By Mike Hazlip—
Recent apparel on display at a Citrus Heights Walgreens proudly supports the city, but with an incorrect date.
A rack of shirts at the Dewey Drive and Greenback Lane location read “Citrus Heights, Since 1776,” while the city’s well documented incorporation was Jan. 1, 1997.
Pennsylvania-based Ohiopyle Prints produced the shirts, and spokeswoman Laurie Crosby said the error was an oversight that the company will correct. The company supplies locally branded shirts to about 10,000 cities across the country, she said.
Crosby said the company has reached out to both Walgreens locations to return the incorrectly dated shirts and offered to print new designs with an accurate date, but each location is responsible for placing a new order.
The company works with local store managers as much as possible through their My Town Originals program to develop ideas for locally branded apparel, Crosby said. Ohipyle Prints also produces T-shirts for schools with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the school.
Walgreens has previously offered locally themed products such as Citrus Heights-Opoly, a Monopoly based board game with locations named for local landmarks. The game was also available at the Dewey Drive and Greenback Lane location along with Citrus Heights branded hats and shirts.
City records show the earliest European settlements in the area date back to the mid 1800s. The area was used for mostly agricultural purposes until the 1960s and 70s when a housing boom fueled by nearby Aerojet and Mather and McClellan Air Force bases created the largely suburban neighborhoods.
A 12-year court battle culminated with a vote in November, 1996, when voters approved incorporation. Citrus Heights officially became a city on Jan. 1, 1997, records show.
