View of the fountain outside the new city hall in Citrus Heights. // CH Sentinel
Sentinel staff report–
The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce will be hosting an upcoming seminar about energy efficiency as part of its “Chamber U” series, promising to offer money-saving tips and ideas for businesses.
The hour-and-a-half seminar will be held from 8-9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 21, in the Community Room at Citrus Heights City Hall. The event will include a feature presentation by SMUD, along with information about security, recycling, and social media, according to Wes Ervin, who serves as co-chair for the Chamber’s Economic Development Committee.
Although non-members have been charged for past Chamber U events, a flier for Tuesday’s event says the event will be free for anyone in attendance. The Chamber requests those planning to attend RSVP before noon on Aug. 20, by emailing cendrinne@chchamber.com or calling the Chamber office at (916) 722-4545.
The Chamber began hosting seminar series last year as “brown bag seminars,” but re-branded the events as “Chamber U” for 2018. Past seminars have included social media 101, a cyber security presentation by an FBI agent, and crime prevention tips presented by the Citrus Heights Police Department’s Problem-Oriented Policing Unit.
Cendrinne DeMattei, the Chamber’s executive director, previously told The Sentinel that Chamber U events will be held every other month in 2018 and are designed to be “learning seminars where businesses and the community can come in and get informed on topics that affect them.” Typically presentations last about an hour, followed by Q&A.
Chamber U events are hosted by the Chamber of Commerce with support from the City of Citrus Heights, which provides free space for the events at city hall and also annually provides the Chamber with a $10,000 sponsorship from the city’s economic development fund.
Sentinel staff report–
Those interested in learning how local government works and developing more leadership and management skills may be interested in applying for this year’s Leadership Citrus Heights course, offered by the local Chamber of Commerce.
Cendrinne DeMattei, the chamber’s executive director, told The Sentinel in an email that the program seeks to provide a “meaningful and challenging learning opportunity that will help participants develop personal leadership skills, gain a better understanding of how the City functions, and expand [their] circle of influence within the region.”
Past graduates of the program can be found in various positions of leadership throughout the city, with notable grads including the city’s current Mayor, Steve Miller, Councilman Albert Fox, and Planning Commissioner Porsche Middleton.
Meeting once a month from October through June, the course promises to take aspiring leaders through an inside look at various aspects of government, along with a crash course in the history of Citrus Heights, public speaking, entrepreneurship, and more. A draft schedule on the Chamber’s website lists the following topics:
The history and economic development of Citrus Heights
The art of nonprofits
Local and state government
Education
Productive YOU (with skills including goal setting and time/project management)
Law & public safety (with the Citrus Heights Police Department and Metro Fire)
Effective Leadership
Group Project Presentations (honing in on public speaking skills)
The course will also wrap up with a bus tour of the city and a graduation.
Mayor Miller previously told The Sentinel that taking the Leadership Citrus Heights course in its inaugural year back in 2003 “lit a fire” under him. He said the course helps develop personal, professional, social and city-wide leadership skills — and it likely played a role in helping him get appointed to the city council in 2005.
The course was first brought to the city under the leadership of Jeannie Bruins, who currently serves as the city’s vice mayor. The course continued annually until around 2012, and was later re-started in 2016 under the leadership of both Bruins and the late-councilman Mel Turner.
“It mattered because we saw some really solid leaders come out of this,” Bruins said in a prior interview. “It piques interest and helps people understand why things are the way they are.”
Tuition for the course costs $495 per person, and classes are typically up to 25 students in size. Scholarships are typically offered for one high school student from each high school in Citrus Heights.
Classes are scheduled to begin in October and will continue on the first Wednesday of each month, concluding with a June 5 graduation next year, according to the Chamber’s website. Classes will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with meals included. The deadline to apply is Sept. 7, 2018.
Additional information and applications forms are available on the Chamber’s website.
Sentinel staff report–
Wondering how the new tax law affects you and your business? The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce has scheduled an upcoming seminar at city hall to address the new tax law.
The seminar will be held from 8-9:30 a.m. on Feb. 20 in the community room at city hall and will feature speaker John Pandis, a senior tax advisor with H&R Block. Pandis is slated to give a one-hour overview of tax provisions that changed for individuals and businesses under the new tax law, followed by a question-and-answer period.
The event is free for members of the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce, or $15 for non-members. The Chamber requests those planning to attend RSVP before noon on Feb. 19, by emailing renee@chchamber.com or calling (916) 722-4545.
Cendrinne DeMattei, the local chamber’s new executive director, said the seminar is the first in a series of educational events scheduled for 2018. She said the Chamber began the series last year as “brown bag seminars,” but re-branded the events as “Chamber U” for 2018.
DeMattei said Chamber U events will be held every other month in 2018 and are designed to be “learning seminars where businesses and the community can come in and get informed on topics that affect them.” Typically presentations will last an hour, followed by Q&A.
She said seminars in 2018 will cover a wide array of business topics, with upcoming events including an update on the city’s economic development plan in April, a health and wellness seminar in June, a SMUD presentation on energy saving resources for businesses in August, and a seminar on referral marketing in October that will feature Mickey Griffith of Asentiv Sacramento. Past seminars included social media 101, a cyber security presentation by an FBI agent, and crime prevention tips presented by the Citrus Heights Police Department’s Problem-Oriented Policing Unit.
Chamber U events are hosted by the Chamber of Commerce with support from the City of Citrus Heights, which provides free space for the events at city hall and also annually provides the Chamber with a $10,000 sponsorship from the city’s economic development fund.
Moe’s Southwest Grill at Sunrise Boulevard and Madison Avenue has closed. // CH Sentinel
Latest local news briefs include a restaurant closure at a newer shopping plaza in Citrus Heights, a running vehicle stolen from a Citrus Heights driveway, Stones Casino awarding City Manager Christopher Boyd, a new executive director named for the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce, and several local stories on Christmas charity, marble collecting, and youth leadership.
Moe’s grill closes doors after just a year in Citrus Heights Moe’s Southwest Grill has closed its doors for good in Citrus Heights, just a year after opening in the new Capital Nursery Plaza at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Madison Avenue. Although a specific reason for the closure was not disclosed, a message posted at the location says, “We regret to inform you that we decided to permanently close our doors. We thank you very much for your patronage over the last year.” According to a report in the Sacramento Business Journal on Friday, two other Moe’s locations in the region also recently closed — leaving the Atlanta-based chain with only one remaining location in California, although a map on the company’s website indicates Moe’s still boasts over 700 locations nationwide.
Last year, a company spokeswoman told The Sentinel that Moe’s Citrus Heights location was part of an 18-unit deal signed by a franchise group, HKMII, which had plans to develop restaurants in Sacramento and Santa Cruz. The group also owned the now-closed Moe’s at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Cirby Way. Moe’s restaurants feature Subway-style meal creation, with orders custom-made at a counter in front of patrons. Meal selections range from quesadilla’s to tacos and salads, with grass-fed steak and organic tofu options advertised on the menu as well. The Citrus Heights location had received online reviews averaging between three and four stars, out of five.
Running vehicle stolen from driveway; later found In a Fox 40 news video published last Sunday, a Citrus Heights man said his wife’s vehicle was stolen from their driveway while she left the vehicle running and went back inside the home. A minute later, she came back to an empty driveway, but the vehicle was found several days later in a Citrus Heights apartment complex with the only damage being loss of paperwork inside. “It could have been worse, but I want people to not make the same mistake we did,” resident Mike Marshal told the TV station. (See video)
New leader named for Citrus Heights Chamber
The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors this week announced the selection of Cendrinne DeMattei as the new executive director for the organization. DeMattei had been serving as the Chamber’s interim executive director since July and is a familiar face to the organization as a long-time Chamber member and active participant.
According to a bio provided to The Sentinel, DeMattei holds a degree in management and boasts an extensive background in organizational development, program design and implementation. She also has experience working in banking, telecommunications and residential real estate industries, as well as recent experience as a small business owner. DeMattei resides in the Sacramento area and has been married for over 20 years.
City manager receives “21” Award from Stones Casino Citrus Heights City Manager Christopher Boyd received Stones Casino’s second annual “21” Award during a ceremony at the casino on Thursday night. In a resolution recognizing Boyd, the casino said he had “demonstrated exemplary commitment and dedication to the advancement of the City of Citrus Heights, a history of strong, effective leadership, and a passion for making a difference.” Boyd is the second city official to receive the award, with the late Councilman Mel Turner being the first recipient of the award last year.
Boyd previously served as chief of police for Citrus Heights since the inception of the department in 2006, before becoming city manager last year to replace Henry Tingle who retired from the position after 17 years. Ron Lawrence, who took Boyd’s position as police chief last year, said in a Twitter post that Thursday’s award was “a well deserved recognition to a great leader.” Citrus Heights Councilman Albert Fox also replied with a tweet about Boyd, saying: “Dedicated to our community and our employees. That’s leadership.” (See photos)
Also in the news:
Grandma Marble – A 78-year-old Citrus Heights woman was featured on Saturday in a Sacramento Bee story that showcased the woman’s extensive collection of more than 20,000 marbles. (See story)
Youth leadership – A video published last month shows highlights from San Juan’s Youth Action Summit held at Citrus Heights Community Center. (See video)
Christmas charity – Citrus Heights Saw & Mower was featured in a “27 Days of Christmas” radio giveaway on 98 Rock this week, where the local mower shop was credited with partnering with the radio station to help a woman get a lawnmower and yard tools for her son. (Click to listen to the segment)
