Linda’s Pizzeria closed its Citrus Heights location on August 30 due to apparent lease issues.
Updated Sept. 24, 4:18 p.m.–
Diners expecting to grab a slice at Linda’s Pizzeria on Greenback Lane this month found themselves met with a closed door and taped-off parking lot, after the restaurant reported leasing issues led to the location’s recent closure.
“It’s with great sadness that Linda’s Pizzeria has to report we have lost our lease negotiations and will be closing this location,” a notice taped on the side glass door reads, announcing the restaurant’s final day of August 30, 2015. “We’ve had a wonderful 5 years in Citrus Heights and you have been a pleasure to serve.”
The establishment received an overall 4-out-of-5 star rating from 240 reviewers on Yelp, and a 7.7-out-of-10 user rating on Foursquare. Many reviewers raved about the Chicago-style pizza, while others gave a 1 or 2-star rating for complaints about taste or poor service from a waitress.
The pizzeria also received a good review from a sales associate at the neighboring mattress store located next door.
“They made a good pizza,” said Ward Matal, who works at Sleep Train. He said he’s hopeful a new pizza place or sandwich shop will take up the now-vacant location, since diners would often drop by the mattress store after grabbing a bite to eat.
Linda’s still has one remaining location on King Road in Loomis, which recently opened in April of this year, according to the pizzeria’s web site.
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Events in Citrus Heights this week include a car show in the Lowe’s parking lot, a free “WaterSmart” landscaping workshop, and a community meeting to discuss a potential new pedestrian bridge over I-80, among other local activities.
Mon., Sept. 14 — Circus Vargas will be wrapping up its final five-day show in the Sunrise Mall parking lot on Monday, before moving its Big Top circus performance over to the Westfield Galleria in Roseville from Sept. 17 to 27. (More info)
Wed., Sept. 16 — A City-sponsored community meeting will be held on Sept. 16 to gain public input on the potential for a new Citrus Heights pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Interstate 80. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Rusch Park Sunrise/Patio Room, located at 7801 Auburn Blvd. (More details)
Also on Wednesday, guest speaker Clark Snitco of Mass Mutual Financial Group is scheduled to discuss “the present and future of Social Security” at the monthly Birdcage Heights Neighborhood Association Meeting. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Skycrest Elementary. (See flier)
Thurs., Sept. 17 — “Constitution Day” will be recognized with educational programs held at local schools and federal agencies receiving federal funds, as required by a 2004 law passed by Congress. The day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787, and also recognizes citizens born or naturalized in the U.S. (Learn more)
Sat., Sept. 19 — A free WaterSmart landscaping workshop will be held at the Citrus Heights Community Center, designed to help local homeowners and gardeners get “the best yard with the least water.” The event will be from 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday at 6300 Fountain Square Dr. (Learn more)
Also on Saturday, a pre-1976 car show and vendor fair benefiting families with babies in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) will be held in the Citrus Heights Lowe’s parking lot. The event is put on by the local nonprofit group “Ending NICU Obstacles,” and will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 7840 Greenback Ln. (Event flier)
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Entrance signs advertise the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band’s annual Fall Yard Sale fundraiser.
Originally published Sept. 5–
The Citrus Heights Community Marching Band is concluding its annual Fall Yard Sale this weekend, promising deals on thousands of items at prices “far under what they are really worth.”
“We make a deal on anything that we’re selling,” Assistant Band Director Carrie Turner told the Sentinel last week, highlighting items offered like appliances, antique furniture, tools, and clothes. She said 100 percent of the proceeds go to support the marching band, providing for uniforms, liability insurance and instrument maintenance.
The football-field sized yard sale sets up shop during the first two weekends in May and September each year on Linden Avenue, near Auburn Boulevard and Interstate 80, taking up two cattle pastures on the Band program director’s property.
When the volunteer marching band kicked off its first yard sale fundraiser back in 2011, Band Program Director Kathy Cook said the group had no idea how large the event would grow, initially expecting that yard sale items from band members would dry up someday. To their surprise, the event has grown so large that Kathy, and her husband Bill, have given up raising cattle in order to dedicate storage space for the yard sale to continue to grow.
Cook said the Band gets donations throughout the year for its yard sale fundraisers, with items coming from businesses, property managers and community members. She said the May yard sale is typically larger in size, due to more donations coming in during the winter and spring.
The all-volunteer marching band has become known for its performances at community events around the region, annually playing at the Citrus Heights Tree Lighting ceremony and conducting a flash-mob at Wal-Marteach December. Cook said the Band is growing, in part due to area schools closing their music programs, with band members currently ranging in age from as young as 7 years old, up to 85 years old.
The Fall Yard Sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 4-7 and Sept. 11-13, at 7620 Linden Ave. in Citrus Heights. Band leaders said donations can also be dropped off at that location during the yard sale, or can be scheduled by emailing CHCMB@hotmail.com.
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Updated Sept. 6, 12:03 a.m.–
Happenings around Citrus Heights this week include a traveling circus at Sunrise Mall, a September 11 “flag unveiling,” and several more days of the community marching band’s massive yard sale fundraiser.
Citrus Heights Community Marching Band Fall Yard Sale: The annual fundraiser is held during the first two weekends of September each year — beginning on Sept. 4 and continuing through Monday, Sept. 7, this year. The football-field sized yard sale is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 7620 Linden Ave, and will also be open Sept. 11-13. (See full story)
Labor Day, Sept. 7: City offices will be closed in recognition of the holiday.
Citrus Heights Water District monthly board meeting: On Tuesday, Sept. 8, CHWD directors are set to discuss several items at their monthly meeting, including water rate “adjustment options” for 2016, the purchase of 100 one-inch water meters, and an update on current administrative building improvements. The meeting is open to the public and will be held at 7011 Sylvan Rd., Suite E, at 6:30 p.m. (See agenda)
Business owners workshops: On Sept. 9, a free training designed to share “3 secrets to getting business moving again” will be offered by the nonprofit business mentorship group “SCORE.” The one-hour workshop begins at 7:30 a.m. and will be held at the Small Business Administration building at the corner of Sylvan and Stock Ranch roads in Citrus Heights. (Registration link)
On Sept. 10, SCORE will also host a free three-hour workshop titled “How to get more customers.” The class will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Small Business Administration building in Citrus Heights. (Registration link)
Planning Commission meeting: On Sept. 9, three public hearings will be held by planning commissioners. On the agenda: a use permit request by A1 Collision & Bumper Center on Greenback Lane, approval of items related to the Citrus Heights Urban Greening Strategy, and a zoning code modification to allow electronic signage and off-site civic signage. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Citrus Heights Community Center. (See agenda packet)
Circus Vargas: From Sept. 10 through 14, Sunrise Mall will be home to acrobats, magicians, clowns and more, as Circus Vargas brings its entertainment to Citrus Heights. (Circus website)
City Council meetings: On Thursday at a special 6 p.m. study session, council members will review proposed new city hall furniture, fixtures, equipment and building details. During the regular meeting at 7 p.m., a public hearing will be held regarding a requested police expenditure of about $24,000 in grant funds for equipment to aid in crime scene investigation. Council members will also discuss an amendment to a previously approved contract with AMPCO to demolish the existing city hall, increasing the price by $152,020 due to “additional asbestos-laced” material discovered. Both meetings will be held in the Citrus Heights Community Center. (See agenda packet)
September 11 Flag Unveiling: At 4 p.m. on Friday, City leaders will unveil and dedicate two new flagpoles at the Sylvan Ranch Community Garden. The unveiling will raise four new “Made in America” flags donated by the American Legion 637 and Boy Scout Troop 228, according to a press release from the City of Citrus Heights. The garden is located at the corner of Sylvan Road and Stock Ranch Road.
A free water-efficient landscaping workshop will be held at the Citrus Heights Community Center on September 19, designed to help local homeowners and gardeners get “the best yard with the least water.”
According to an event flier, workshop topics will show how to properly position irrigation to ensure efficient watering, identify the right plants and best placement, and convert or upgrade sprinkler systems. There will also be additional information about tools and tips for irrigation scheduling.
The three-hour Saturday training will be from 9 a.m. to noon and is hosted by the City of Citrus Heights and EcoLandscape, along with three of the water districts serving the city. Registration is limited to Citrus Heights residents and customers of the Citrus Heights Water District, California American Water, and Sacramento Suburban Water District.
The deadline to register for the workshop is September 16 at 5 p.m. and will be limited to the first 70 participants to sign up, according to the City’s web page.
—
Additional workshop details:
6300 Fountain Square Dr.
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Police, residents in the Greenback Woods neighborhood discuss crime prevention during the 2014 National Night Out.
Updated Aug 3, 5:21 p.m.–
Police and neighborhood groups across Citrus Heights are once again preparing for participation in the August 4th National Night Out, as part of a country-wide effort to prevent crime by connecting neighbors and building local partnerships between communities and police.
Called the “nation’s night out against crime,” Sgt. Michael Wells with the Citrus Heights Police Department said the evening is one where residents “are encouraged to join with their neighbors to have a neighborhood block party, ice cream social or other outdoor event to build neighborhood spirit and unity.”
The police sergeant said building strong neighborhoods is the “first defense against crime,” stating research shows crime goes down when neighbors know and look out for each other.
This year’s 32nd annual National Night Out will feature 13 different neighborhood watch gatherings in Citrus Heights, ranging in size from 25-400 people and will include BBQ’s, potlucks, ice cream socials and a parade, according to police.
The parade will kick off at the intersection of Indian River Drive and Clay Basket Drive and will continue on a three-quarter mile loop through nearby neighborhood streets, according to Greenback Wood Neighborhood Watch Community Coordinator Susan Jenkins. The volunteer coordinator said her neighborhood event and parade is set to begin at 7:30 p.m., and will feature various police vehicles, balloons, dogs, kids in wagons and free ice cream from a sponsored ice cream truck.
Jenkins said she was motivated to form a watch group seven years ago, after a drive-by shooting occurred in her neighborhood. After the incident, she started passing out fliers door-to-door in order to put together an “email tree” for regular communication among her neighbors.
Now, she sends out emails to over 200 residents in her neighborhood, updating them on crime trends, police alerts, local events and prevention tips. She said she now feels safer, and residents are more aware of how to respond to suspicious activity and help look out for one another.
Sgt. Wells said those interested in forming a neighborhood watch group can find several brochures on the police department’s web page, or may contact Larissa Wasilevsky, the Department’s neighborhood watch coordinator, at lwasilevsky@citrusheights.net.
Members of the Citrus Heights city council, police staff, and Police Chief Christopher Boyd will also be making appearances at the various Tuesday-night neighborhood events, according to Sgt. Wells.
Not wanting to miss out on the night’s activities, the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District announced in a news release that it is taking a proactive effort to be involved in National Night Out this year, offering free lotion, spray and towelette repellent to neighborhood groups participating in the night’s events.
“We know many people will be outside for this event and we want to remind the public that personal protection against mosquitoes is critical in the prevention of West Nile virus,” said District Manager Gary Goodman.
As of August 3, a total of 42 mosquito samples and 27 dead birds have tested positive for West Nile virus in Sacramento County this year, according to Goodman.
National Night Out began in 1984 by the National Association of Town Watch, and now involves over 37 million people in more than 16,000 communities across America and Canada, according to organizers.
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The Citrus Heights-based chapter of SCORE meets in the Small Business Administration’s offices at the corner of Sylvan Road and Stock Ranch Road.
Updated June 5, 7:46 a.m.—
Calling itself “the premier small business mentoring service,” a nonprofit association of volunteer advisers has been training entrepreneurs and small business owners through its 300 chapters nationwide – including one based in Citrus Heights.
With a goal of helping entrepreneurs launch or grow their business, the SCORE Association says it has helped over 10 million entrepreneurs since 1964, offering free courses on everything from Quickbooks training to writing a business plan and developing effective marketing strategies.
By entering a name, email and zip code on SCORE’s website, entrepreneurs and business owners can gain immediate access to a diverse range of free online workshops – with top-viewed trainings like “10 Things Every Website Must Have to Drive Sales,” and “Social Media 101: Raise Awareness and Engage Customers.”
Seeking to be a “one-stop source” for small business mentoring & training, SCORE’s website also allows business owners to search for a mentor with expertise in a relevant field, ask questions, sign up for a local workshop, access business tools and templates, register for a webinar, make an appointment for a face-to-face talk, or sign up for the Association’s business eNewsletter.
Promising “personalized answers in 48 hours or less” via its no-cost email mentorship program, the Association has recruited over 11,000 volunteers and actively seeks to recruit working or retired business owners, executives and managers who are willing to volunteer their time, talents and expertise to help small business owners.
“The most fulfilling part of volunteering is helping people,” said Sacramento SCORE District Director Jeff Hendy, commenting that small business owners often live day-to-day rather than being goal-driven. “Helping them set a goal and then helping them achieve it feels really wonderful.”
Although holding regular workshops and events at the Small Business Administration’s offices in Citrus Heights, local Business Counselor Ryan Latham clarified that SCORE is a separate, private entity – but enjoys some perks through a working relationship with the SBA.
The Citrus Heights-based SCORE chapter was formed in 1978 and serves the counties of Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer and Yolo. A calendar of local events can be accessed on the Chapter’s website.
The Citrus Town Center, stock photo. Citrus Heights Sentinel
The Citrus Town Center will be kicking off its annual outdoor activities with a Spring Celebration on April 25 this year, promising fun for the whole family at the corner of Greenback Lane and Sunrise Boulevard.
The first in a series of events scheduled for the year, the April “celebration” will include train rides, arts and crafts for kids, music, entertainment, free caricatures, and a new “spinning wheel” to win merchant prizes, according to an event promotional on the town center’s website.
The two-hour afternoon event is one of many activities the Citrus Town Center sponsors throughout the year, as part of its goal to foster a “community feel” for the neighborhood shopping center. Other events this year will include four outdoor showings of newly released children’s films, beginning May 9, and several Summer Safari kid’s camps.
In 2012, the former “Sunrise Festival Shopping Center” finalized its nearly $4 million remodel, featuring new landscaping, store frontages, outdoor seating areas, and a prominently displayed new name at the corner of Greenback Lane and Sunrise Boulevard.
The 240,000-square-feet shopping center includes businesses like Sprout’s, Staples, Marshall’s, and the soon-to-come Half Price Books.
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— Event info:
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
April 25, 2015
Citrus Town Center
Corner of Greenback Lane and Sunrise Boulevard
File photo, a dog races through a “doggie fun zone” obstacle course during Pet-a-Palooza 2014 at Rusch Park. // CH Sentinel
Updated April 6, 12:49 p.m.–
Thousands of dogs, and people, will again be coming to Rusch Park for what organizers are calling “Sacramento’s biggest free pet event,” filled with obstacle courses and splash areas for dogs, as well as on-site food and a “beer garden” for humans.
Sponsored by CBS Radio and the Sunrise Recreation and Park District, the 2015 event is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will feature live music from Colbie Caillat and Katy Tiz this year.
The annual Pet-a-Palooza event also promises to be kid-friendly, with a special area for inflatable jump houses, slides, face painting and a rock wall – along with vendor areas for local pet stores, veterinarians, and rescue groups. Pets will be available for adoption as well, according to a promotional webpage for the event.
According to park district Recreation Services Manager Marty Buell, Pet-a-Palooza was first held at Rusch Park five years ago and currently draws about 7,500 to 10,000 attendees each year.
Last year’s event included a K-9 demonstration by the Citrus Heights Police Department, as well as a popular “Splash Dogs” competition which featured a 40-foot-long pool with a platform for dogs to take a flying leap.
Rusch Park is located at 7801 Auburn Blvd. in Citrus Heights, and organizers remind pet owners to have current licenses and vaccinations. Leashes will also be required for all pets.
Citrus Heights police officers document the scene of a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash which closed down southbound Auburn Blvd for 10 hours, Saturday.
Citrus Heights police said a 2 a.m. collision between a car and pedestrian sent a young woman to the hospital in critical condition Saturday morning and caused officers to close all southbound lanes of traffic on Auburn Boulevard for 10 hours while conducting an investigation.
[box]Update:The pedestrian, later identified as 26-year-old Areolle Starr, passed away on February 21 from critical injuries sustained in the collision.[/box]
Officer Anthony Boehle said police were dispatched to a report of a collision near Kanai Avenue just before 2 a.m. on Valentine’s Day, finding the vehicle and driver on scene, as well as the pedestrian who had been hit. He said the woman was immediately transported to the hospital for treatment and is currently listed in critical condition.
Boehle said the investigation is still ongoing, but speed does not appear to be a factor and the driver showed “no indication of impairment.” Referencing the nearby Rocky’s 7440 Club, Boehle said “it’s possible” alcohol played a role on the pedestrian’s part, as “the young lady was coming from the bar.”
“On any major collision, whether it be a major injury or fatal collision, we take all of the evidence,” said Boehle, referencing the extended road closure and pointing to skid marks from the crash. “We document the entire roadway so that we can draw a factual diagram of the way the roadway was represented at the time of the collision.”
Last month, another pedestrian was hit on Auburn Boulevard about a mile down the road near Twin Oaks Avenue, leading police to close down northbound lanes for about 5 hours to conduct an investigation.
Boehle called the pedestrian collisions “out of the ordinary,” commenting that the area is well-lit, with roadways well-marked — especially in light of recently completed ‘Phase 1’ improvements from the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets Revitalization Project.
“In this particular area, Auburn Boulevard has recently undergone a community improvement or revitalization project that re-did all the lighting, all the interior lighting, all the street lighting,” said Boehle. “There’s really no explanation, certainly not from an engineering standpoint.”
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Southbound Auburn Boulevard lanes were re-opened around 12:15 p.m. Saturday, according to police.
Anyone who may have seen the Valentine’s Day collision is asked to contact the CHPD’s Traffic Unit at (916) 727-5500.
