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Author: Sara Beth Williams

  • Nonprofit brings free flag football to Citrus Heights

    The Playmakers teamed up with the Optimists Club to host inclusive flag football. The game was held during half-time at Mesa Verde High School in California, Aug. 30 2024.
    The Playmakers teamed up with the Optimists Club to host inclusive flag football. The game was held during half-time at Mesa Verde High School in California, Aug. 30, 2024. // Greg Roeszler

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The Playmakers is bringing NFL Flag Football to kids and families in Citrus Heights at no charge.

    The national nonprofit whose founder has roots in the Sacramento region, plans to offer flag football for kids from ages 6 to 14 in Citrus Heights beginning Saturday, Sept. 28.

    “The area of Citrus Heights is extremely underserved as it relates to opportunities for sports for kids and families,” founder and executive director of the Playmakers Mentoring Foundation Greg Roeszler said, adding that while there are paid opportunities through local organizations, there aren’t any free programs available.

    The program is putting on eight consecutive weeks of flag football games beginning Saturday, Sept. 28. Practices and games will be held each Saturday and are open to boys and girls, and to kids of all abilities, free of charge. Roeszler said the organization is also planning to offer a team specifically for children with different developmental levels and special needs who might need extra support.

    Practices and games will be held at Mesa Verde High School on the field of school’s new stadium that officially debuted in 2023. At a recent Mesa Verde Varsity Mavericks football game on Aug. 30, Playmakers participants had the opportunity to try out the new field briefly during halftime.

    “It’s important to play on a quality and safe field so they get the best experience possible, Roeszler said. Flag football practices will be held 40 minutes before games each Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. Food will also be available, and each Saturday event will last roughly four hours. Kids will also receive uniforms, Roeszler said.

    According to the nonprofit’s website, Roezler played football in college and coached varsity football at Encina High School in Sacramento. After Roezler, known as “Coach Roz,” discovered one of his athletes sleeping in his car, he dug deeper and found “the majority of his players faced daily struggles to survive.” The circumstances of his athletes motivated him to begin The Playmakers nonprofit in 2009 in hopes of fostering “leadership and character” through the use of sports and academics.

    The nonprofit has offered free sports activities throughout the Sacramento region and in multiple states, including Ohio, Iowa, Florida and Nevada, but this is the first free NFL flag football youth program the organization has offered.

    “Mesa [Verde] has totally embraced this and given us all their resources,” Roeszler said, adding that the San Juan Unified School District has also followed suit.

    Roeszler said he plans to also offer free NBA basketball programs in the winter and free MLB baseball programs in the spring to youth players as well, using the same model. Locations for future free sports programs have yet to be determined Roeszler said.

    Playmakers is still registering flag football players for the free sports program and is also seeking volunteers for help with coaching, refereeing and more. Anyone interested can find out more and register at theplaymakers.org. The free flag football program receives funding support from the Optimist Club of Citrus Heights, which is part of Optimist International.

    Mesa Verde High School is located at 7501 Carriage Drive.

  • New city website shares what Citrus Heights is doing about homelessness

    New city website shares what Citrus Heights is doing about homelessness

    Unattended belongings in the Grand Oaks shopping center
    Unattended personal property is unlawful according to city Ordinance. No. 2008-12, § 2, 10-9-2008. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    In an effort to inform the public of the city’s efforts in addressing homelessness, the City of Citrus Heights recently launched a dedicated page on its website titled “Responding to Homelessness.”

    The website serves as a hub of resources and provides information on local programs, such as the new Community Health Workers program, which provides an outreach team of two Health Workers who help connect unhoused individuals with services. The page also provides details on weather respite locations, information on blight abatement municipal codes, and content about the Citrus Heights Police Department’s “enforcement model” for illegal camping and trespassing.

    The website also includes recent homeless census data, showing a 14% increase in the number of people living on the streets in Citrus Heights, according to a 2024 count conducted by the Police Department.

    According to the website, the city has recently implemented several projects to address both homelessness and a lack of housing. The Fair Oaks Senior Apartments, which are currently listed as still under construction, plan to offer 108 low-income apartments to seniors. In 2023, the city completed Sunrise Pointe, a 46-unit apartment project that provides permanent supportive housing for those in need, due to homelessness and mental health issues.

    Recently, the City Council awarded a half-million-dollar grant to Hope Cooperative, a nonprofit planning to redevelop the Auburn Oaks senior living complex into a permanent supportive housing for seniors experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. More than 80 studio and one-bedroom apartments are planned.

    Related: Rehab of ‘dilapidated’ complex for homeless, at-risk seniors moves forward

    The Planning Commission also recently approved a housing project on Sayonara Drive that would add 26 new low-income affordable homes available for purchase. The project was made possible through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

    The Responding to Homelessness web page also provides links to regional resources, such as Sacramento County Health Services, homeless services, emergency housing and assistance programs, and human assistance programs. The city encourages homeless individuals to “work with city staff, police officers, and/or program representatives” to locate shelter and other resources throughout the region when necessary.

    Homeless advocates have expressed frustration with some of the city’s responses to homelessness and blight on the streets. Alfred Sanchez, who has been a vocal advocate for the homeless, told The Sentinel that camping ordinances have not been consistently followed by police and that personal belongings of the unhoused are improperly seized and are being thrown away instead of returned to the police station for holding.

    In a letter to the editor, Sanchez said, “This city calls everything ‘camping.’ There are over 9,000 homeless on the streets in Sacramento County and less than 3,000 shelter beds. There is literally nowhere for homeless to sleep.”

    At a Sept. 11 City Council meeting, council members heard from local homeless advocates who cited an increase in individuals needing to sleep in their vehicles because of a lack of available housing throughout the region. Sanchez told the council he had to sleep in his car while he was employed and is “sympathetic” to people who are experiencing the same circumstances.

    One resident spoke in favor of a full ban on sleeping in vehicles, warning that allowing anyone to sleep in a passenger vehicle would result in an influx of more people coming into the city from other jurisdictions to sleep in their vehicles.

    On its website, the city said community feedback has been “instrumental” in shaping strategies and programs, ensuring they “evolve to meet the needs of both housed and unhoused residents.”

    “Our approach is comprehensive: we offer supportive programming while enforcing laws to maintain public safety,” the city said.

    Want to share your thoughts on homelessness in Citrus Heights? Click here to submit a letter to the editor.

  • Club Studio fitness center opens in Citrus Heights

    Club Studio
    File photo, Club Studio Fitness is located at 5419 Sunrise Blvd. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    A new fitness studio and gym has opened in the Sunrise Village shopping center on the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Madison Avenue.

    Club Studio Fitness has been under construction for much of 2024 and recently moved operations from their satellite preview location into the new gym location at the end of August. In early September, staff said the club underwent a “deep clean” to prepare for incoming guests and members. The gym officially opened to the public on Monday.

    A handful of members were already utilizing the facility on Friday during a visit by Sentinel staff. The club has a spacious, open workout area, as well as a private recovery area with several massage chairs available for members. The “recovery lab” also offers services such as compression therapy, spot therapy, hydromassage, cryotherapy, and red-light therapy.

    Along with an open workout space with various equipment, the club offers several studio classrooms that host classes daily, including yoga, hot Pilates, high-intensity interval training, low impact fitness classes, and boxing and weightlifting classes.  General Manager Brandon Garcia told The Sentinel previously that all classes would be identical across company locations, but the rest of the center is designed to be unique to each city.

    Club Studio Operations Manager Jessica Curto said the club also plans to open an onsite café in the coming weeks which will offer members healthy foods and drinks.

    The new fitness center bills itself as state-of-the-art and offers several high-end services for members, with memberships beginning at $129 per month. Membership includes access to other locations, including those owned by Fitness International, such as LA Fitness, City Sports Club, and Exporta Fitness.

    Club Studio Fitness is located at 5419 Sunrise Blvd.

  • Van Duker passes torch after 46 years of printing in Citrus Heights

    Bill Van Duker (left) and Uddhav “Gary” Giri (right)
    Bill Van Duker (left) and Uddhav “Gary” Giri stand in front of the new Minuteman Press as Van Duker passes the business on before retirement. // M. Hazlip

    By Mike Hazlip–
    With nearly five decades in the printing business behind him, Bill Van Duker has stopped the presses at All Star Printing as he turns a page to a new chapter.

    After running All Star Printing for decades, Van Duker is now helping fellow Citrus Heights businessman Uddhav “Gary” Giri open a Minuteman Press franchise location at 6232 Greenback Ln. Giri is using the equipment from All Star Printing under the new name and plans to continue Van Duker’s legacy in serving the community.

    “Bill’s got an incredible legacy in Citrus Heights,” Giri said, noting that his previous business was also one he took over from a retiring owner. “They’re just very honest people that just want serve the community the best way they can.”

    The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce recently honored Van Duker with awards and proclamations during a Sept. 17 luncheon. The print shop also won the 2024 Best of Citrus Heights Award at a ceremony on Sept. 19 in the category of Best Printing and Design Services.

    The 88-year-old Van Duker said he was looking for a way to pass on the business after 46 years in printing when he started talking with Giri.

    “I was very concerned about the customers with whom I had a relationship for five, 10, 15, in some cases 20 years, that they would continue to be cared for,” Van Duker said. “I feel very comfortable about transitioning the business because our business is a relationship business, not a transactional business.”

    With a long history of doing business in Citrus Heights, Giri says the community feels like home to him.

    “Citrus Heights has been an incredibly good city for me,” Giri said. “I really feel like this is my own village now because most of my adult life, I’ve been doing business here.”

    With limited experience in the printing industry himself, Giri said Van Duker’s sons Andrew and Chris Van Duker are helping make the transition easier.

    “They’re great people,” Giri said, adding that Van Duker’s sons have shown “amazing” dedication in helping make the transition “as smooth as possible.”

    The move is a relief for Van Duker, who is also a colorectal cancer survivor. He said he doesn’t have the energy he once had to keep the business going.

    “I was very concerned that I was going to run out of gas before we made the transition,” Van Duker said. “I feel very good. There’s a little bit of grief, of course.”

    As for his retirement plans, Van Duker said he has a “number of interests” he wants to pursue, and that he won’t have any trouble staying busy.

    His retirement is also a relief for his wife, Van Duker said.

    “We hope to be able to take some short trips now. It’s been a while since we’ve done much traveling.”

    Van Duker said he plans to stay as long as needed to help the new business get off the ground. After a few months, he hopes to cut back to four hours each day until he is able to phase out altogether.

    Minuteman Press has over 900 stores globally, Giri said, and the franchise offers a full range of printing services, including pens, brochures and postcards, flyers, and apparel. The corporation’s website lists only one location in Citrus Heights, and three others in the greater Sacramento and Roseville areas. There are 90 locations listed throughout California.

    All Star Printing was previously located at 7920 Alta Sunrise Drive.

    Van Duker also has a long history of involvement in local government and has been called the “godfather” of Citrus Heights for his instrumental role in the effort to make Citrus Heights a city. Following the success of that effort in 1996, he later served eight years on the city’s Planning Commission, and one of his sons now serves as a commissioner today.

    Read more in prior article: The story behind this influential little print shop in Citrus Heights

  • Why are lanes closed 24/7 on Auburn Blvd, even outside construction hours?

    lanes under construction on Auburn Blvd.
    The right lane is closed 24/7 on northbound Auburn Blvd. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Following the beginning of roadway work on Auburn Boulevard, at least one lane has been closed — even outside construction hours.

    City Engineer Leslie Blomquist sat down with The Sentinel recently to explain more about the project and the related 24/7 lane closures.

    During the interview, Blomquist said implementing 24-hour lane closures will save several million dollars over the course of the project.

    Once designs and planning for the second phase of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets project were initially completed, the city found that project costs had ballooned due to the pandemic, inflation, and other associated factors, Blomquist said. The original target budget for the project was $23 million, according to a video posted by the city. Now the budget for construction sits at roughly $35.5 million.

    In reevaluating the design plan amid construction costs, the city found that implementing 24-hour lane closures will save nearly $3 million over the course of the project, because of a significant decrease in the amount of time required for construction crews to repeatedly set up and then remove temporary traffic control, such as cones and signs.

    Blomquist estimated that without the need to set up and tear down cones and signs, crews will have up to two extra hours per day for construction work, resulting in increased productivity throughout the course of the project.

    What days and times will construction take place?

    The city said in a statement that regular working hours of construction are scheduled to take place between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding government holidays.

    If an area of the project has not had active construction for at least seven working days, the temporary traffic controls in that area will be removed, the city said. When work resumes in the given area, temporary traffic control will be reinstalled at that time.

    The following travel lanes on Auburn Boulevard closest to the sidewalk are currently closed 24 hours a day, according to the city.

    • Northbound Auburn Boulevard, between Whyte Avenue and the southern project limits
    • Southbound Auburn Boulevard between Twin Oaks Avenue/Auburn Oaks Court and the southern project limits

    Can drivers still access businesses?

    In order to ensure drivers know businesses are still open, the city has displayed temporary bright orange signs with arrows pointing toward open driveways wherever businesses operate.

    Blomquist emphasized that only sections under active construction will be closed and that businesses along the boulevard will remain open. She said construction crews will always allow for at least one access point to businesses along the boulevard.

    What businesses are saying

    Businesses have expressed support for the project, as well as concerns regarding the installation of medians and the potential for lost revenue from a lack of visitors during construction.

    Dan Howes, who recently established the Auburn Corridor Development Collective said businesses he has spoken with since construction began have had positive remarks.

    “Some of the businesses that were set back from the road commented that they felt their business could finally be seen now that the shrubs by the road had been cleared,” Howes said.

    To address questions and concerns, the city is holding weekly drop-in office hours at Rusch Community Park from 10:30-11:30 a.m. every Thursday during the construction project. Construction management team members will be on hand. Residents can also contact the city’s General Services Department at (916) 727-4770 or email ABC2@citrusheights.net to schedule a meeting.

    “This is really above and beyond what I expected,” Howes said.

  • Citrus Heights Chamber awarded $25,000: Here’s what its for

    Citrus Heights Chamber awarded $25,000: Here’s what its for

    Citrus Heights Community Center
    Citrus Heights Community Center. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Citrus Heights City Council members recently approved the award of a $25,000 grant to the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce, a significantly higher amount than requested in prior years.

    The grant request was approved on Sept. 11 and is comprised of three parts.

    Chamber’s Circle Sponsorship

    The chamber requested $10,000 for the Chamber’s Circle sponsorship, which the city has actively participated in sponsoring for 10 years. Participating as a Diamond Chairman Circle Sponsor affords the city specific privileges with the chamber, including a logo with link on the Chamber website recognized as Diamond Level, logo recognition on all luncheon presentations and in newsletters and eblasts, four tickets to each Access Citrus Heights Luncheon, six tickets to the Elected Officials Reception, and four featured articles in the Chamber’s weekly newsletter.

    Renting the Citrus Heights Community Center for a full year

    The chamber also requested $7,000, which would go toward renting the Citrus Heights Community Center for a full calendar year. The Chamber first began including this grant request in 2021, according to the city, to propose hosting monthly chamber luncheons at the Citrus Heights Community Center instead of at locations outside the city.

    Since hosting at the Citrus Heights Community Center, the city said the Chamber has “consistently expressed gratitude and excitement” to be able to host within the city limits and has supported multiple local restaurants over the years by utilizing their catering services.

    Relocating Chamber offices

    Lastly, the chamber requested $8,000 for the purposes of relocating their office to an unspecified “more prominent and accessible” location within the city. In the submitted grant proposal, the Chamber wrote that the new location will offer improved visibility, increased foot traffic, and a more inviting space for meetings and events.

    During the meeting, Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sheri Merrick said that she’s “pushing very hard” to relocate because the current location is difficult for people to find.

    As of the end of August 2024, a total of 57 new businesses have joined the Chamber of Commerce, as compared to 17 new members joining in 2023, Merrick said, which includes businesses that once left and now have returned.

    “Us having a more prominent location will only benefit that growth,” Merrick said during the council meeting.

    The City’s Economic Development Support Fund provides grants and sponsorships to businesses, business associations, and other economic development-related organizations for events, marketing, promotions, and other related activities.

  • NICU families and staff to gather for annual reunion

    Rusch Park, Citrus Heights
    Rusch Community Park. File photo // S. Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    In honor of NICU Awareness Month, Dignity Health Mercy San Juan Medical Center is hosting an annual reunion for NICU “graduates” and families at Rusch Community Park.

    Dignity Health announced the planned reunion in a press release and said 30 to 50 families who had children in the NICU are anticipated to gather and reunite with Mercy San Juan Medical Center NICU staff on Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

    Ashleigh Flores was one of the “graduates” from the NICU at Mercy San Juan Medical Center. Flores, 32, was born at 28 weeks and spent two months in the NICU. according to the press release. Due to complications at birth, Flores was born with Cerebral Palsy.

    Flores is now pursuing veterinary medicine and is a PhD candidate at UC Davis. Her mom, Brie Simmons, was also inspired to become a registered nurse in the NICU at Mercy San Juan, according to the press release.

    The event will include food and many activities for kids, including face painting, shaved ice, a visit from a Sacramento Metro Fire District fire truck, and two mini ponies who specialize as therapy animals, according to Lindsay Leszczynski, Communications Manager with Dignity Health.

    “Our annual NICU reunion is a heartwarming celebration that brings together our resilient graduates and the dedicated care team who supported them through their earliest days,” said Holly Garrett, BSN, RNC-NIC, C-NNIC, and C-ELBW from Mercy San Juan Medical Center. “This event not only honors the strength of these remarkable children and their families but also reinforces the special bond formed during their NICU stay.”

    The history of NICU Awareness Month can be traced back to 2014, when the nonprofit organization Project Sweet Peas established the month to raise awareness of the challenges faced by NICU families and medical professionals.

  • Sunday Funday returning to Rusch Park

    Sunday Funday returning to Rusch Park

    Children enjoy various inflatables set up during Sunday Funday, on Sept. 25, 2022. // S. Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams– Sunday Funday is returning to Citrus Heights this weekend.

    The annual family friendly event will return to Rusch Community Park on Sunday, Sept. 22. The event will feature inflatables for kids, music from the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band, seven different food trucks, arts and crafts, business and nonprofit vendors, and K-9 demonstrations from the Citrus Heights Police Department.

    Festivities begin at 11 a.m. and end at 3 p.m., taking place in the western portion of the park nearest Antelope Road. A performance by the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., and K-9 demonstrations will take place both at 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.

    The city estimates that at least 2,000 people attended the Sunday Funday event in 2023.

    Sunday Funday is free and open to the public. Rusch Park is located at 7801 Auburn Blvd.

  • Citrus Heights Chamber wins $25k grant from city, seeks to relocate offices

    Sheri Merrick speaks at a city council meeting
    Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sheri Merrick speaks at a Citrus Heights City Council meeting, Sept. 11, 2024. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce wants to relocate their offices to a more strategic location.

    The Chamber of Commerce announced this week the desire to move offices to a more “prominent and accessible” location within the city and requested $8,000 in grant funding from the city in order to do so. The funding was part of a greater $25,000 grant to the chamber that was approved by the council on Sept. 11.

    Currently, the Chamber of Commerce office is located at 7625 Sunrise Blvd. on the city’s northern limits. The Chamber wants to move to a location within the Sunrise MarketPlace and says the move is “strategic.”

    “This move is essential for enhancing our presence and making it easier for entrepreneurs and business owners to access our services,” the Chamber wrote in a grant proposal to the city, adding that the new location will be more visible, offer an increase in foot traffic, and provide a more inviting space for meetings and events.

    During a recent City Council meeting on Sept. 11, Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sheri Merrick said that she’s “pushing very hard” to relocate because the location is difficult for people to find.

    “We are set back off the road, behind another building, on the second floor, with no elevator. No one can find us,” Merrick told the council, adding that within the first two months of becoming Executive Director, everyone who attempted to visit the Chamber’s current office location “got lost.”

    As of the end of August 2024, a total of 57 new businesses have joined the Chamber of Commerce, as compared to 17 new members joining in 2023, according to Merrick, which includes some businesses that left and have now returned.

    “Us having a more prominent location will only benefit that growth,” Merrick said during the council meeting.

    In a breakdown of the budget outlined in a grant proposal submitted to the city, relocating will cost an estimated $25,000, which includes leasing, utilities, office setup, and furnishings. The Chamber does expect the cost of rent and utilities to be higher than it is at their current location.

    In the grant proposal, the Chamber said the primary purposes of an office relocation would be to facilitate greater interaction with local businesses in order to increase job opportunities, increase tax base by supporting local businesses through various programs and activities, promote specific commercial areas by serving as a hub for business activities and events, enhance a “sense of place” in the local community, and promote the city as more “business-friendly” by making it easier to engage with the Chamber.

    According to Merrick, the move is anticipated to take place by January. The proposal states the move would be done in phases. The first phase would involve developing a marketing plan and identifying and leasing a new office location, and the second phase would involve launching a marketing campaign, moving, and setting up the new space. Following the move, the Chamber also plans to do an evaluation of the relocation and report findings in order to demonstrate the project’s impact.

    The City Council unanimously approved a $25,000 to be awarded to the Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 11, $8,000 of which is planned to be used for office relocation.

    The $25,000 grant comes from the economic development support fund program, which provides grants and sponsorships to businesses, business associations, and other economic development-related organizations for events, marketing, promotions, and other related activities.

  • Family, dog, reunite with local fire crews who rescued them

    Crews from Metro Rescue 21 and Engine 23 reunited with a family and dog rescued during an Aug. 15 fire, on Sept. 9, 2024. // SB Williams
    Crews from Sacramento Metro Rescue 21 and Engine 23 reunited with a family and dog rescued during an Aug. 15 fire, on Sept. 9, 2024. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams—
    David Hoffman and his dog Maya on Monday reunited with the Citrus Heights fire crews who saved both the lives of Maya and his wife from a fire on Aug. 15.

    On Sept. 9, Maya wore a onesie to protect her burns from becoming infected as she reunited with two Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District crews at Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Roseville. Despite her past injuries and trauma, Maya greeted those present with plenty of energy and excitement.

    Hoffman said in an interview with The Sentinel that his wife had suffered a stroke several months ago, was bed-bound, and unable to escape the residence when it caught fire on Aug. 15.

    Hoffman said he tried to help her escape from her bedroom window but was unable to do so. While his wife awaited rescue inside the burning home, she lay on the floor, and Maya climbed on top of her chest, according to multiple reports.

    Crews were able to rescue both Hoffman and Maya, and Hoffman was rushed to the hospital with “critical smoke and burn injuries.” Crews also resuscitated Maya, who was then transported to Veterinary Specialty Hospital. Maya was kept on oxygen for at least 24 hours, according to associate veterinarian Dr. Nicole McArthur.

    Battalion Chief Jason Vestal, the incident commander on scene at the time of the fire, said reuniting crews with the family was “a really unique opportunity to celebrate.” Vestal added that situations like this “don’t always turn out well.”

    Veterinary Specialty Hospital Director Nicole Orlando said after hearing about the family’s hardship following the fire, the veterinary clinic wanted to be a part of helping the family.

    “Knowing what Maya had done to save her mom’s life was incredible, so we opted to do the care for free,” Orlando said, adding that they didn’t want the family to have to worry about Maya when they already had to worry about recovering from the loss of their residence along with severe injuries.

    Hoffman said he was “grateful” to the veterinary clinic and fire department for saving the lives of his dog and wife.

    “I just can’t describe how thankful I am,” Hoffman said, adding that he also wanted to thank residents who tried to help before fire crews arrived.

    The initial cost of treatment for Maya was estimated at $6,000, Orlando said. Maya is still undergoing treatment for burns and wore a dog onesie to protect her from infection as she sat with the fire crews that rescued her.

    The Hoffman’s children have set up a GoFundMe account to help their parents recoup costs from the loss of their home and from what will be months of extensive medical care. For more information, visit the fundraising page here.

    Melissa Hoffman is still undergoing treatment at UC Davis Burn Center, Hoffman said.