Community

Citrus Heights News Briefs: Flash-mob hits Walmart, tree lighting, store fire

Date: December 4, 2016

Citrus Heights Community Marching Band members play seasonal tunes during a flash mob performance at the Citrus Heights Walmart on Saturday. // CH Sentinel

Updated Dec. 5, 6:04 p.m.–
Latest local news briefs include a commercial fire at Cost Plus on Sunrise Boulevard, a flash-mob performance by a marching band inside Walmart, nearly 1,000 attending the annual Citrus Heights Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, a local police-sponsored donation drive for at-risk kids, and an upcoming reception to honor two outgoing city leaders.

Metro Fire: bathroom fan started fire at Citrus Heights Cost Plus store
Fire crews responded to an after-hours commercial fire on Tuesday night at the Cost Plus World Market store in Citrus Heights, where Metro Fire Captain Michele Eidam said the cause of fire was determined to be a bathroom fan. She said the fire caused minimal damage estimated at less than $5,000, and said no customers were inside since the store had already closed for the night.

At least two other fires in Citrus Heights have been caused by bathroom fans in the past year, with one spreading into an attic at a residence last November and another causing Sunrise Mall to be temporarily evacuated earlier this year in May. Asked to comment on how bathroom fans are causing the fires, Eidam referred questions to an investigator, who was not able to be reached over the weekend.

Citrus Heights PD, Walmart help donate gifts to at-risk kids
The Citrus Heights Police Department, along with the Police Activities League and Walmart, have teamed up to donate gifts to 65 children in temporary group homes in the Citrus Heights area this Christmas season. Officer Darryl Olesen said a three-day gift drive outside the Auburn Boulevard Walmart began on Friday and continued through Sunday afternoon.

Olesen and a team of officers and volunteers could be seen in front of the store on Saturday collecting donations and supplying shoppers with personalized wish lists that included a child’s name, age, and items requested. Most items listed were essentials like bedding, towels, and clothing. Olesen said the effort is important to show at-risk kids, who often only see the negative side of life, that “there are people out there who care about them.”

Reception for outgoing Councilwoman Sue Frost, Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan set for Dec. 8
A public reception with refreshments will be held at city hall this Thursday at 6 p.m. to honor outgoing council member Sue Frost and Sacramento County Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan. According to the city clerk’s office, councilmembers will also present Frost and MacGlashan with a proclamation during Thursday’s council meeting, held immediately following the reception.

The Dec. 8 council meeting will be Frost’s final meeting as a council member. She was elected to the county board of supervisors last month to replace MacGlashan, who announced she would not seek reelection. Prior to serving as a county supervisor, MacGlashan served as the mayor of Citrus Heights and was also one of the city’s founding council members.

Marching band flash-mob surprises Citrus Heights Walmart shoppers
With trumpets blaring and drums rolling, about 35 members of the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band filled the Auburn Boulevard Walmart with sounds of Christmas for about half an hour on Saturday. The group paraded through the isles in a circle shortly after 11 a.m. and band members then assembled near the store’s entrance to play seasonal songs like “Silent night” and “We wish you a merry Christmas.” Surprised shoppers were seen stopping to listen or take video on their cellphones, making for an event that Band Program Director Kathy Cook calls one of her favorites each year. (Video coming next week)

Christmas Tree Lighting draws crowd outside new city hall
Nearly 1,000 residents and community members attended the city’s 20th annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony outside the new city hall on Thursday. Vice Mayor Jeff Slowey led a countdown just after 6:30 p.m., before a newly planted 22-foot coastal redwood tree was lit up with hundreds of multicolored lights. The tree lighting was followed with free mini train rides in the parking lot, photos with Santa, and various activities and games for kids. The Citrus Heights Community Marching Band also provided live music during the event, and guests were treated to hot drinks and light refreshments.