Vendor booths featured hands-on activities and education at the city’s May 18, 2023 Public Works Showcase at Van Maren Park. // M. Hazlip
By Sara Beth Williams– May signals the unofficial beginning of summer and this May has several events occurring including a rummage sale, vendor fair, public works fair, yoga fest and service day.
Historical presentation: The Citrus Heights Historical Society is hosting a presentation on Thursday, May 1 about the Roseville Railyard bomb explosions which occurred in 1973. April 28, 2025, marked 52 years since the bomb explosions. The event is free and takes place at 6 p.m. at Citrus Heights City Hall, located at 6360 Fountain Square Drive.
Rummage Sale: Friends Church is hosting a rummage sale on Friday and Saturday, May 2 and 3. The rummage sale will have clothes, furniture, household items, toys, and more. The sale will take place from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information, visit the events calendar. Friends Church of Citrus Heights is located at 7070 Woodmore Oaks Drive.
Citrus Heights Day River City Marketplace, in partnership with Sunrise Marketplace and Marketplace at Birdcage, is hosting an inaugural Citrus Heights Day vendor fair on Saturday, May 3. The local vendor and artists market is scheduled to take place from 12 to 4 p.m. and will feature local arts and crafts vendors, live demos from local artists, and a kids zone. Admission is free. The event will take place behind Jamba Juice. The Marketplace at Birdcage is located at 5975 Birdcage Centre Ln. For more information, visit the event page.
Tools of the Trade: The City of Citrus Heights is hosting a Tools of the Trade public works event on Thursday, May 8, at Van Maren Park. The event will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. and will feature machines, people and jobs that help the city function, such as garbage trucks and collectors, street sweepers, and others. The event is billed as a family-friendly, educational event for students, families, and job seekers. For more information, visit the event page. Van Maren Park is located at 6601 Thalia Way.
Citrus Heights Yoga Fest: The Art of Living is hosting a Citrus Heights yoga festival on Saturday, May 10, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Van Maren Park. The event is free and will feature yoga sessions, meditation sessions, yoga dancing, fun games for kids, and holistic and vegan food vendors. For more information, visit Art of Living’s event page.
Van Maren Park is located at 6601 Thalia Way.
Big Day of Service: 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 have 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.
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.
For more information, visit the Big Day of Service webpage to find a local project. Bella Vista High School is located at 8301 Madison Ave. in Fair Oaks.
A new adventure park is being proposed to take up the former Big Lots building. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– A minor use permit was approved for a new trampoline adventure park in the beginning of April, city officials confirmed.
Documents show the trampoline park is proposed for a building at 8525 Auburn Blvd., in the building that formerly housed Big Lots. A site plan indicates that the trampoline park will include a play area, party room and break room area, restrooms, a janitorial area, and office space.
According to the site plan, the play area will consist of multiple pieces of play equipment, including a 90-degree slide, zipline, swings, trampolines, obstacle courses, a swinging bridge, balance beams, and climbing structures such as a transparent climbing structure, cube climbing structure, climbing wall, and more. Another section of the play area includes a bubble soccer field, a skyline climbing course, a foam pit, a dodgeball field, “ninja” and “Super Mario” courses, and trampoline obstacle courses. The site plans indicate that ceilings will be left exposed.
Additionally, the site plan includes eight party rooms, a common area, and an arcade, along with restrooms, a break room, and a reception area with cubbies.
The proposal for FunCity Trampoline Park was submitted to the city for review in February.
“The City of Citrus Heights is committed to growing a diverse and vibrant local economy. Welcoming FunCity Trampoline Park to our community not only adds to our business landscape but also creates a new destination for families to enjoy meaningful experiences together,” the city said in a statement.
In the same plaza, plans are still under review for an area Ukrainian church to remodel the 50,000-square-foot adjacent building. Spring of Life Church purchased the vacant building for $3.95 million in the fall of 2023, according to prior reports. Studio Movie Grill had once planned to occupy the space but dropped plans during the pandemic when the company filed for bankruptcy.
A proposal for a new car dealership that would have occupied a portion of the former Big Lots building was later withdrawn in 2024.
Volunteers serve food to the unhoused during the Winter Sanctuary program, Jan. 30, 2025 // Ade Zulfikar, Alfred Sanchez
By Sara Beth Williams– Several nonprofits across the region are participating in Big Day of Giving, which takes place on May 1, according to BigDayofGiving.org. Below are five local nonprofits that are petitioning the community to donate to various causes in Citrus Heights.
Citrus Heights HART: The Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance and Resource Team is specifically looking for donations to go toward three main programs: the Homeless Assistance program, Rental Assistance program, and Winter Sanctuary program. The nonprofit is all-volunteer, and 100 percent of donations go directly to assistance programs. Citrus Heights HART is looking to raise $10,000. Residents can donate here.
Royal Stage Performing and Visual Arts: Royal Stage is looking for funding to continue to operate its theater productions, summer camps, and over 50 visual and performing arts classes, which are offered in Citrus Heights and Roseville. Royal Stage owner Tammy Warta confirmed that all funds raised will go towards summer scholarship programs to allow low income youth to participate in musicals and camps for free. Royal Stage has set a goal to raise $10,000.
Citrus Heights Community Marching Band: The community marching band is continuing to raise funds for a new amphitheater to be constructed at Rusch Community Park in honor of Kathy Cook, the band’s late founder. The new amphitheater will be similar in purpose to the amphitheater in Carmichael Park but will be twice the size, according to the band. Project construction will also include resurfacing and restriping the existing parking lot on the west end of Rusch Park and raising the height of baseball field fencing for public safety. The band is looking to raise $200,000, and residents can donate here or visit the band’s website to purchase a commemorative brick as part of fundraising for the amphitheater.
Citrus Heights Arts: The local arts nonprofit is looking for multiple support staff and volunteers to help continue supporting its effort to “foster creativity, community engagement, and public health” through arts workshops and community events. The nonprofit is looking for a fundraiser manager, marketing assistants, event volunteers, art instructors, workshop facilitators, and cultural experts. The nonprofit is aiming to raise $7,500. Residents can visit citrusheightsarts.org for more information or donate here.
San Juan Education Foundation: The San Juan Education Foundation aims to distribute hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funding throughout the district, including to schools in Citrus Heights. The nonprofit has in the past given out grants that have helped schools fund field trips, theater productions, and community gardens and helped schools purchase materials such as ukuleles for Lichen K-8, new sets of percussion instruments for the Mesa Verde High School music program, microscopes for science and art classes at Carriage Elementary.
The nonprofit is aiming to raise $7,500. Visit the San Juan Education Foundation donation page here.
A photo taken April 28, 1973, captures a still shot of several thousand bomb explosions at Sothern Pacific railyards in Roseville, CA. // Citrus Heights Historical Society
By Sara Beth Williams– The Citrus Heights Historical Society is hosting a presentation on Thursday, May 1, on the Roseville bomb explosions that occurred in 1973.
On Saturday, April 28, 1973, 21 boxcars with 7,000 bombs exploded while stationary in the Southern Pacific railyards in Roseville, resulting in extensive property damage and injuries to 350 people, according to the Citrus Heights Historical Society.
Several bombs and ammunition manufactured for use in the Vietnam War had arrived at the Southern Pacific rail yards the day before. In the morning of April 28, one of the freight cars carrying the bombs caught fire and then exploded, causing a chain reaction of explosions lasting into the next day and releasing shrapnel for miles. In 1997, several undetonated bombs were uncovered and detonated in a nearby field.
April 28, 2025, marked 52 years since the bomb explosions.
The free event will be held at 6 p.m. at Citrus Heights City Hall, located at 6360 Fountain Square Drive.
By Sara Beth Williams– A woman who died from a fatal stabbing on April 24 has been identified as 28-year-old Alexis Ashanti McGill.
McGill was stabbed multiple times, allegedly by an ex-boyfriend who she had recently filed a restraining order against, according to an April 24 media release from the Citrus Heights Police Department.
A homeowner who lives in Citrus Heights was interviewed by a local news station and identified McGill as her husband’s caregiver. The homeowner, who did not identify herself but did appear on camera, said McGill had just arrived at work with her aunt on the morning of April 24 when she was stabbed while still inside her car.
According to law enforcement, officers identified the suspect in the stabbing as 30-year-old Kyron Jamar Mason from Sacramento. Mason was located later the same day at Sacramento County Main Jail, where he had turned himself in. Mason was placed under arrest on suspicion of the murder of McGill and is ineligible for bail.
The homeowner also said McGill had just spent a week in court obtaining the restraining order against Mason. Following the attack, McGill was driven to a local fire station and then taken to an area hospital, where she passed away from the injuries suffered during the attack.
Mason has an extensive domestic violence history, according to investigators, who found Mason was also the restraining party in multiple other restraining orders and had several previous domestic violence arrests in Sacramento County with other victims.
The homeowner and wife of McGill’s client said McGill had been caring for her husband for over a year and a half and had aspirations to become a hairdresser, according to local news reports.
Mason is expected to appear in Sacramento Superior Court on Monday, May 5.
Anyone with information in the stabbing case is encouraged to call the Citrus Heights Police Department’s tip line at 916-227-5524.
A map of the intersection, in orange, where road and pedestrian improvements are being planned as part of the Gateway Activation Project. // City of Citrus Heights
By Sara Beth Williams– The city is hosting a community workshop on its new “Gateway Activation Project” on Tuesday, April 29, share about the project and hear thoughts from residents. The April 29 workshop will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Big Oak Mobile Home Park.
The Gateway Activation Project was introduced in 2024 and impacts residents near Old Auburn Road and Wachtel Way. The intersection borders both Roseville and Orangevale.
The project will implement multi-modal and roadway improvements along Old Auburn Road and Wachtel Way with the goal of providing connection to future facilities proposed by adjacent municipalities, including the City of Roseville and Sacramento County.
Planned improvements listed on the project page on the city’s website include:
Bicycle/pedestrian improvements along Wachtel Way, extending from just south of Pitalo Way at Arcade-Cripple Creek Trail to Old Auburn Road. Three alternatives will be evaluated.
Bicycle/pedestrian improvements along Old Auburn Road extending from Auburn Oaks Village Lane on the west to the Placer County line on the east. Two alternatives will be evaluated.
Pedestrian crossing and safety improvements will also be added at Old Auburn Road and Argo Drive.
Extension of multi-modal facilities on Old Auburn Road to the city’s northern border and on Wachtel Way to the Old Auburn Road intersection
According to the city’s website, the city will also evaluate and identify improvements in order to “facilitate traffic safety” through the closely spaced intersections of Oakwood Hills Circle, Wachtel Way, and Oakwood Hills Circle at Linda Creek Court by addressing the interaction between the three intersections and the difficulty in making the left turn from Oakwood Hills Circle onto Old Auburn Road.
“Community outreach and engagement will be vital for this effort,” the city said on their website, adding that teams have prepared an engagement plan, including an outreach toolkit, several pop-up events, and two scheduled workshops. The city also said it will maintain project updates on its website.
The goal of this contract is to get as close to “shovel ready” as possible to be competitive for state and federal funds for final design and construction costs.
In 2022, $700,000 in funding was appropriated through then-Assemblymember Kevin Cooley’s office. These funds were specifically allocated by the state for the Gateway Activation Project and are restricted for that use only, the city confirmed. In September 2024, the City Council awarded a contract to Dokken Engineering to support pre-construction activities for an amount not to exceed $685,062. According to project updates from the city, traffic studies, environmental clearance, utility coordination, engagement, and right-of-way acquisition are currently underway.
“The goal of this contract [with Dokken Engineering] is to get as close to ‘shovel ready” as possible to be competitive for state and federal funds for final design and construction costs,” the city said in an email last week.
Project approval and environmental review are expected to be completed in spring 2026. Construction plans, specifications, and estimates are scheduled to be completed in early 2028, with construction set for spring 2028 pending the acquisition of enough funding.
The next community workshop for the project will be held April 29 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Big Oak Mobile Home Park, located at 8300 Old Auburn Road.
An estimated 140 community members filled the City Council Chambers on Wednesday, April 23 to hear an amendment proposal to the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan. // Mike Hazlip
By Sara Beth Williams– The Citrus Heights City Council, with an estimated 140 community members, and Ethan Conrad, CEO of Ethan Conrad Properties, discussed the Sunrise Mall’s future late into the night last Wednesday, culminating in the rejection of an amendment proposed by Conrad to change the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan.
Conrad, accompanied by representatives from The Home Depot and In-N-Out Burger, presented a proposal to amend the plan requesting permission for uses currently prohibited.
Both company representatives promised to bring value to the community by adding jobs and sales tax revenue, along with other benefits. Conrad highlighted that both companies have been praised for treating employees well, with The Home Depot being labeled “World’s Best Employer” and In-N-Out Burger ranked 6th in the “Top 100 Best Places to Work.”
Community Development Director Casey Kempenaar stated that during the drafting process of the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan, residents strongly supported the inclusion of a central gathering space, a mix of retail, dining, and entertainment, diverse employment opportunities, housing, and green spaces, such as parks and walkable trails. The plan, adopted in 2021, calls for a “21 century main street,” with a hotel and a high synergy of uses across the site.
Conrad submitted an updated site plan in March, which included six drive-thru restaurants, a three-acre section for multi-family housing, a one-acre event space, and an EV charging station. The site plan did not specify new tenants or exact locations in Phase 2, but mentioned that the existing building layout would remain. The investor listed multiple potential tenants on an accompanying website.
Several community members opposed the proposal, including Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sheri Merrick and former city council members. James Corless, executive director of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, praised the Sunrise Tomorrow plan and noted its importance to the region and the state.
Residents voiced concerns about the lack of green space, a potential increase in traffic, noise, and potential homelessness linked to the proposed development directly behind residential areas. Karpinski-Costa asked Conrad directly why he wasn’t proposing a sit-down restaurant instead.
Conrad said market conditions determine what can be developed on the site, adding that the current Specific Plan, though well-intentioned, is not financially feasible. He described adding a Home Depot as a potential “catalyst” to drive redevelopment of the entire site. He also stated that without allowing for these types of uses, the mall property would remain undeveloped and “fail.”
Real estate agent Tony Wood supported Conrad’s view, stating that securing a Home Depot is an opportunity that “cities dream about.”
Some residents, including former council member Albert Fox, urged the council to work with Conrad on a revised plan. At least one Sunrise Mall business owner submitted a written comment, stating, “Pushing this project back will mean the death of my small business.”
Former mayor Jeannie Bruins spoke in response to the prospect of the mall and the redevelopment vision failing, saying, “We were told, if we became a city, that we would fail at the effort. Not only did we not fail, but we succeeded by a vote over 60 percent.”
Bruins also alleged that many did not think the city could succeed with it’s own police department. The Citrus Heights Police Department was formed in 2006.
“Now I’m being told that if we deny this plan, the mall will fail, the city will fail. I do not believe we will fail; I believe time will need to be taken, as we knew it would roll out over a period of time,” Bruins said.
Several council members emphasized the city’s collaboration with Conrad, including approval of the Sunrise Montessori project and an electric vehicle charging station. However, they stated that the current proposal did not align with either the General Plan or the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan. Approving the amendment would require changes to both documents.
City staff indicated that amending these documents would be costly and time-consuming, and would not guarantee approval of future redevelopment plans.
Vice Mayor MariJane Lopez-Taff expressed concern over the lack of details in Phase 2 and questioned the “grandfathering” of uses for land Conrad did not yet own.
Karpinski-Costa and Councilmember Tim Schaefer questioned why Conrad had agreed to purchase the 21 acres of land from Sears’ previous owner in 2022, when he should have been aware of the vision of redevelopment outlined in the Specific Plan.
According to the city, Seritage, the previous owner of the Sears site, had proposed entertainment and housing consistent with the plan before divesting most of its real estate nationwide several years ago. Conrad purchased the Sears property in 2022.
After public comments and discussion, council members Kelsey Nelson, Porsche Middleton, and Lopez-Taff encouraged Conrad to reconsider his proposal and submit a revised plan that better aligned with the vision of the Specific Plan.
“We’re asking you, can you envision a positive eventuality doing something different that you may not have done before, and can absolutely [do],” Lopez-Taff said.
After 30 minutes of back-and-forth, where Conrad continued to assert his previous position, some councilmembers became visibly frustrated.
Speaking to Conrad following a discussion about the financial investment of demolition and new development resulting in high rent, Schaefer said that the Belmar property is “clearly working” and added that right across the street, the Marketplace at Birdcage is “thriving.”
“You’re telling us because we’re across the street that it’s going to fail unless your plan is the plan. I do not think you’re listening to anything. We’ve been here for four-and-a-half hours, and you have not heard a word we said,” Schaefer said.
The council ultimately decided to vote to oppose amending the Specific Plan.
Conrad has since dropped plans to purchase the rest of the 50 acres of the mall, according to the Sacramento Business Journal, but noted that he still plans to redevelop the rest of the acreage he currently owns.
Sentinel Staff Report– Latest Letters to the Editor discuss shopping at Sunrise Mall, a rejected amendment proposal, and architectural design of buildings on Fountain Square Drive.
Resurrection of Sunrise Mall It has been a long and non-productive path to find a way to jump-start a new and viable focus for Citrus Heights. I believe we have become stale. Remember how we gathered to fight the various unacceptable plans for sacrificing Fountain Square? Remember how we were passionate we were about saving ‘savable’ eye-pleasing architecturally designed buildings? Remember the very reasonable projected cost? Remember that the citizenry was pushed into decisions that did not sit right.
Remember when we were pushed to look at unsuitable property and areas? There had been so many proposals WE lost our focus (and purpose). Then, all of a sudden homely plan emerges. A modified BARN to complement the homely Civic BARN. WHY did we not look for something graceful, and architect designed; not a ranch.
How about a focus — a theme — a review of Citrus Heights? Something fun, an old west theme –a destination– incorporate gold mining river boats– any native Indians.Please look at an architect designed building. —Lynn Avery, Citrus Heights
The Citrus Heights Council showed guts I’m submitting this message as a longtime Fair Oaks resident. The Citrus Heights city council showed guts and their commitment to the best interests of Citrus Heights by rejecting Ethan Conrad’s plan to develop Sunrise Mall. Six drive-thru restaurants and a Home Depot will exacerbate Sunrise Boulevard’s traffic problem and would not create the central location for area residents to mingle and visit professional offices and shop and be housed. Since Mr. Conrad’s vision is contrary to the community’s, perhaps the city should offer to purchase Mr. Conrad’s holdings in the location. This development will affect Citrus Heights for generations. Let’s hope it enhances walkability, becomes a cultural hub, and doesn’t perpetuate car culture. — Leonard Hart Nibbrig, Fair Oaks
Shopping at Sunrise Mall I enjoyed it when I would just go pick up an online order and even browsed around for other stuff without it being crowded. However, it sucks now that I gotta go all the way to Arden OR Westfield Galleria now, but I still don’t mind. They should make it into a fair grounds or an outside mall. Maybe a new street market venue. — Briana Green, Sacramento
The Sentinel welcomes letters about local issues. To submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication: Click here.
Brews in the Burbs took place May 18, 2024 // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– The Backyard Bash event scheduled for May 31 has been canceled.
In an April 21 post on social media, Sunrise MarketPlace announced that the upcoming Backyard Bash was canceled. The link to the Backyard Bash event page, which detailed event and ticket information, was also removed from the Sunrise MarketPlace website by Tuesday, April 22.
Sunrise MarketPlace wrote in part, “This decision was made after careful consideration of various factors, which were not taken lightly.”
In an email Tuesday, Sunrise MarketPlace Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter expanded on the reasons for the cancellation of the event, saying ticket sales were “lighter than expected” and that the scheduled date of May 31 might have been too close to Memorial Day Weekend.
“Because we were spending a fair amount on the event, selling tickets is a way for us to gauge attendance. However, people were confused that they had to pay to get in and then pay for alcohol, though the ticket price at $25 was lower than Brews at $65,” Carpenter said.
The announcement on social media also indicated that a future event was being planned for the fall, but no event details were provided.
The Backyard Bash was announced in March and was intended to replace the annual Brews in the Burbs. Carpenter confirmed in March, saying that event was to be very similar, but with a greater focus on live music performances and more backyard games rather than brew tasting.
The City Council approved an Economic Development Support Fund grant request for $7,000 to Sunrise MarketPlace at the council meeting on March 12. The city did not respond to two requests for comment before press time regarding the status of the grant, which was awarded specifically for the Backyard Bash event.
Sentinel Staff Report– Latest police logs show an increase in vehicle violations while showing a decrease in animal services and code enforcement calls. The latest police logs from April 17-23, 2025 are listed below.
Animal control: 3 (down from 9)
911 hangups: 31 (up from 22)
Code enforcement: 42 (down from 112)
Traffic accidents: 39 (down from 46)
Vehicle violations: 291 (down from 341)
Theft: 24 (down from 27)
Homeless-related: 22 (up from 16)
Vandalism: 9 (same as prior week)
Violent/threats: 38 (up from 31)
Disturbance: 80 (down from 92)
Suspicious circumstances: 186 (up from 179)
All incidents: 1,247 (down from 1,338)
Arrest logs can be viewed on the city’s website here. Full police activity logs can be viewed by date 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.”
Editor’s Note: police log summaries are published with assistance from AI, but edited by humans. Please contact us if you spot an error.
