By Sara Beth Williams–
Through the lenses of our staff and freelance photographers, The Sentinel has covered business, crime, civic and community events that have impacted our local city and the community beyond.
The following is a selection of 15 photos that have captured some of the 650-plus local news stories covered throughout 2024.
Pastry Chef and owner José Tellez stands in front of Pastry Heaven European Bakery, located on the border of Citrus Heights and Fair Oaks in the Almond Orchard Shopping Center. Tellez was once a former Ettore’s pastry chef. Read the full story here.
Goodwill Industries closed in January 2024 after 20 years in operation at the prominent and highly visible corner of Auburn Boulevard and Old Auburn Road. Later in the year, Bearpaw Outlet and DarkHeart Brewing reclaimed the vacant space. Read the full story here.
During high winds on Feb. 4, 2024, a large tree fell across Rollingwood Boulevard, blocking traffic and impacting properties both across the street and diagonally. Photo shows the fractured tree, which fell overnight, and neighbors assisting to clean up the debris so that traffic could pass through. Read the full story here.
Dozens of people filled seats in the council chambers where a public workshop regarding adding an ordinance to allow cannabis dispensaries in Citrus Heights was held on April 3, 2024. Economic Development and Community Engagement Director Meghan Huber moderated the event. Read the full story here.
Photo shows a vacant food court within Sunrise Mall in mid-April 2024, except for the Espresso Bar coffee cart. Tragically, the coffee cart has also closed as of mid-November 2024. Read the full story here.
State and City officials and representatives, including former Mayor Darrell Steinberg, joined representatives of Sacramento Steps Forward at a June 5 press conference in Downtown Sacramento announcing a 29 percent decrease in people experiencing homelessness in the county. A point-in-time count of unhoused individuals found just over 60 homeless individuals in Citrus Heights, a number homeless advocates found hard to believe. Read the full story here.
Freelancer Mike Hazlip captured a photo of kids on bikes watching aerial fireworks over Citrus Heights City Hall during the second annual Stars and Stripes community Independence Day celebration on June 29, 2024, which saw nearly double the attendance from 2023. Read the full story here.
A stolen vehicle smashed through the front of a local smoke shop early in the morning of Aug. 6, taking out the entire storefront. The owner estimated overall damage was $30-40,000. Read the full story here.
The long-awaited second phase of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets project began in the summer. A lone construction sign stands in a barren landscape once filled with greenery in the Grand Oaks Shopping Center on Auburn Boulevard, following a mass removal of trees and shrubbery. Read the full story here.
A memorial for Jerry “Garsh” Garcia, a long-time coach for the Citrus Heights Little League, drew an estimated 350 people to Garsh Field at Rusch Community Park on Aug. 31, 2024. Garcia passed away in July and many said he left a legacy. Read the full story here.
With nearly five decades in the printing business behind him, Bill Van Duker stopped the presses at All Star Printing as he turned a page to a new chapter, in 2024. Read the full story here. In the photo, Van Duker (left) and Uddhav “Gary” Giri stand in front of the new Minuteman Press as Van Duker passed the business on before retirement.
The Citrus Heights Rotary Foundation donated $100,000 on Oct. 23 to the Citrus Heights Veterans Memorial Project nonprofit during a Citrus Heights Rotary Club meeting. The nonprofit veterans organization plans to construct the first permanent 80 percent-replica Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on the west coast. Read the full story here.
Freelancer Mike Hazlip captured vehicles lining up to drop off ballots at Citrus Heights City Hall for the general election on Nov. 5, 2024. The election resulted in a new face on the City Council, with Kelsey Nelson taking the seat formerly held by Bret Daniels. Read the full story here.
A photo captured the aftermath of a vehicle that drove through the exterior entrance of JCPenney at Sunrise Mall on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. Police say an unidentified male stole a pickup truck, rammed through one entrance, stopped to steal jewelry, and drove out through another entrance. Read the full story here.
DarkHeart Brewery owners Rick and Cynthia Lee stand in front of an interior wall decorated with a pirate ship and helm inside DarkHeart Brewing, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, one day after opening. The nano brewery is the first local in-house brewery in Citrus Heights in more than 10 years. Read the full story here.
Want to follow more local news in 2025? Click here to sign up for The Sentinel’s free Weekend Edition, or click here to see full-access subscription options.
