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Tag: Kermit Schayltz

  • Stones Casino recognizes WEAVE exec with community award

    Beth Hassett, CEO of WEAVE, stands next to Citrus Heights City Manager Ash Feeney and Stones Partner Kermit Schayltz, along with the police chief and two former officials, to receive an award on Dec. 14, 2022. // M. Hazlip

    By Mike Hazlip—
    The CEO of Women Escaping A Violent Environment (WEAVE) was recognized with a Stones Gambling Hall “21 Award” during a Dec. 14 ceremony.

    WEAVE CEO Beth Hassett accepted the award for her efforts in working with the Citrus Heights Police Department to help women and children who are in abusive relationships. Hassett has fostered a partnership with Citrus Heights police for about five years, she said in an interview with The Sentinel at the event.

    Through Hassett’s efforts, an advocate works with police when they respond to calls for service in the community. The advocate follows up on domestic violence sexual assault, and sex trafficking calls, Hassett said.

    Over the past five years, WEAVE has provided support to over 1,000 victims while working with Citrus Heights police. That includes 885 victims of domestic violence, 134 victims of sexual assault, and seven victims of sex trafficking, according to a resolution read at the ceremony.

    “It’s a critical program,” Hassett said. “And not every law enforcement entity is even open to such an arrangement because it’s really a melding of two different kinds of cultures. You’ve got that law enforcement culture and you got victim services, trauma informed services, which sometimes don’t always work well together.”

    Hassett said WEAVE’s relationship with Citrus Heights police has been a positive one for victims.

    “The important thing about that is that there’s this window of time, especially with domestic violence, where if the victim gets help, while the perpetrators in jail and they’re separated, they’re much more likely to accept that help and to make choices where they can move out of an abusive and dangerous relationship.”

    Hassett said domestic violence incidents are typically the top call for service among any law enforcement agency. She defined domestic violence as violence between intimate partners, both married and dating. It often includes children who are impacted.

    Citrus Heights Police Chief Alex Turcotte presented the award, saying WEAVE advocates are an integral part of the Police Department.

    “On behalf of the Police Department, we would not be able to provide the service that we do without our partnership with WEAVE,” Turcotte said, calling the partnership a unique grassroots effort. “Our advocates not only working with the Police Department, but actually embedded in the station and going out to scenes with us. That wraparound service to immediately put a victim of one of these crimes together with their advocate and get there, get them hooked to resources has really cut that cycle down.”

    Kermit Schayltz, one of several partners that own Stones, said Hassett was chosen for the seventh annual award based on her long history of helping people in the community. Other recipients have included Sunrise MarketPlace Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter and former City Councilwoman Jeannie Bruins.

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  • Guest Opinion: Citrus Heights is in good hands

    By Kermit Schayltz–
    As a resident of Citrus Heights from 1979 until 1989 and the owner of a Citrus Heights business from 1990 until present, I have watched with great pride what the community has accomplished in those 40 years.

    The 10-year effort to incorporate, the establishment of a Police Department, a business-friendly city versus what we were previously faced with, a council that would willingly listen to the residents and take appropriate action, a balanced budget and financial responsibility, to just name a few improvements that those of us that live and work here can truly be proud of.

    There are many of us that remember the Sacramento Bee op-ed articles stating that because of the revenue neutrality, “Citrus Heights would become like a beggar on a street corner with a tin cup in its hand.”  I responded with indignation that it “remained to be seen who in the future the beggar would be.” Needless to say, the administrations of this city — past and present — have proven that like many others with similar opinions, they were very wrong indeed.

    Former City Manager Henry Tingle built on the foundation that the leaders of the community in the 80s and 90s established, and, in my humble opinion, his excellent leadership can be seen in much of Citrus Heights. Having said that, there were many candidates that Mr. Tingle could have considered for his successor, but he chose someone he obviously became very close with and developed a trust with. That person was our present city manager.

    Over the 11 years Chris Boyd built and led the Citrus Heights Police Department, he showed Mr. Tingle, the City Council, and the majority of this city that he would accept difficult challenges, had honor and integrity, supported not only law enforcement but the military as well, was a family man that lived and worked here, and truly did come to love where that was occurring.

    One other consideration we must not forget, Chris Boyd was the force behind the chief of police now sitting at his previous desk. Chief Ron Lawrence is not only the leader of our police department, but was elected by his peers to head the California Police Chiefs Association.

    Related: Citrus Heights police chief elected to head statewide advocacy group

    I for one can tell you: if Ron Lawrence is good enough to head that association, there can be little doubt this community’s police department is in great hands — and it’s just one more reason why this community should be grateful that Chris Boyd is in the position he is in.

    I share the optimistic view of Mr. Boyd’s, and I would hope the majority of this community does as well.

    Related Opinion: Why I’m optimistic about the future of Citrus Heights

    Kermit Schayltz

    Kermit Schayltz is the co-owner of Stones Gambling Hall and has lived or had a business in Citrus Heights since 1979.  He was named business person of the year in 2015 by the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce. 

  • Sunrise MarketPlace director receives Stones ’21’ award for making a difference

    Kathilynn Carpenter, Stones 21
    Kathilynn Carpenter, executive director of the Sunrise MarketPlace, poses for a photo during an award ceremony at Stones Casino. // Image courtesy, SMP.

    Sentinel staff report–
    Kathilynn Carpenter, who has spearheaded local solutions to homelessness and serves as executive director of the Sunrise MarketPlace in Citrus Heights, was recognized for her community leadership last week with an award from Stones Casino.

    The Stones “21” award is annually presented to a Citrus Heights community member who has shown “exemplary commitment and dedication to the advancement of the City of Citrus Heights, a history of leadership, and demonstrated a passion for making a difference.” Last year’s award went to Citrus Heights City Manager Christopher Boyd, with the late Councilman Mel Turner being the first recipient of the award in 2016.

    The Nov. 7 ceremony was held at Stones Casino where Carpenter received the award surrounded by family, friends and community members. A resolution highlighting Carpenter’s past two decades of service in Citrus Heights was read by Stones Partner Kermit Schayltz and she also received certificates of recognition on behalf of Sen. Jim Nielsen and Assemblyman Ken Cooley, according to a Sunrise MarketPlace news release about the event.

    “Citrus Heights is a great community and we all work together as a team,” Carpenter said in accepting the award. “We’re completely united in our desire to continually improve our community.”

    Carpenter has served as executive director of the Sunrise MarketPlace since its inception two decades ago. The MarketPlace is a business improvement district made up of more than 400 businesses in the Sunrise-Greenback corridor.

    Several years ago, she helped lead the effort to bring a homeless “Navigator” to Citrus Heights, which helps connect homeless individuals with housing and services. She also helped form the Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART) and is currently a board member and past Chair of the Citrus Heights Chamber, where she was named 2002 Business Person of the Year.