong interest we’re already seeing and ensures that as many voices and creative expressions as possible can be represented in the exhibition,” Citrus Heights Arts stated in a social media post.
The Art in City Hall exhibit will give artists opportunities to display their art inside City Hall, Citrus Heights Arts founder Gigi Rayford said previously.
The artwork will need to adhere to specific standards and parameters that will be established collaboratively by the city and the Citrus Heights Arts board. Artwork will be available for purchase at the end of the exhibition, Rayford said. A date for the art exhibition has yet to be announced, but more information will be added to the nonprofit’s website in the near future.
“Public art is more than decoration; it’s a catalyst for community engagement, economic growth, and civic pride,” Rayford said, adding that art is a “powerful tool.”
For more information on how to apply, artists can visit Citrus Heights Arts’ website.
By Sara Beth Williams– Local water providers in Citrus Heights and other jurisdictions are warning residents to be on alert for individuals posing as water officials and attempting to sell costly and unnecessary water treatment equipment.
The Citrus Heights Water District, Sacramento Suburban Water District, Orange Vale Water Company and California American Water issued a joint press release after reports surfaced of door-to-door solicitations throughout the districts. The incidents involved individuals claiming that household tap water may be unsafe and offering unsolicited in-home water testing.
According to the agencies’ release, these visits lead to “high-pressure” sales tactics where the individuals would convince residents to purchase expensive water treatment systems. Similar incidents have been reported in other Northern California communities, including Elk Grove, Fairfield, and Sacramento, according to water district officials.
The agencies emphasized that drinking water provided by the four agencies is safe and meets strict federal and state standards. Regular testing is conducted at treatment facilities, wells, and through official programs, not through door-to-door visits.
“Drinking water served by CHWD, SSWD, OVWC, and California American Water meet some of the strictest water quality standards. Water is regularly tested and follows federal and state regulations to ensure community health and safety,” officials stated in the media release.
Officials say none of the local agencies conduct in-home water testing unless it has been scheduled directly with the customer and advice customers to be aware of whether appointments have been pre-scheduled. Additionally, legitimate employees always wear official uniforms, drive marked vehicles, and carry agency-issued identification cards.
Unsolicited water testing offers are a red flag and often tied to costly sales schemes, the agencies warn.
Residents who are approached by individuals they suspect are not legitimate water district employees, should not allow anyone suspicious into their home for water testing, should ask for official ID, and should contact their specific water agency directly to verify if an individual claims the need to test their water.
The agencies also encourage residents to report suspicious activity and share the warning with neighbors, friends, and family.
Residents can find more information and contact numbers online. A list of water agencies and their corresponding website are below:
Whatsupstaris thrift store is located at 7134 Auburn Blvd. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– After more than a year and a half of reportedly operating without a working HVAC system, a local thrift store’s long-running issue has finally been resolved — though other concerns remain.
In early August, The Sentinel interviewed Whatsupstairs thrift store co-owner Anthony Iacolino about the ongoing issue and then reached out to property owner Tom Romeo, CEO of Romeo and Juliette Brands, which owns Bearpaw Outlet and several other properties at Sylvan Corners. Property management company GQNorth was also contacted, and forwarded all emails to the property owner. The air conditioning issue was resolved within several weeks of The Sentinel’s inquiry.
On Aug. 14, Logan Farfan, accounting manager with Romeo & Juliette, Inc., said property management had only recently been made aware of the air conditioning problem and that “no formal complaints or maintenance requests” had been submitted by Whatsupstairs owners in the past.
Iacolino alleged that a prior property management company had sent technicians out multiple times in response to his complaints, though the unit was never repaired.
The building has also experienced other issues in the past 21 months, including plumbing problems, a leaking roof, and insufficient exterior lighting. Iacolino alleged that broken lighting in the parking lot contributed to two major jewelry burglaries at the store earlier this summer.
Responding to claims regarding lighting, Farfan said four new wall pack lights were installed on the building, including two near the thrift store, and that parking lot lighting has “remained operational throughout their tenancy,” aside from one light that was promptly fixed.
In a followup interview on Sept. 3, Iacolino confirmed the air conditioning had been replaced. However, he expressed frustration that other issues remained unresolved, including two holes in the store’s ceiling, and water damage to the ceiling.
In a followup email response, Farfan said roof leaks were previously repaired when the property management was made aware of the situation last season, but Iacolino disputes that.
A title is missing and the ceiling appears to reportedly have water damage according to an employee who has worked at Whatsupstairs for 12 months. Sept. 10, 2025. // SB Williams
On a visit to the store on Sept. 10, The Sentinel found two holes in separate areas of the store’s ceiling. One large hole could be seen in a corner of the store where merchandise was for sale. Another corner, located in a back storage area, could be seen with visible water damage having warped the corner of the roof. An employee with Whatsupstairs who has worked there for one year told The Sentinel the holes leak when it rains.
Emails shared with The Sentinel show Iacolino has also sought pro-rated rent, but the property owner has not agreed to compensation, according to an email from Farfan.
Although he was initially willing to move forward after the repairs to the store’s AC, the dispute over rent relief and the continued issues with his roof and ceiling have left him determined not to renew his lease.
“I was willing to bury the hatchet,” Iacolino said, “but I will not be personally signing another lease.”
Water damage was visible on the ceiling in the corner of a storage area at Whatsupstairs, Sept. 10, 2025. // Sb Williams
He also said, after a lack of response over several weeks, he has stopped engaging with property management because “it’s like talking to a brick wall.”
The thrift store, which features an eclectic mix of antiques, furniture, collectibles, and general thrift items, has built a strong customer base. The store opened about four days following the closure of Goodwill Industries in January 2023 according to the owners.
Goodwill Industries was located on the corner of Auburn Boulevard and Old Auburn Road, and had been a tenant for twenty years. Bearpaw Outlet and DarkHeart Brewing now take up the space of the former Goodwill.
When Whatsupstairs first opened, employees said customers often came in to donate because of the closure of the previous Goodwill, and the store filled up with merchandise quickly.
“I do love that store for its uniqueness,” Iacolino said, adding he would prefer to sell the business rather than close it outright, but he is also prepared to liquidate inventory “within 30 days” if needed.
In a presentation to the Citrus Heights City Council on Wednesday, Sept. 10, Director of Sacramento County’s Department of Homeless Services and Housing Emily Halcon presented a regional homelessness and housing partnership model, which would merge two existing entities into one Sacramento County Homelessness and Housing Board. Sept. 10, 2025
By Sara Beth Williams– The Sacramento County Department of Homeless Services and Housing hopes to include Citrus Heights and other cities on a new Homelessness and Housing board by 2026.
In a presentation to the Citrus Heights City Council on Wednesday, Sept. 10, Director of Sacramento County’s Department of Homeless Services and Housing Emily Halcon presented a regional homelessness and housing partnership model, which would merge two existing entities into one Sacramento County Homelessness and Housing Board.
The new proposed board would merge the Continuum of Care board, which is comprised of non-elected community members, and a Homeless Policy Council, which is comprised of mostly elected officials, into one entity. The goal of combining the two entities into one would be to increase transparency and help “provide a greater level of accountability,” Halcon said. The new board’s tasks would include approving an monitoring a Regionally Coordinated Homelessness Action Plan, as well as setting local performance goals, setting priorities for any new federal funding related to homelessness, and other tasks.
Although no vote was taken, present council members spoke in favor of an option to establish a larger board with elected officials and community leaders, versus a smaller board of elected officials, saying that including extra voices in the effort to address homelessness was an important component of the new board. Vice Mayor Marijane Lopez-Taff who currently sits on a homeless commission, said she appreciated the proposal of a “balance of bodies” of elected officials and community leaders.
Councilmember Tim Schaefer said the plan looked “great on paper,” and added that he wants to see “goals that are achievable.”
“Throwing more and more and more money at this without showing some progress is how we wound up where we are today,” Schaefer said.
Councilmember Porsche Middleton was absent from the City Council meeting.
Several council members questioned the cost of implementation of the board and asked the department to present an estimate of the cost earlier in the process.
Halcon acknowledged that the department has not yet identified how much it would cost to implement the board or the staffing that would manage the activities of the new board. Those decisions would be made once the department determines the level of willing participation from local jurisdictions.
Lopez-Taff expressed concern over making a final decision without knowing a more detailed cost breakdown, and whether the city would be expected to contribute funding. Halcon said local cities would not be expected to contribute financially.
Mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa asked whether the proposed partnership model was initiated in response to Senator Angelique Ashby’s (D-CA) recent push to create a regional joint powers authority to address homelessness. Halcon said the model brought forth to the council has been under consideration for over a year before Ashby presented Senate Bill 802 to the state legislature.
Halcon said Sacramento County, the City of Sacramento, and Sacramento Steps Forward hired a consultant nearly two years ago to explore new leadership models for addressing homelessness. After the report, staff began drafting restructuring options. After a presentation in May, the Board of Supervisors requested the proposed model be brought to local jurisdictions for feedback.
Role of the new proposed board The board would be the key body in establishing a strategic plan and vision for how the county will address homelessness, including monitoring the regionally coordinated homelessness action plan, establishing and tracking system-level performance targets, establishing local performance goals and informing data reports, setting expectations and overseeing the performance of Sacramento Steps Forward, which manages the homeless management and information system, seeking new funding, setting funding priorities, and establishing and seating subcommittees.
The Continuum of Care, or CoC, is typically comprised of a smaller board and larger membership. The CoC membership includes representatives from various organizations working to help prevent and end homelessness. The board oversees applications for funding, point-in-time counts, the homeless management information system, and the administrative entity, which runs the day-to-day work. The Continuum of Care was launched in 1994.
The new board Halcon is proposing would act as the Continuum of Care Board, but it would operate in a more formalized fashion, subject to the Brown Act, with published agendas prior to meetings. Sacramento Steps Forward would continue to work as the “collaborative applicant,” Halcon said. The CoC membership would remain intact.
Additionally, the new model proposes utilizing subcommittees that could either act as decision-makers or advisory committees to the Homelessness and Housing board.
Halcon presented two different options: Option A would be a board comprised of 11 individuals, 10 elected officials from throughout Sacramento County, including two Sacramento County Supervisors, plus one member who has experienced homelessness, which is required by law. Option B would be a board of up to 15 members, with 10 elected officials, one member who has experienced homelessness, and up to four seats set aside for community leaders from specific sectors that would be defined later.
All eight elected bodies in the county, including seven cities and the County Board of Supervisors, would retain local policymaking and budgeting authority.
“This new structure would really seek to infuse the voices of the community that currently are really integral to the CoC, and to all of the other decisions happening in our community that are outside of the purview of the CoC,” Halcon said.
The CoC is in charge of delivering homeless funding and services and has obtained $40 million from the federal government and roughly $8 million allocated by the state to put toward homelessness. The $40 million is tied to specific programs, Halcon said, adding that state funding dollar amounts fluctuate annually.
Next steps The county plans to continue to present and gain feedback on the regional partnership model from other city councils, and within the next two months, the department plans to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and partnership agreement.
Once a finalized model, the MOU, and a partnership agreement are established, the department will return to local jurisdictions for approval and for appointments from local councils. Halcon said the final model could be presented to councils as early as February of next year.
A new preschool is now open at the southern end o Sunrise Mall // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– A new preschool is now open in Citrus Heights, adjacent to the former SEARS building on the southern end of Sunrise Mall.
A visit to the site Tuesday found classes in session. A ribbon cutting, followed by an official grand opening celebration, is planned for Friday evening, Sept. 12. A ribbon cutting is planned from 4:30 to 5:30, with a grand opening celebration planned from 6 to 8 p.m., according to a school flyer.
“It will be a big party,” Sunrise Preschool owner and director Natalia Boyko said Thursday, adding that the grand opening is meant to be an autumn festival with free activities for Citrus Heights families to enjoy. The grand opening event will have free cotton candy, princesses and pirates, face painting, bounce houses, and crafts for kids, Boyko said.
Sunrise Montessori Preschool has had plans to occupy a vacant building adjacent to the Sears building at Sunrise Mall since mid-2024. After its approval last year, the building has been listed as “under construction” since the fall of 2024.
The center provides daycare, preschool, kindergarten, and child development classes for students ages two to 12, according to a description of the school provided to the city. Flyers at the school indicate the site also offers after-school care.
According to submitted site plan documents, each of the preschool classrooms can accommodate between 23 and 28 students. Plans indicate that the larger school-aged classroom, at 1,300 square feet, can accommodate up to 39 children, while the smaller school-aged classroom can accommodate 16 children.
In a 2024 interview, Boyko told The Sentinel that she has a “huge waitlist” of families seeking daycare in the area around the Sunrise Mall, including families from Citrus Heights and Fair Oaks.
Boyko and her husband are part of the Ukrainian community, Boyko said, and work with refugees from Ukraine and Russia to try and provide daycare. Boyko owns another childcare center called Advanced Early Childhood Education. According to the childcare center’s website, the Advanced Early Childhood Education Center is the first full-service, nonprofit preschool for Russian-speaking children.
