Former Marie Callender’s Looks for New Purpose
CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - A former Marie Callender’s Restaurant and Bakery on 5525 Sunrise Boulevard in Citrus Heights remains up for lease or redevelopment by its present owners. The restaurant had abruptly closed in 2019 when its parent company filed for federal Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Situated along what was once Sunrise Boulevard’s historically busy restaurant row, the vacant 9,372-square-foot building which sits on 1.55 acres has been a frequent target of vandalism and transient activity since closing nearly four years ago.
Popular neighboring restaurants along that side of Sunrise Boulevard include El Tapatio, a Mexican restaurant, and a new Hibachi Buffet, which is now under construction and scheduled to open later this summer in the site of a shuttered China Buffet restaurant.
Boston’s Pizza Restaurant and Sports Bar at 5511 Sunrise Boulevard at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Upland Way replaced a former Logan’s Roadhouse which had been located there.
The former Marie Callender’s restaurant, located in Sunrise MarketPlace, is situated between Sunrise Boulevard and Birdcage Street and is actively listed for either lease or ground lease by the Sacramento office of CBRE, its listing commercial real estate brokerage. The restaurant site also features public parking in the rear and an exterior patio. A sales and marketing brochure describes the former restaurant as suitable for medical, office, retail, or restaurant use.
Calls to two CBRE individual leasing agents Chris Campbell and Scott Carruth on the property listing for comment concerning the brokerage’s general sales and marketing plans and objectives for the property were not returned.
While immediate marketing plans for the future of the former Marie Callender’s restaurant may not be known at this time, its owners have been described as vigilant in keeping the building as secure as possible, said Kathilynn Carpenter, executive director for Sunrise MarketPlace. “They’ve also hired a regular landscaping service as well.”
“The owners and broker are continuing to aggressively promote and market the site and I wish them well,” she said.
A link to the property listing can be viewed at: https://retailproperties.cbre.us/p/retail-real-estate-listings/Citrus%20Heights-CA-95610/sunriseblvdbldg#highlights
Community Celebrates Great Taste
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - More than 400 foodies last week crammed La Sierra Community Center for a long-awaited return of the Taste of Carmichael festival.
Missing from calendars during the pandemic, the mammoth fundraiser benefited the Kiwanis Club of Carmichael and dozens of local non-profits. In its 18th year, the event offered samples from dozens of restaurants, markets and merchants. Vintners and breweries libated and guests danced off calories in the center’s courtyard.
“We featured several restaurants that were new to the community,” said Linda Martin, event co-chair. “Taste of Carmichael is a great way for new businesses to get the word out. Everyone agreed: food quality was amazing.”
Raffles and silent auctions boosted proceeds. The event enables assistance for programs that benefit kids, families and culture in the community. “After such a long period without it, we worried we’d have a hard time getting momentum back,” said Martin. “But it all came together. The excitement was there.”
Sponsors included: SMUD, Safe Credit Union, Maita, Supervisor Rich Desmond, Linda Martin and Donna Miller. For information on the Kiwanis Club of Carmichael, visit: www.kiwanisclubofcarmichael.com
SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - May 22, 2023 - The Sacramento County Fair is excited to announce the lineup of local community musical acts for the 2023 fair. This year’s fair will feature a diverse range of talented musicians from the Sacramento area, showcasing the rich musical talent of our community.
“We are thrilled to have such a talented group of local musicians performing at this year’s fair,” said Matt Cranford, Fair CEO. “These community musical acts represent the best of what our region has to offer and we can’t wait for fairgoers to experience their incredible performances.”
- THE BARE MINIMUM: A 4-piece cover band in Sacramento, CA. They play a variety of rock, alternative, and blues with songs from all decades.
- SWINGMASTERS: An 18-piece big band located in Sacramento, California, offering a full “big band” sound, and featuring excellent female and male vocalists. Their repertoire includes all ballroom dance types of music from Swing to Latin.
- PROCESS THEATER/VERY SPECIAL ARTS: A program which utilizes the Arts to provide growth and enrichment to children and youth with disabilities in Sacramento County.
- THE ENLOWS: A 3-Piece Rock & Roll Band based in Sacramento since 1999.
- LSB-Love Somebody Band: A family band that brings the funk with their renditions of old school R&B hits from the 70’s through the 2000’s.
- FORTUNE SCHOOL DRUMLINE: A unique partnership between public charter schools and the Black Press. Fortune School is proud to have the Black Voice News and The Sacramento Observer Newspaper as its partners.
- DAVID PEREZ BAND: A great variety band playing sounds from tejano, cumbia, salsa, old school to oldies.
- NEIL NAYAR: A musician who plays over 100 instruments and is planning to add more to the list in the future. He plays classical, Bollywood, jazz, rock, and sounds from all over the world.
- THE FOUR EYES is a band that started in 1993 in Joel’s basement. They came up with the name “The Four Eyes” and figured they would have all songs about nerds. The band describes themselves as “The World’s Smartest Band” and has a history of playing shows throughout Northern California. They have released music, including an album titled “Five Songs about Videogames (and one about something else).”
- NOSATLGIAS DE MEXICO: Founded by Janette Perfecto, who has had a passion for Ballet Folklorico since childhood. After moving to the United States, she continued to pursue her love for dance and eventually began choreographing her own pieces and teaching young people about the tradition. Her enthusiasm for traditional Mexican dance and dedication to passing on the tradition is infectious.
- BRANDON DANNALS BAND: The Brandon Dannals Band is a group of talented musicians led by Brandon Dannals, a solo guitarist singer/performer/entertainer with 20 years of experience. His sky-high energy and phrase “Music to Capture Your Heart Yet Rock Your Socks Off!” offers constant invitations to sing along. The band also includes Greg Kurtz on lead guitar, whose family encouraged his pursuit of music and whose influences include Neal Schon, Jimi Page, Hendrix and Ty Tabor. Justin Burkett plays bass and vocals and is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter and producer from Los Angeles. He has 3 self-released albums and was inspired by the Beatles at a young age. Jason Fordney is on percussion and is an east coast transplant to Northern California. He has honed his craft of playing drum set and percussion and is versed in classic rock, jazz, jazz-rock and Latin rhythms.
- Ecophagy: Ecophagy is a 4-piece heavy metal and rock & roll band based in Shingle Springs. They provide healthy doses of head-banging favorites for their audiences. With their high-energy performances and love for heavy metal and rock & roll music, Ecophagy is sure to get the crowd moving and having a great time.
- Dan McNay: Dan McNay is a multi-talented artist with a diverse range of experiences. He has worked in various industries, written several books, and produced three CDs. Dan has sung and played banjo all over the LA area for the last several years, captivating audiences with his music.
These local community musical acts will be performing on various stages throughout the fairgrounds, offering fairgoers a chance to enjoy a wide variety of music styles and genres. From rock and roll to folk and country, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
Don’t miss your chance to see these talented local musicians perform live at the 2023 Sacramento County Fair!
About the Sacramento County Fair
Over 100,000 guests will enjoy the Sacramento County Fair Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-29, 2023, at Cal Expo. Nearly 10,000 school children will enjoy educational school tours. 5,000 local Sacramento residents will compete for awards in the livestock and competitive exhibit programs. This year’s fair theme is “Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow.”
For more information, please visit www.sacfair.com.
Share the Fair with #SacCoFair and follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SacramentoCountyFair/,
and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacfair
The Goats Are Back… and Other Fire Prevention Measures
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - We’ve goat some exciting news! The Sacramento County Department of Regional Parks has initiated its multi-pronged plan to reduce fire risk, defend wildlife habitats and protect our natural resources and the neighborhoods adjacent to the parks.
For its 2023 Fire Fuel Reduction Action Plan, the Department of Regional Parks has lined up sheep and goat grazing contracts, is utilizing maintenance crews to maintain fire breaks, and is issuing fuel break maintenance permits to properties bordering Park properties.
“We’re seeing more vegetation than we have in past years thanks to the strong winter storms that passed through,” said Liz Bellas, Director of Regional Parks. ”Our fire fuel reduction work is going to be particularly critical this year as this vegetation dries out in the late spring.”
To decrease the number and size potential of wildfires in our parks system, the techniques used will be applicable for each area and will include:
Firebreaks – A combination of mowing, soil discing and targeted herbicides will be used where appropriate to create perimeters around open fields, along fence lines and behind neighborhoods. This work is scheduled to be completed by the end of June.
Ladder Fuel Hand-Crews – In limited, hard-to-reach areas, hand-crews will remove vegetation that allows the potential for a fire to climb up or move into urban areas.
Grazing –There are hundreds of acres of undeveloped or protected land in our Regional Parks. Goats and sheep are ideal for vegetation management and are great at eating down weeds, bushes and grass that manned crews cannot get to. Grazing is expected to occur through the end of June.
Annual Encroachment Permits – Residents who live adjacent to Regional Parks’ properties are able to apply for free annual encroachment permits to maintain a fire break behind their property line. These allow residents to string-trim grass and weeds for up to 50 feet beyond their private property line. To request a permit, provide your name, address and contact information to Regional Parks at parksinfo@SacCounty.gov.
Additionally, the Ranger Division will continue its increased education and enforcement efforts related to illegal fires and cooking along the parkway in an effort to reduce the number of new fire outbreaks.
Visitors to Sacramento County Regional Parks should be aware of the following regulations:
Open flame fires are NOT allowed, and barbequing is only permitted in designated picnic areas.
Smoking is only allowed in developed picnic areas, asphalt surfaces, golf courses and levee tops along the American River Parkway.
Visit the Regional Parks website to learn more about the 2023 Fire Fuel Reduction Action Plan for Sacramento County Parks. If you see a fire burning in our Regional Parks, please call 9-1-1.
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - May is Older Americans Month. Established in 1963, Older Americans Month is meant to raise awareness about stereotypes of older adults and the issues they face. To learn more about Older Americans Month, visit the Older Americans Month webpage.
In honor of Older Americans Month, challenge ageist stereotypes of growing older by celebrating the age, wisdom and experience of older friends, neighbors and family members. Look out for vulnerable older people and talk to them about financial wellness. Financial abuse awareness is critical for older adults who are targeted by scammers specifically because of their age. In Sacramento County and all over the United States, older adults fall victim to financial abuse or scams.
Financial abuse can include someone stealing money or credit cards. It can also occur when an older adult is forced to sign a document related to finances or property. If you or someone you know has experienced elder financial abuse, contact law enforcement and Sacramento County Adult Protective Services. Any member of the public, including an older or dependent adult seeking help, or family members and friends, can make a report to Sacramento County’s Adult Protective Services (APS) at (916) 874-9377. When crimes do occur, Sacramento County’s District Attorney works closely with victim advocates to provide confidential support and assistance.
“Our victim advocates provide crisis counseling, assistance with emergency protective orders, advocacy and support through the court process, assistance in applying for victim compensation, and referrals to community programs and resources. Our office is also very active in educating seniors and the general public about the types of elder and dependent adult abuse, how to recognize signs of abuse, how to prevent it from happening, and how to report it when it does occur,” said Assistant Chief Deputy District Attorney Dawn Bladet.
If you are unsure of a situation involving an elder or dependent adult, but have a feeling something might be wrong, APS workers can investigate and help them figure out the best way to respond. According to Sacramento County’s Deputy Director for Senior and Adult Services Melissa Jacobs, 25% of the allegations reported to APS in the last 12 months were related to financial abuse/exploitation.
“Sacramento County Senior & Adult Services is continuing to strengthen our partnership with the local Agency on Aging/Area 4 and other partners to provide additional resources and supports for our community of older adults,” said Jacobs.
The older adults in your life likely spent many years working hard, caring for others and contributing to their community. This Older Americans Month, take the time to say thank you and celebrate aging. It is a time for friends and family to reach out to the older people in our lives to let them know how much we love and appreciate them. This Older Americans Month, take the time to visit, chat, share helpful information and resources, and celebrate with the older adults in your life.
Effie Art Gala Back
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Carmichael Wildlife lovers will open hearts and wallets for the Effie Yeaw Nature Center Spring Gala on June 11.
Supporters of the beloved Carmichael non-profit will wine, dine and likely see wildlife within yards of their tables.
Rio Americano musicians will provide background jazz as radio host Doug Thomas emcees and auctioneer Keith McLane spurs donor generosity. Much of the proceeds go to programs for schools that could not otherwise afford student nature experiences.
The fundraiser traditionally centers on an art auction. Donations this year include work from Carmichael painters Pat Mahony, Tom Sellas and the late Earl Boley. Deladier Almeida, William Ishmael, Boyd Gavin, Terry Miura and David Post have also provided canvases and an original etching by internationally famed Jian Wang will be offered.
Experiences up for grabs include Sacramento Philharmonic season tickets, a performance of Les Misérables, VIP Sacramento Kings seats, wildlife tours, wine tastings, Sacramento River Cats admission, camping vacations, and an airplane ride through the Sierra Foothills.
Patrons are also encouraged to raise paddles to fund specific Nature Center needs. Administered by the American River Natural History Association, the facility welcomes more than 100,000 visitors per year. An adjacent 100-acre preserve is protected home for wildlife of many species.
Gala tickets are $160 each and include dinner by Bella Bru, plus hosted beer and wine. 2023 sponsors include Fred and Betsy Weiland, Sierra National Construction, Deborah and Bob Moskovitz, Marcy Friedman, SMUD, Drs Kevin Tanner and Gabrielle Rasi, Randy Getz and Pat Mahony and Cbec Eco Engineering.
For fundraiser information, visit www.sacnaturecenter.net
Summer Park Concerts Kick Off
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Travelling from near and far, nearly 700 musicians will fanfare the local concert season with a weekend blow-out June 3 and 4.
A Carmichael tradition, the Community Band Festival began 50 years ago with a performance by the Sacramento Concert Band. In following decades, the event morphed into a weekend celebration combining volunteer ensembles from all over greater Sacramento, the Foothills and Bay Area.
Anyone may applaud their talents between the hours of 10 am to 8 pm on Saturday, June 3. On Sunday June 4, bands will play from 11 am till 8 pm.
A performance by the Sacramento Youth Band kicks off the two-day fest. Saturday’s “Jazz Evening” features the Fred Morgan Big Band and Swingmasters Big Band. Perennial crowd pleasers, the Ophir Prison Marching Band will commandeer the stage on Sunday morning.
A combined 17 hours of music includes concert bands; brass bands; jazz groups and a society ensemble that specializes in dance music of the 1920s and 30s.
Audience attendance is free, and dancers are welcome but – following the demise of shade trees in the bandshell area – fans are advised to add hats and parasols to picnic equipment.
Carmichael Park District Concert Season Begins
Performances are in Carmichael Park at 6:30 pm. The lineup includes:
June 17: Kicks (variety pop).
June 24: Jax Hammer (rock/blues).
July 4: Fast Times (Tuesday, La Sierra Community Center). 6:30 pm.
July 8: Dave Terry All Star Band (classic hits).
July 15: Wasted Space (rock).
July 22: Maya (Latin tribute).
July 29: Hipper than Hip (rock).
August 5: Todd Morgan and the Emblems (rock).
August 12: On Air (classic hits).
August 19: Latin Touch (Latin).
August 26: Dyana and the Cherry Kings (rockabilly).
The concert band shell is located near the North Avenue entrance to Carmichael Park.
On Sunday, September 24, Todd Morgan and the Emblems will entertain at Gibbons Park (4701 Gibbons Drive, Carmichael).