Author: Sara Beth Williams

  • Former sports bar in Citrus Heights set to become coffee shop

    The site of an old sports bar on Mariposa Avenue is being transformed into a coffee shop.
    The site of an old sports bar on Mariposa Avenue is being transformed into a coffee shop. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The former 10th Inning sports bar on Mariposa Avenue is currently getting a face lift.

    The building located at 7753 Mariposa Ave. is under construction with plans to become a new coffee shop, the city confirmed Wednesday. Currently, the siding has been removed, and a pile of debris from the demolition of a wall can be seen on the premises.

    Following the sale of the property in 2021, construction activity has been observed off and on at the former 10th Inning sports bar site.

    City spokeswoman Nichole Baxter confirmed in April 2021 that an application for a business license at the site was filed by “Station Coffee Roasters.” The applicant was directed to obtain building permits for a change of use. But while construction activity was occurring in 2021, no permit had been issued, the city said in a previous report.

    A “Stop Work Order” was issued by the city on Nov. 17, 2021, for “working without the benefit of required permits” at the site.

    Related: Former Citrus Heights sports bar building listed for sale at $275k—Citrus Heights Sentinel

    Plans for a permanent Station Coffee Roasters location in Citrus Heights were officially announced in a video post on the company’s Instagram account in April 2024, with the owners stating in part, “It’s been a long time coming, but we’re on the track, and we can’t wait to serve you!” The company’s video post shows the building of the former sports bar in the background, and one of the owners indicated that a building permit had finally been obtained and demolition was to begin shortly.

    The Community Development Department confirmed in a statement last Wednesday that a permit has been issued to convert the space into a coffee shop.

    “While the project has encountered some structural challenges in the field, the applicant is actively working with our plans examiner and senior building inspector to develop a solution,” the city said, adding that the permit is active and progress is continuing on the building’s transformation.

    The building was built in 1951 and is situated in what was once one of Citrus Heights’ first commercial districts, along with Hall’s Furniture and other shops.

    In the 1950s, the shopping area on Mariposa Avenue near Antelope Road was a spot where residents could get gas, drop off mail, and shop for clothes, furniture, and more. A small, two-story post office opened in 1947 in a back area next to Hall’s, run by the postmaster who also owned Wood’s Variety store in the same shopping center.

    Hall’s Groceries & Meats also opened next door to the furniture store but was sold by the Hall family in the 1960s and continues to operate as a small grocery store today. A pair of Texaco gas pumps was also located outside Hall’s.

    Station Coffee Roasters doesn’t list any permanent locations on their website but will frequently travel to vendor fairs to sell coffee and merchandise, according to the company’s Facebook page.

    A post from December 2024 reads in part, “We are so grateful for your support, trust, and encouragement this last year! You inspire us to keep growing and delivering our best every day. We have a lot coming next year and we hope you’ll join us for the ride!”

    The coffee roasting company sells bags of freshly roasted coffee beans, including Brazilian, Colombian, and Nicaraguan. Beans come in a variety of flavors, including chocolate-mixed berry-almond, honey-apricot-pecan, strawberry-peach-cocoa, and other unique flavors.

    The company also recently launched a new coffee bean subscription program.

    The owners of Station Coffee Roasters could not be reached for comment before press time.

  • Long-vacant Citrus Heights home built in 1939 listed for sale

    A boarded up home on Watson Way and Mariposa Ave. is listed for sale.
    A boarded-up home on Watson Way and Mariposa Ave. is now listed for sale. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    A boarded-up home on Watson Way in Citrus Heights has been listed for sale.

    The prominent one-acre lot with its home shrouded by trees on the corner of Watson Way and Mariposa Avenue was listed for sale on April 14 for $595,000. As of May 3, the listing indicates that a sale is pending but has not yet closed.

    The home is described as a “charming fixer-upper” with multiple possibilities, including subdivision. The two-story home has four bedrooms and one bath and includes a fireplace and bonus room, the listing shows.

    The one-acre lot located at 7696 Watson Way has a spacious unpaved driveway area facing Watson Way, along with many trees, a detached garage, and a brick patio in the back of the home, according to photos from real estate site Zillow.

    The property has been boarded up for years. The listing indicates the home was built in 1939.

    Citrus Heights Historical Society President Larry Fritz said the property was owned by William Berry, who owned a 160-acre ranch in the 1880s. The ranch was bordered by Watson Way in the north, Auburn Boulevard to the west, and Mariposa Avenue on the east, which was then-known as Citrus Avenue, according to Fritz who cited a 1912 map of the area.

    The home on Watson Way sits on the northeast corner of what was the Berry ranch, which was purchased by Walt Trainor, of the Trainor and Desmond Real Estate Company, in 1912. The real estate company subdivided the 160 acres into parcels of about 10 acres according to a 1912 map of the area. Trainor and Desmond are the ones who coined the name “Citrus Heights” for their developments, Fritz explained.

    In all, they purchased about 20 large ranches, calling them all “Citrus Heights” followed by a numerical designation. Parcel #118 is the one that the home built in 1939 now sits on.

    Another map from 1939 shows the same parcel was further subdivided, with a 2-acre lot belonging to James and Gertrude Millette. The home was built at that time and appears to have stayed in the Millette family for decades, Fritz said.

    Real estate appraiser and housing analyst Ryan Lundquist confirmed that the property is in a trust and has no sales history before 1998, when MetroList was first implemented.

  • Under the Big Top: Circus returns to Sunrise Mall

    American Crown Circus returns to Sunrise Mall May 8-19.
    American Crown Circus returns to Sunrise Mall May 8-19, 2025. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The circus has returned to Sunrise Mall just in time for Mother’s Day weekend.

    American Crown Circus has returned to Sunrise Mall’s parking lot and is offering multiple showtimes for the next two weekends, from Thursday evening, May 8, through Monday evening, May 19 according to the circus’s website.

    The American Crown Circus, also known as Circo Osorio, is a family-owned, traveling circus that puts on family-friendly shows and tours the United States and Canada, featuring a variety of acts including high-wire acts, acrobats, clowns, magicians, and aerialists.  The circus is known for its energetic performances and creative costumes, with a “futuristic, psychedelic vibe.”

    Tickets cost $35 for adults and $15 for children from one to 10 years old. VIP tickets cost $45 for those 11 years and older and $25 for children 10 and under. Infants under one year are free. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online. Seating is first come, first serve.

    For photos, videos and a list of showtimes, visit the circus’s website. Sunrise Mall is located at 6041 Sunrise Blvd.

  • Construction underway on new apartment complex behind Sunrise Mall

    Heavy construction equipment can be seen on the future site of a three-story apartment complex on Sunrise Vista Drive. // SB Williams
    Heavy construction equipment can be seen on the future site of a three-story apartment complex on Sunrise Vista Drive. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    After three years, amid controversy and delays with the project, heavy construction equipment could be seen this week on Sunrise Vista Drive at the site of a proposed three-story apartment complex located next to Sunrise Rollerland.

    The Sunrise Vista Apartments project was approved in March 2022, according to city documents. Plans for the complex include the construction of three three-story apartment buildings with up to 30 units, along with amenities including a pool, courtyard, and community center room. Additionally, applicable parking lots for future residents and landscaping and fencing around the complex are also indicated in the plans.

    Last fall, the removal of several trees throughout the lot frustrated nearby local residents and business owners, including Lloyd Neutz, one of the owners of Sunrise Rollerland. Neutz criticized the toppling of an “ancient” Heritage Valley oak tree, which stood at the site of the proposed apartment complex for years.

    Developer Leonid Kotyakov told The Sentinel in August 2024 that several dead trees were removed because they were a fire hazard.

    Related: What’s going on with plans for apartment complex near Sunrise Mall? – Citrus Heights Sentinel

    On a visit to the site this week by Sentinel staff, heavy construction equipment could be seen on site amid hills of dirt. The 1.38-acre lot is surrounded by construction fencing.

    A construction crew member on site confirmed work was beginning on the apartment complex. Kotyakov could not be reached for comment regarding an anticipated date of completion for the project.

    Digital renderings of the three-story buildings show apartments with balconies on the second and third floors and several single-car garages on the first floor.

    Floor plans listed with the city for “Building A” show two two-bedroom-two-bathroom apartments with patios, a caretaker unit, and six single-car garages on the ground floor, and four two-bedroom-two-bathroom units with a balcony on the second and third floors. Floor plans for Buildings B and C show plans for one two-bedroom, two-bath unit; one one-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath unit; and eight garages on the first floor. The second and third floors will consist of two two-bedroom, two-bathroom units and two one-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath units on each floor.

    The construction of a masonry sound wall on one side of the complex is also listed in the plans, as well as the addition of several new trees and at least one decorative fountain.

    The Sunrise Vista Apartments project is located at 6031 Sunrise Vista Drive between Public Storage and Sunrise Rollerland.

  • Mesa Verde boys’ volleyball team ends year with ‘heads held high’

    The Mesa Verde Boys' Volleyball team, headed by coach Jennifer Shoffner, practice in the high school's gym. // SB Williams
    The Mesa Verde Boys’ Volleyball team, headed by coach Jennifer Shoffner, practice in the high school’s gym. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The Mesa Verde High School’s boys’ volleyball team made waves in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV this spring, earning recognition for a record-breaking season that’s putting the school on the athletic map.

    Traditionally not known for athletic programs due to its Division IV status, Mesa Verde is changing that narrative with a powerful showing in both boys’ volleyball and baseball this year, according to boys’ volleyball coach Jessica Shoffner.

    The boys’ volleyball team has an 8-2 regular season league record, ranking them in second place in the Sierra Delta League behind undefeated Vacaville Christian high school. Mesa Verde also secured a first-place trophy from the Stockton Classic tournament.

    The boys’ volleyball program was established nine years ago, and has been led by Shoffner for the last seven years.

    “We’re building something special here,” said Shoffner, who is among several alumni coaches, giving back to their school community, including Athletic Director and tennis coach Travis Miller Anthony O’Neal, who coaches Mesa Verde boys’ basketball, and Leonard Casillas, Mesa Verde’s varsity football head coach.

    The Mustangs volleyball players are no strangers to postseason play, having qualified for the playoffs in 2019, 2022, 2023, and now 2025, skipping only the pandemic years when playoffs were not held. In their playoff run this season, the Mesa Verde boys’ volleyball team defeated El Dorado high school in the first round three sets to one on April 30 but lost to Livingston high school 0-3 in the quarterfinals held on May 2.

    Despite the loss, Shoffner said the team is proud of the way they finished.

    “We’ve come a long way,” said Shoffner. “This is more than just a good season—it’s a statement about who we are and where Mesa Verde athletics is headed.”

    Shoffner added that the season has been historic with 10 wins in a row for the first time, and a first round playoff win for the first time.

    Team leadership is strong, Shoffner said, with senior captains Eddie Montepeque and Mathew Garcia anchoring the squad. Both have been varsity starters since their freshman year and are multi-sport athletes: Montepeque competes in football, soccer, and volleyball, while Garcia plays football, basketball, and volleyball.

    Junior captain Ben Lee leads not only on the court, but in the classroom with a 4.0 GPA, a distinction shared by nearly half of the team, Shoffner said.

    The boys’ volleyball team has an overall record of 19-9 in the Sac-Juaquin Section Division IV, according to Max Preps, putting them in second place in the division behind Encina high school in Sacramento and just ahead of Natomas High.

    “They’re ending the season with their heads held high, and are optimistic about next year,” Shoffner said.

    *This article has been updated with the correct first name of coach Shoffner

  • Citrus Heights native wins second film festival award

    Mesa Verde Alum Chris Laird stands with fellow cast members and the writer of "The Jacket" during the SacTown Movie Buffs Film Festival on April 26, 2025. From left to right: Rising Star winner Rona Bernadette, Best Original Screenplay writer Cheryl Bealer-Wynton, Best Supporting Actress winner Janine Romney, Best Actor winner Chris Laird. // Chris Laird
    Mesa Verde Alum Chris Laird stands with fellow cast members and the writer of “The Jacket” during the SacTown Movie Buffs Film Festival on April 26, 2025. From left to right: Rising Star winner Rona Bernadette, Best Original Screenplay writer Cheryl Bealer-Wynton, Best Supporting Actress winner Janine Romney, Best Actor winner Chris Laird. // Chris Laird

    By Sara Beth Williams–|
    Mesa Verde High School alum Chris Laird took home a Best Actor award from the third annual SacTown Movie Buffs film festival, held April 26, for his role in a short film called “The Jacket.” The Best Actor award is his second film festival award.

    The short film centers around a jacket that was left at a high school party by Ed, played by Laird, that was found years later. The film chronicles the journey of Ed as he embarks on finding the owner of the jacket.

    Laird said the role was different than other acting roles he has done in the past, which are generally more comedic in nature, but he took it as a challenge.

    “The Jacket,” shown at the festival among a dozen other short films, won multiple awards during the festival for its category, including Best Director awarded to Sandy Noricks, Best Actor awarded to Chris Laird, Best Supporting Actress awarded to Janine Romney, Rising Star awarded to Rona Bernadette Arrogancia, and Best Original Screenplay awarded to Cheryl Bealer-Wynton.

    “I’m super thankful for Sandy for not only reaching out and trusting me with the lead, which was totally awesome,” Laird said in an interview with The Sentinel on Tuesday, adding that he and Noricks have worked well together on at least two past projects. Laird also praised Noricks for putting together a great cast and crew for the film.

    “The Jacket” first premiered at the Crest Theater during A Place Called Sacramento Film Fest, organized by Access Sacramento, in October 2024. Laird said the premiere of the film at the Crest Theatre was “so much fun” and that all the rest of the short films were also great.

    Laird also received a Rising Star award at the SacTown Movie Buffs Film Festival in April 2024 for his role in the short film “The Ghost Hunt,” which was nominated for five awards and received an award for Best Comedy. “The Ghost Hunt” also received the Gold Award for Comedy from the Paris Film Awards, according to the group’s Facebook page.

    Laird has also participated in a handful of TV show episodes, including a new web series called “You Had a Bad Day,” produced by Renee Sava and Miranda Forcier. The pilot episode also premiered at the April 26 SacTown Movie Buffs film festival. Laird said the producers will be submitting the episode to studios with the ultimate goal of creating a full-length TV show series. “You Had a Bad Day” was filmed in Sacramento.

    Laird said he also currently wrapped filming on one episode of a TV series in the works called “Springtown,” where Mesa Verde veteran theater teacher Deni Scofield also made an appearance.

    Laird also recently participated in the filming of an “Expedition Unknown” episode, which will air on the Discovery Channel later this year.

    Laird’s IMDB page credits him with 16 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.” IMDB also shows Laird appearing in two upcoming short films.

    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, including “improv showdowns” and Mesa Verde’s 2022 Ghost Tour.

    Currently, Laird works as a youth sports coach and lives in Loomis.

  • Citrus Heights joins upcoming Big Day of Service

    Citrus Heights joins upcoming Big Day of Service

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Citrus Heights is participating in the annual Big Day of Service event presented by the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks and Orangevale.

    The day of service takes place Saturday, May 17, and several local organizations and schools have already posted service projects, including Lichen K-8, Mariposa Elementary, Grand Oaks Elementary, Sunrise Christian Food Ministry, and more. Residents can view local projects and sign up to serve on May 17 by visiting the website.

    Below are several Citrus Heights organizations and schools looking for community service volunteers.

    Local schools: Mariposa Elementary, Grand Oaks Elementary, Lichen K-8, Arlington Heights Elementary, and Carriage Drive Elementary, are all seeking volunteers to assist with various projects, including painting, weeding and planting.

    Parks and Neighborhoods: Several groups have organized community service projects at local parks, including at Arcade Creek Park Preserve and Madera Park. Sunrise Christian Food Ministry is also looking for volunteers to help with painting offices and storage rooms, general cleanup, and weeding.

    Encouragement projects: A handful of groups are also coming together to create projects as an encouragement to the community. Sunrise MarketPlace is leading ‘Props for Cops’ and looking for volunteers to come together to create encouraging cards and posters for the Citrus Heights Police Department. The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce is seeking volunteers to come together to draw hopscotches around the city.

    For more information, visit the Big Day of Service webpage to find a local project. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at Bella Vista High School, followed by a breakfast, vendor fair, and rally. Community service projects are scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

    Bella Vista High School is located at 8301 Madison Ave. in Fair Oaks.

  • From Orangevale to Citrus Heights: Local history advocate returns to his roots

    Larry Fritz stands with his wife, Maria Fritz, and mother-in-law Lucy Pitogo in front of his new home in Citrus Heights
    Citrus Heights Historical Society President Larry Fritz stands with his wife, Maria Fritz, and mother-in-law Lucy Pitogo in front of his new home in Citrus Heights. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    After more than three decades living in Orangevale, Citrus Heights Historical Society President Larry Fritz and his wife have officially returned to Citrus Heights with a cat and six pet turkeys in tow.

    Fritz, who serves as president of both the Citrus Heights Historical Society and the San Juan Alumni Association, recently purchased a home on Glenn Avenue. along with his wife Maria. Fritz paid $105,000 less than the original asking price when the home was first listed in November 2024. After a year on the market at $950,000 the home dropped in price three times before landing at $865,000.

    “We had been looking for something newer, but with just a bit more space,” Fritz said in a recent interview. “This house had everything we were looking for.” The two-thirds-acre lot coupled with a modern interior was a major draw.

    “It’s like a park back there,” Fritz said, describing the backyard. “We needed more space because of our turkeys, and this gives us plenty of room.”

    Online maps show Cripple Creek runs through the property. A bridge has been constructed across the creek to the adjoining land on the property, which Fritz recently mowed down to make room for a large turkey coop.

    Fritz’s family moved to Citrus Heights in 1965 when his father was transferred to McClellan Air Force Base as a civilian employee. After graduating from San Juan High School in 1973, attending college elsewhere, then returning in 1977, Fritz bought a home in 1990 in what is now Orangevale. At that time, Citrus Heights was not incorporated.

    When the eastern boundary line for Citrus Heights was drawn a few years later during the city’s incorporation process, the border should have gone straight down Kenneth Avenue all the way to Greenback Lane, Fritz says.

    “Someone was afraid that residents in the southeast corner would not vote in favor of cityhood, so they pushed the boundary back to Fair Oaks Boulevard,” Fritz said.

    Indeed, the border between the two jurisdictions now currently runs north to south from Old Auburn Road just northeast of Wachtel Way to Kenneth Avenue and Elm Avenue in the south, then takes a sharp turn west through the middle of residential housing until it reaches Fair Oaks Boulevard.

    “My house [in Orangevale] really should be in Citrus Heights. I have therefore maintained that ‘I live in Orangevale, but it’s not my fault.” Fritz said.

    Fritz said before this move, he and his wife spent the past three years trying to build another home on a piece of land they owned in Fair Oaks. However, the process proved difficult due to several protected oak trees on the lot.

    “We really struggled with the plans, trying to squeeze the house between the trees,” he explained.

    He and his wife finally closed on their new home in Citrus Heights at the end of April and are finishing settling in.

    Now retired, Fritz says both he and Maria are home full-time, since she works remotely, and her mother has also moved in with them. Add a cat and the aforementioned turkeys, and the household is a busy one.

    With the purchase of their new home finalized, the land he owned in Fair Oaks is now for sale, Fritz confirmed.

    The Citrus Heights Historical Society was formed in 1993 and is a volunteer organization that participates in and offers programs and special community events in an effort to raise awareness of historical locations such as the Historic Rusch Home, Sylvan Cemetery, and the Wheeler House and the need to preserve them for future generations.

  • Citrus Heights issues inaugural ‘Chip-In’ award to longtime police department volunteer

    Citrus Heights Police Chief Alex Turcotte stands with Chip-in Hall of Fame Award winner Janet Harry, at a Volunteer Appreciation Week ceremony, April 23, 2025. // City of Citrus Heights
    Citrus Heights Police Chief Alex Turcotte stands with Chip-in Hall of Fame Award winner Janet Harry, at a Volunteer Appreciation Week ceremony, April 23, 2025. // City of Citrus Heights

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The City of Citrus Heights awarded the inaugural Chip-In Hall of Fame Award to Janet Harry for her extensive volunteering over the past nine years with the Citrus Heights Police Department during a ceremony held on April 23.

    “Janet has volunteered with the police department since 2016, and her calming presence and dedication earned her this well-deserved honor,” the city wrote on social media.

    2025 marked the launch of the first-ever Chip-In Hall of Fame Award volunteer recognition program, created to celebrate residents who make a meaningful impact in the community, the city said. A nomination period began in mid-March, and all nominees were invited to a Volunteer Appreciation Week reception on April 23.

    The award recipient was chosen anonymously by a panel of community leaders and city staff, based on submitted nominations.

    Other nominees included former City Councilmember Albert Fox, animal rescuer and activist Melissa Hayden, former Planning Commissioner Natalee Price, and REACH president Kathy Morris. Several additional volunteers were nominated for their work supporting the Citrus Heights Police Department, identifying and reporting blight, and assisting with community events at the Citrus Heights Event Center.

    Nominees were also recognized during the City Council meeting on April 23, where councilmembers thanked them and emphasized the value of community volunteerism. Vice Mayor MariJane Lopez-Taff described volunteers as “force-for-good multipliers” and expressed gratitude for their service.

    “This award honors individuals who embody our Citrus Heights Cares initiative by ‘Chipping In’—whether through beautification efforts, acts of kindness, or dedicated volunteerism,” the city stated.

    The city first recognized Volunteer Appreciation Week with a proclamation in 1997, and has since recognized and celebrated volunteers in various ways, the city said.

  • DUI driver arrested in Citrus Heights after colliding with pole, released the next day

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    A driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI by police after colliding with a power pole in Citrus Heights on Monday. The collision resulted in a power outage affecting hundreds of residents and traffic delays for hours on Auburn Boulevard.

    Citrus Heights police officers responded to Auburn Boulevard and Shadow Lane just after 5:41 p.m. to reports of a vehicle colliding with a power pole. The collision resulted in severe damage to two power poles, according to local news reports. No injuries were reported. SMUD outage maps just after the incident showed hundreds without power.

    Witnesses reported that the vehicle had flipped onto its back. One power pole was sparking and fell over, causing power lines to fall into the roadway. Both southbound and northbound lanes on Auburn Boulevard were closed between Shadow Lane and Manzanita Avenue for several hours Monday evening. Witnesses also said power was out in surrounding neighborhoods, and traffic signal lights were also reported to have been impacted. SMUD outage maps still showed 111 customers without power at 8:45 p.m. on Monday.

    Jose Manuel Haro was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and transported to jail, but was released on Tuesday, May 6, according to Sacramento County Main Jail records.

    Tuesday morning, power had been restored to the area, according to SMUD outage maps.