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Tag: Sacramento

Firefighters hit streets for local burn fundraiser, safety fair

In an effort to raise funds for burn survivors, hundreds of firefighters from across the state will be out seeking to fill boots with donations at the intersection of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane this weekend during the 21st annual “Fill the Boot for Burns” fundraiser in Citrus Heights.

A sign on Sunrise Boulevard alerts drivers to be on the lookout for fire “fighters in street” for the upcoming boot drive.

Reporting donations totaling over $100,000 last year, the local four-day fundraiser is one of several dozen “boot drives” across the state that together raised over half-a-million dollars last year for the Firefighters Burn Institute — a Sacramento-based nonprofit which helps provide treatment and recovery programs for burn survivors, as well as host burn-related training and kids camps.

Weather permitting, the weekend fundraiser will also have a safety fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, featuring a “Jaws of Life” car-cutting demonstration by Metro Fire, a live helicopter landing, fire truck and ambulance displays, clowns, face painting, vendor booths and more, according to an event flier.

The Citrus Heights Police Department will also be supporting the firefighters’ effort, according to CHPD Sergeant Mike Wells, who said officers will have a patrol vehicle and one of their new three-wheeled Trikkes on display during the safety fair — along with “a K-9 officer and his partner (dog) on site for the community to meet.”

Tyler Craft, a firefighter-paramedic with Metro Fire Station 21 in Citrus Heights, said he’ll be one of two firemen helping “raise” attention to the fundraiser by serving as a “basket-sitter” atop an extended ladder truck at the intersection for “72 straight hours.” He called the endurance test “nothing close” to the grueling pain burn patients endure.
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Craft said all “boot” funds collected will go directly to the burn institute, which was founded by firefighters in 1973 after a Sacramento plane crash killed 22 people and burned many others. The Institute has continued in its mission to support research and benefit burn survivors through the years, notably giving $2 million toward the new UC Davis Firefighters Burn Institute Regional Burn Center, named in recognition of the Institute’s contributions.

“The Firefighters Burn Institute here in Sacramento has seriously put Sacramento on the map for burn care,” said Craft, commenting that burn survivors fly in from all over northern California for care. “It truly is a premier burn center.”

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“Fill the Boot for Burns” charity event
When: Thurs. – Sun., Feb. 12-15, 2015
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane, intersection

Safety Fair:
When: Saturday Feb. 14
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Sunrise Mall parking lot (Sunrise/Greenback)

Safety Fair Flier: Safety-Flyer-2015.pdf

February 10, 2015
Long lines fuel Dutch Bros. Coffee fundraiser for slain officers

Long lines of cars and pedestrians flooded the Citrus Heights Dutch Bros. Coffee location Wednesday, as the company announced its Sacramento-area locations would participate in “Proceeds Day” to support the families of two fallen officers in Placer and Sacramento County.

Customers wait in long lines outside the Citrus Heights Dutch Bros. Wednesday, eager to show their support for law enforcement by grabbing cup of coffee during “Proceeds Day.”

“The Sheriff’s Department has always had our back. It is our time to have theirs,” said local Dutch Bros. owner Nikol Grubbs in a press release announcing the event. “They are customers, but more importantly they are always looking out for the safety of our staff which means more to us than we can say.”

The Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD) tweeted a “thank you” to the coffee company early this morning, and told followers, “Don’t forget to stop by @DutchBrosSac today.” The Department also dispatched officers to help keep lines moving quickly, as cars were backed up for several hundred feet in the parking lot.

“We support anyone who’s raising funds for the fallen deputies,” said CHPD Sergeant Jason Baldwin. “Our role is to support Dutch Bros. through talking with community members and traffic calming measures.”

Baldwin said lines were about 15-20 minutes long Wednesday afternoon, but commented “the community is very supportive; they’re willing to wait.”

Citrus Heights is among nine Sacramento-area locations participating in “Proceeds Day,” including Auburn, Rocklin, Granite Bay, Woodland, Davis and Sacramento.

The company says proceeds from all sales today will go to support the families of Sacramento Sheriff’s Deputy Danny Oliver and Placer County Sheriff’s Detective Michael David Davis, Jr., who were both killed last week.

October 30, 2014
Local Elections: Two Upcoming Forums for City Council Race

Want to know more about who’s running for Citrus Heights city council this year?

With candidate forums set for October 11 and October 16, voters in Citrus Heights will soon have a chance to learn more about the five candidates running for three city council seats in the November 4 election.

Signs for candidates in the Citrus Heights city council race are seen outside Walmart on Auburn Boulevard.

Contestants include current council members Jeannie Bruins, Mel Turner and Steve Miller, with businessman Tim Schaefer and homemaker Bridget Duffy entering the race this year, both known for their public opposition to moving city hall.

The first forum has been organized by the Sacramento League of Women Voters, and will be a one-hour event held at the Board of Supervisors chambers in Sacramento, with live stream video available on Metro Cable 14. Candidates will respond to various questions offered by a panel of media members and the League, and will also be offered one-minute opening and closing statements.

The second forum is set for October 16 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Citrus Heights city council chambers, and is hosted by the Residents’ Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights (REACH), a non-partisan organization led by the city’s neighborhood association leaders. The forum will be moderated by Dr. Danielle Joesten from the Department of Government at California State University, Sacramento.

The deadline to register to vote in this year’s election is October 20.

Candidate Forums:
Citrus Heights City Council

Sponsor: League of Women Voters
Saturday, October 11, 2014
1:30 p.m.
Board of Supervisor Chambers (or live online: http://www.sacmetrocable.tv/)
Sacramento, CA 95814

Sponsor: Residents’ Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights
Thursday, October 16, 2014
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
City Council chambers
7117 Greenback Ln.
Citrus Heights, CA 95621

October 6, 2014
‘Meals on Wheels’ Celebrates 2 Millionth Meal with Citrus Heights Festivities

Updated 2:40 p.m., Aug. 28 –

Citrus Heights Vice Mayor Sue Frost helped Sacramento’s Meals on Wheels deliver their 2 millionth meal to a Citrus Heights senior Thursday, followed by a celebration luncheon at the All Seasons Cafe in the Rusch Park Community Center.

By Vcntest (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Calling the event a “major milestone” since forming in 2010, organizers hope the event helped raise awareness to its meal program, along with giving seniors helpful information about Medicare and Social Security.

Meals on Wheels by ACC was formed four years ago in response to County budget cuts, which included discontinuing its senior meal program. As a non-profit organization, Meals on Wheels by ACC replaced the County-run program and now serves about 2000 seniors each weekday, while working to expand its service to parts of Placer County as well.

The organization strives to provide nutritious, affordable meals through its 23 All Seasons Cafe locations across the county, where seniors can meet for lunch and participate in various activities the cafe’s offer. A home meal delivery option is also available for those who are unable to travel to a cafe, as long as certain qualifications are met.

Recognizing the financial difficulties seniors can face, the non-profit group does not require payment for meals in any of its cafes or home deliveries, but does suggest a $2 donation per meal, according to Pat Chilton, Site Coordinator for All Season’s Cafe at the park’s community center.

The event was attended by several local leaders, including Sacramento County Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan and Congressman Ami Bera. It also was supported by Sunrise Recreation and Park District, the City of Citrus Heights, and Area 4 Agency on Aging.

August 27, 2014
Sac County Election Survey Seeks Voter Feedback

By Dwight Burdette (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Did you vote at a polling location on Tuesday? If so, the Sacramento County Elections Department wants to hear about your voting experience.

A new survey posted on the elections department website seeks voter feedback on questions ranging from how long it took to cast a ballot, to how satisfied voters were with poll station workers.

Taking about a minute to complete, all but two of the survey’s 13 questions are multiple choice. The two questions that allow extended comments have a space for voters to write in their own comments about their experience on Tuesday, and also a spot for suggestions on new polling place locations for future elections.

Although over half of Sacramento County voters are now registered to vote by mail, the survey questions focus on the experience of voters who went to the polls in person during the 2014 June Primary Election.

The survey can be taken online by clicking here.

June 8, 2014
Sewer Board Unanimously Approves Fee Increase

The sanitation board voted Wednesday to raise sewer rates, in order to comply with environmental regulations.

Sacramento-area residents will soon notice an increase on their monthly sewer bill, after sanitation leaders voted unanimously to raise fees — with additional rate hikes planned in following years.

The fee increase — which initially caused a public outcry in 2010 — passed without a single public comment, as Regional Sanitation District board members considered the matter, Wednesday.

The 17-member board is made up of the five Sacramento County Supervisors, a representative from Yolo County, and representatives from the various cities within the District. Citrus Heights representative Jeannie Bruins was among those voting in favor of raising the fee.

A four-page flier mailed out by Regional San last year said that rates will need to gradually rise over the next 8 to 10 years from the current rate of $26 to about $45 to $51-per-month.

The board approved a three-year phase of this plan, increasing rates to $29 on July 1, 2014, $32 the following year, and $35 in 2016.

The fee increase will help cover the added costs of meeting new State environmental permit requirements, passed by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board in 2010.

The new “EchoWater Project” will cost an estimated $1.5-2.2 billion, and promises to “effectively remove” ammonia, nitrate, and pathogens from wastewater that is currently released into the Sacramento River after an existing two-step filtration system.

Regional San has consistently argued that its current filtration is sufficient and that the added regulations are not based on conclusive testing, but in a 2010 letter to Senator Darrell Steinberg, the water quality control board asserted that pathogens released by Regional San increase water-born illness risk by 1-3 times for downstream swimmers in the Sacramento River.

The letter also argued that ammonia could pose a threat to the Delta, including being toxic to fish, but admitted “there is currently no definitive test for chronic toxicity to Delta Smelt.”

The project is expected to be completed by 2023.

Screenshot showing the final vote count on the sewer fee increase.

March 29, 2014
County Rep reaches out to Citrus Heights residents

Every fourth Friday, Sacramento County Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan has been holding a “Community Cabinet Meeting” at the Citrus Heights Denny’s, as part of an effort to stay in touch with those in her district.

During February’s meeting, MacGlashan gave an update on a recent CPS accountability report, and brought in a “surprise guest” from RegionalSan to give an update on sanitation quality efforts, as well as a proposed fee increase.

MacGlashan has close ties with the City, having served as both a council member and mayor of Citrus Heights prior to being elected as county supervisor in 2004.

Denny’s is located at 6215 Sunrise Blvd. in Citrus Heights.

*Editor’s note: MacGlashan does not hold meetings in June, November, or December.

March 26, 2014