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Author: Sara Beth Williams

  • Citrus Heights neighbors host inaugural National Night Out event

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Citrus Heights Neighborhood Areas 2 and 6 held an inaugural National Night Out event at Ascension Lutheran Church on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

    Area 2 representative Irene Hronicek said the event had a great turnout for its first year, with people from the surrounding community dropping by, as well as representatives from the Citrus Heights Police Department, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, and Animal Services. Several city staff members were also in attendance, as well as at least two City Council members, Hronicek said, adding that the city’s Beautification Truck also made an appearance.

    The community gathering featured games, activities, and food for kids and families, including face painting, a bounce house, bowling, snow cones, frozen yogurt, and popcorn. Hronicek said her free iced coffee booth was “a hit,” and next year, she also hopes to be able to provide iced tea, as many residents asked for iced tea throughout the night.

    Walmart provided goodie bags stuffed with school supplies for each child, as well as a group of volunteers who helped “wherever they were needed” throughout the event, Hronicek said.

    Ellie, a therapy dog with the Citrus Heights Police Department, also made a short appearance near the end of the event, much to the delight of kids and adults alike. The Goldendoodle finished her training in September and joined the police force in October 2023.

    Hronicek praised Area 6 Secretary and Treasurer Ruth Fox for her part in organizing the event and thanked Ascension Lutheran Church Pastor Scott Jones, and Committee Chair Terri Jellesed, who made available the church’s patio and parking lot in order to “bring the community together.”

    National Night Out is an annual nationwide community-building campaign designed to help promote positive partnerships between law enforcement and firefighters, and the broader community, by encouraging neighborhood camaraderie, according to the organization’s website. The City of Citrus Heights reported on social media Wednesday that there were nine events throughout the city.

    National Night Out was first introduced in August of 1984 and involved 400 communities in 23 states.

  • Online voting opens for 2024 ‘Best of Citrus Heights’ awards

    Greenhouse Cafe
    File photo, Peter Mazur and his sister Susanna Stepchuk stand inside the Greenhouse Cafe in Citrus Heights. // CH Sentinel

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Voting kicked off on Tuesday for the 2024 “Best of Citrus Heights” awards, and will continue for the next month.

    The “Best of Citrus Heights” is an annual city-wide contest orchestrated by the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce that seeks to honor the best local businesses based on community votes. Each year, residents are invited to vote for favorite businesses in the city within a list of categories.

    Voting began this year on Aug. 6 and will remain open through Sept. 5. For 2024, there are 41 categories in which businesses have been grouped, while last year featured 38 categories.

    Business categories include everything from “Best Publication,” “Best House of Worship,” “Best Beverage & Food,” and “Best Community Organization,” to “Best Entertainment Venue” and “Best Funeral Services.”

    Businesses that are already registered members of the Chamber of Commerce will be automatically listed. Residents can also nominate businesses not currently listed.

    Winners are chosen by community members by filling out an online voting ballot form. Only one person is allowed to cast a vote per I.P. address, according to the Chamber’s website.

    This year’s “Best of Citrus Heights” awards will be presented at an awards event on Sept. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the Citrus Heights Community Center. The event will include door prizes, a barbecue dinner, entertainment and an awards ceremony.

    Winners will also be announced online the following day, Sept. 20.

    Readers can submit their vote for favorite businesses and services at www.bestofcitrusheights.org. The Citrus Heights Sentinel can be found under the “Best Publication” and “Best Photographer/Videographer” categories.

  • Filing deadline to run for Citrus Heights City Council is Aug. 9

    Crosswoods Community voting center
    Crosswoods Community Voting Center file photo. // CH Sentinel

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Anyone interested in running for open Citrus Heights City Council seats will have until Friday, Aug. 9 at 5 p.m. to file.

    The City Council candidate nomination period runs from July 15 through Aug. 9, according to city spokesperson Marisa Brown. Two City Council seats are up for grabs in the upcoming Nov. 5 election. Mayor Bret Daniels of District 1 and Councilmember Tim Schaefer of District 3 both have terms that expire at the end of 2024.

    The Sentinel reported previously that Daniels plans to move out of state at the end of his term and will not seek reelection, while Schaefer confirmed with The Sentinel that he will “absolutely” seek reelection.

    As of Tuesday, no one had filed to run against Schaefer in District 3, while four candidates have filed to run for the open District 1 seat, including resident Amie Burgundy Brown, Neighborhood Area 3 Treasurer Andrew Saunders, Neighborhood Area 3 President Kelsey Nelson, and Neighborhood Area 1 board member Laura Wilbur.

    Although Wilbur’s name is still listed on the city’s Candidate Filing Status Report, according to an Aug. 3 post on Wilbur’s campaign page, Wilbur has chosen to withdraw from the race for the District 1 seat.

    Anyone interested in running for public office in the City of Citrus Heights must be at least 18 years of age, be a citizen of the United States and a resident of California and be a registered voter in and a resident in the district in which he or she is seeking election at the time nomination papers are issued.

    City Council seat nomination packets are available for pickup from the City Clerk at City Hall, and completed paperwork must be turned in by 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9.

    According to the city, in the event that an eligible incumbent City Council member does not file nomination papers by end-of-day on Aug. 9, the deadline for filing is extended to 5:00 p.m., on August 14.

    Citrus Heights City Hall is located at 6360 Fountain Square Drive.

    *This article has been updated to reflect that the date of filing will be extended if an eligible incumbent does not file by Aug. 9

  • New travel ball team established to ‘pump some life’ back into Citrus Heights

    Citrus Heights Sentinels travel baseball team
    Citrus Heights Sentinels 9U travel baseball team with coaches Nico Cobleigh, Cory Techau, Eddie Cobleigh. // D. Gomez

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The Citrus Heights Sentinels travel ball teams are embarking on a second year of competitive baseball.

    The new travel ball organization began its second year of competitive play on Aug. 1, according to co-founder Dan Gomez. The organization is also holding tryouts for this season, on Saturday, Aug. 10 at Madera Park.

    Gomez said he and Robert Olivas founded the organization together to “pump some life” back into Citrus Heights.

    “Other communities like Rocklin, Lincoln, Roseville, Elk Grove, offer travel ball opportunities,” said Gomez, adding that Citrus Heights loses players to those outlying areas.

    According to Gomez, unlike the Citrus Heights and Sunrise Little League programs, there aren’t league boundary requirements for Citrus Heights Sentinels travel baseball.

    According to Citrus Heights Little League’s website, any registered player that doesn’t live or go to school within the Little League boundaries will be ineligible for All Star Selections.

    Gomez said, without boundary restrictions, more student athletes are eligible to play travel ball locally.

    Travel ball is also more competitive, Gomez said, while the current little leagues offer a more relaxed, family-oriented atmosphere.

    “Parents want to win,” Gomez said, adding that travel ball has “taken over everything.” Travel ball does require a higher level of talent, Gomez said, to ensure competitive play.

    Gomez and Olivas see a lot of community benefits to establishing a travel ball organization in Citrus Heights, including increased income for the city from outside visitors.

    “Our hope is that when they’re down here, they go spend money at our local businesses, and go to our local eateries,” Gomez said.

    The Sentinels announced the new team rosters at the end of June on social media and indicated that they added a second team this year.

    Gomez described the team’s first year as “really good” and said the boys spent time getting acclimated to the schedule. Many little league programs hold games on Saturdays. To accommodate, Gomez said travel ball games are held on Sundays and use the same fields as Citrus Heights Little League.

    Currently, the Sentinels’ travel ball season spans from Aug. 1 to Nov. 15, and then another season will begin in January. The number of tryouts held per year was not immediately available, but Gomez said tryouts are planned for the spring.

    The nonprofit organization is always looking for volunteers. Gomez said needs include coaches, advisors, game-day volunteers, and supplies that help with softball field maintenance, including chalk.

    Anyone interested in becoming involved or participating in tryouts can visit the team’s Facebook page for more information.

  • Thieves ram car into Citrus Heights smoke shop, steal merchandise

    A car smashed through Baba Smoke N' Vape on Aug. 6
    A car smashed through Baba Smoke N’ Vape on Aug. 6. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    A car smashed through the front of a local smoke shop early Tuesday morning, taking out the entire storefront.

    Citrus Heights Police were called out to the Baba Smoke N’ Vape on the corner of Auburn Boulevard and Greenback Lane on Aug. 6, for reports of a car crashing through the front of the store.

    A tow truck, police officers, and at least one CSI officer were observed at the scene just before 10 a.m. Inside the shop, a silver sedan could be seen having entered and stopped at the back wall. Much of the glass from display cases was shattered due to the car’s impact. Glass and debris covered the floor, and part of a mangled black gate was set off to the side.

    The owner of the shop told The Sentinel that the crash happened around 5 a.m. and that whoever crashed into the store also stole merchandise. The owner did not specify what was stolen or how much but estimated that the overall damage ranged from $30,000 to $40,000.

    The vehicle involved had been reported stolen, according to KCRA.

  • Voters to see $950M bond measure for SJUSD on November ballot

    Voters to see $950M bond measure for SJUSD on November ballot

    San Juan Unified School District. File photo. // CH Sentinel

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The San Juan Unified School District Board of Education on Tuesday voted unanimously in favor of placing a $950 million facilities improvement bond on the Nov. 5 ballot.

    All seven members voted during a special board meeting held Tuesday, July 30, with board members Tanya Kravchuk (Area 5) and Zima Creason (Area 3) participating via telecommunication. Following Tuesday’s vote, the bond measure will be presented on the Nov. 5 ballot to voters within the San Juan Unified School District.

    “The quality of our facilities impacts our students’ ability to learn and thrive,” San Juan Unified School District Superintendent Melissa Bassanelli said in an email to The Sentinel Wednesday. Bassanelli added that the district is proud to hold a “strong record of being fiscally responsible to our taxpayers” and that the district is excited for “much needed improvements” across the district.

    Prior to the vote, several San Juan district schoolteachers commented during the special meeting on the positive impacts bond funding has had in securing needed improvements to various schools in the district. School Board President Pam Costa said in an email that during her 12 years on the board, she has seen “firsthand, the positive changes” school modernizations have had on district students, staff, and communities.

    “As a parent, I’m excited about the opportunity to rebuild aging schools and make sure our kids are provided with safe, modern classrooms to help them succeed in college or career,” School Board Member Ben Avey told The Sentinel Wednesday.

    If the bond measure is passed by voters in November, the $950 million in funding would be used across the district for upgrading aging classrooms and restrooms, fixing leaking roofs, removing asbestos, lead, and mold, and upgrading safety and security measures. Funds would also go toward teacher retention efforts and attracting quality teachers.

    Funding would come from property taxes, levied at $60 per $100,000 of assessed value, which would be collected until fiscal year 2054-55, according to an official estimate included in board documents.

    To pass, the measure must be approved by at least 55 percent of voters.

  • Letters to the Editor: Cannabis, Starbucks, Homelessness

    Sentinel Staff Report–
    Latest letters from Citrus Heights Sentinel readers include comments regarding a cannabis grant fund, another proposed new Starbucks, and the City Manager’s response to a Supreme Court ruling on camping.

    Cannabis grant fund:
    [RE: Citrus Heights awarded more than $100k from Cannabis Tax Fund; July 11th] Don’t you think it’s a bit hypocritical to accept a grant, but not let a dispensary do business in Citrus Heights? Also don’t you think $1.2 million dollars could be BETTER spent on the City of Citrus Heights?? Wow, wow, wow!!!
    — Ronda Castle, Citrus Heights

    Another Starbucks location planned for Citrus Heights?
    [RE: Another Starbucks location is planned for Citrus Heights; July 25th] Where is the necessity and need for yet another Starbucks in the city, let alone one at Stock Ranch? The City can do a lot better by developing the barren parcels with a full service grocery store such as a Raley’s, an upscale restaurant, specialty shops, boutiques, a hardware store, maybe even a nursery. How many more Starbucks and corporate chain dining establishments do we need in the city? Stock Ranch has been underdeveloped for many years now. We can do a lot better than another Starbucks.
    — John Tumminelli, Citrus Heights

    Why is the city celebrating camping court ruling?
    [RE: Citrus Heights city manager promises ‘increased accountability’ after court ruling on camping; July 17th] The Sept. 2018 Ninth Circuit Court ruled cities could not enforce anti-camping ordinances. Thereby giving homeless people the opportunity to sleep in public when there is not enough shelter beds. Cities ignored this ruling with impunity! The city manager is “celebrating” the Supreme Court overturning this ruling. WHY??? SINCE they ignored the Federal Court ruling, what’s the difference?? Why bother “celebrating”??
    — Alfred Sanchez, Citrus Heights

    Want to share your thoughts on a local issue? Submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication: Click here.

  • 2024 Citrus Heights Police Logs spotlight: July 25-31

    Sentinel Staff Report–
    The latest police logs in Citrus Heights show a significant drop in vehicle violations, while showing an increase in animal control calls, 911 hangups, and code enforcement activity. A summary of the most recent seven police logs are listed below, from July 25-31, 2024.

    • Animal control: 56 (up from 52)
    • 911 hangups: 47 (up from 30)
    • Code enforcement: 47 (up from 28)
    • Traffic accidents: 30 (up from 26)
    • Vehicle violations: 235 (down from 323)
    • Theft: 26 (down from 27)
    • Homeless-related: 24 (up from 19)
    • Vandalism: 10 (up from 9)
    • Violent/threats: 23 (down from 30)
    • Disturbance: 97 (down from 99)
    • Suspicious circumstances: 190 (same as prior week)
    • All incidents: 1293 (down from 1375)

    See full police activity and arrest logs on the city’s website: click here.

    Citrus Heights police resumed publishing of daily incident logs in March 2023. The 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.

  • Final ‘City Scoop’ ice cream social set for Aug. 8

    city scoop 2023
    City Scoop Summer Series, 2023. // City of Citrus Heights

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The City of Citrus Heights is hosting its final neighborhood ice cream social of the summer on Thursday, Aug. 8, at Lichen K-8.

    This summer, City Scoop took place at Sylvan Oaks Library on June 6, and drew roughly twice as many residents as last year, according to the city’s social media page.

    A second ice cream social scheduled for July 11 at Metro Fire Station 27 was canceled because of extreme heat.

    The final event will take place at Lichen K-8 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., with Leatherby’s Family Creamery slated to serve ice cream. The school is located at 8319 Lichen Drive.

    The monthly ice cream social events are designed to encourage and facilitate community gatherings among neighbors, city staff, and other community members, according to the city’s website.

    In 2023, the inaugural City Scoop summer series featured ice cream socials throughout the summer at various locations in Citrus Heights, including Greenback Greenspace, Sylvan Community Center, and Westwood Park.

  • Helicopter, K-9 aid in response to altercation in Citrus Heights

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Two people were arrested and one man had to undergo surgery after an altercation on Wednesday.

    Citrus Heights Police confirmed Friday that the incident occurred at the 6300 block of Nightingale Court on Wednesday, July 31, around 5:30 p.m. Officers arrived and were told four individuals were involved in a physical altercation and that one individual had thrown a glass jar at another’s hand, which resulted in injury, according to police.

    The incident caught the attention of residents on social media. Some reported a helicopter could be heard, and others reported individuals being pursued by police. The injured victim posted on social media that a glass jar was thrown at him and caused deep gashes in his hand, reportedly severing blood vessels. Witnesses said the victim was reportedly coherent as he was transported to the hospital.

    In the early morning hours of Aug. 1, the victim reported that he was scheduled to undergo surgery because the injury to his hand had resulted in no blood flow to one of his fingers. On Friday morning, the victim told The Sentinel he was “hanging in there” and that recovery could take three months.

    When Citrus Heights Police attempted to contact the other three individuals involved in the altercation, three individuals fled on foot, according to police, and led officers on a chase through a nearby apartment complex. Both a Sacramento County Sheriff’s helicopter and a Citrus Heights Police K-9 unit were dispatched to aid in the search, police confirmed Friday.

    Police said one adult and one minor were arrested in connection with the incident, and a third was unable to be located. Both the victim and other witnesses reported the presence of at least one firearm, but police officials told The Sentinel on Friday that no firearm was located.