Kiwanis Club of Citrus Heights

10/19/2026

On October 16, the Kiwanis Clubs of Citrus Heights and Orangevale-Fair Oaks held a joint officer installation at the home of Tom Steadman.
Emcee for the evening was Ray Robinson, Municipal Contract Supervisor at Republic Services, one of our four corporate sponsors. Introducing the presenters of awards and recognition was our new Division 44 Lt Governor Ashley Stroke.
Tom presented to Bill Hooper the George F. Hixon Diamond Level Three award. Bill has been a member of Citrus Heights Kiwanis for 49 of the club’s 54 years. He has been President four times, President of the Board of Kiwanis Family House, and has held Board and officer positions at all levels of Kiwanis.
Jim Putnam then presented to Tom the Tablet of Honor. In addition to being a charter member of the OVFO club, Tom was a member of Key Club and has been a member of the Citrus Heights Club since 2017, most recently serving as Co-President.
In Citrus Heights, the Co-Presidents for 2026-27 will be Megan Smith-Fajardo and Katie Escajeda. Does that name sound familiar. . .?
In Orangevale-Fair Oaks, the President of the club will be Alexandra Richards, succeeding David Houghton. Alex’s husband Brian will be Vice-President of that club. Bradley Miller is also an officer in both clubs.

10/14/2026

We had a wonderful time at Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce Zest Fest!

We loved being surrounded by our community partners Republic Services, Ben's Barketplace Citrus Heights, Citrus Heights Water District, and Sunrise Recreation & Park District. As well as connecting with new community members and potential partners!!

10/08/2026

At our meeting on Wednesday, October 7, our guest speaker was Eleazar Jones, Co-Director of the City Life Sayonara Center.
The Center was founded in 2004, and its 12 volunteers currently serve 25 students in grades 1 through 12.
The center’s meals, homework help, snacks, worksheets, crafts, baking skills, games, speakers, and field trips are provided at no cost. Sunrise Food Ministry donates food once a month to 20 families and the center has connections with organizations that provide family resources.
Students can be on their phones for 1 hour after they arrive, then they must engage in some worthwhile activity. They are given 2 reward tickets when they arrive and can earn more through helpful engagement to “buy” treats stored in a prize cabinet.
Eleazar recruits students from nearby Kingswood Elementary by appearing every Wednesday with donuts. 😊
Funding comes from Citrus Heights City Public Services, local organizations, churches, and non-profits.
The center does not interact with the San Juan School District.

09/30/2026

At the September DCM, outgoing Div 44 Lt Governor Sophie Cabrera presented an award to Katie Escajeda to thank Katie for all the help that she provided throughout the year. “I was so relieved when Katie said she would step into the tech responsibility role. Katie responded to all of my District requests for information and was essential in coordinating the Division statistical information and online events. She AND Lando were a real reminder of our what the mission of Kiwanis is. Our youth are our focus and Lando has been at every DCM with Katie. He may not know it now, but he is our future and that's why we do what we do.”

09/04/2026

We presented the Community Service award to the Citrus Heights Water District at our meeting on September 2 to recognize the multiple ways in which it strengthens our community. Accepting the award from President Tom Steadman were ( l to r) Water District Board President Ray Riehle, Accounting Manager Ben Strange, and Management Analyst Jace Nunes. CHWD serves about 60% of the area within the boundaries of Citrus Heights.
Our guest speakers said that the CHWD offers many opportunities for its 70,000 customers to receive rebates for conscientious use of the water that it provides through 500 miles of pipes from its current six wells and two more that will be completed in 2027. CHWD also purchases water from the San Juan Water District.
Recently CHWD partnered with SMUD to give customers rebates for planting shade trees. There will be no rate increase in 2027; CHWD rates have been below the region’s average for the past ten years.
To guarantee its ability to continue to provide clean water, CHWD’s Project 2030 will serve the next three generations by replacing more than 70% of its aging water mains, beginning in the year 2030 and ending in 2080.
We applaud the Citrus Heights Water District for its many cost- and environmentally aware programs that provide clean, safe water to our community.

08/28/2026

We donated $1000 to the Duane Heglie and Family Scholarship Fund; it will be one of the 5 awards given by the Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland education fund to a Native American student pursuing continuing education.
Duane spoke to our club on August 5 about the Nez Perce Trail. (General Oliver O. Howard pursued Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce for 1300 miles in 1877, from Wallowa, OR, to the Montana border with Canada. The Nez Perce were cornered within 40 miles of that border.)
Duane is a professor, educator, and a lifetime member of the Nez Perce Trail Foundation (NPTF) who shares a deep connection with Wallowa, Oregon, through his work in Native American studies and indigenous advocacy.

08/24/2026

07/16/2026

Deputy District Attorney Teresa Sydow was our guest speaker on July 15. She has been with the Prosecutors office for 27 years, the bulk of that time on child abuse cases. Since January 2023, she has worked closely with law enforcement, focusing on internet-originated crimes against children. She said that “these crimes are growing faster than we can keep up with them.”
The CyberTipline receives reports from the public and online electronic service providers (ESPs) with the majority coming from ESPs. Some of the cases are reported by friends revealing activities of their friends, and there are also misguided vigilante groups who try to help law enforcement. The federal law requiring social media sites and online services to report child exploitation crimes is 18 U.S. Code § 2258A. (“But the fact is that online predators have corporate sponsorship.”)
The challenges that her office faces:
• A lax approach in this state to these types of crime, even by judges
• A huge lack of financial resources
• Short staffing in the DA’s office
• Staff burnout from constantly facing such horrors
The main thing we can do is let all the kids on our lives know that they have a safe person to talk to.
For help and information, a good source is https://www.missingkids.org/home

07/01/2026

The countdown is on!

Only a few days until Independence Day!

Skip the big-box stores and support organizations making a difference right here in Citrus Heights.

Every purchase helps fund:
🏀 Mesa Verde Girls Basketball
💙 Kiwanis Club community service projects

📍7000 Sunrise Blvd
Near R Vida Cantina

We're stocked, ready, and excited to help you find the perfect fireworks for your celebration!

Come by and say hello!

06/30/2026

🎆 Fireworks Season is HERE! 🎆

Looking for the best place to buy your fireworks this Fourth of July?

Stop by the Girls Basketball & Kiwanis Club of Citrus Heights Fireworks Stand!

📍 7000 Sunrise Blvd, Citrus Heights
(Near R Vida Cantina)

When you shop with us, you're doing more than buying fireworks—you’re supporting:
🏀 Mesa Verde High School Girls Basketball
💙 Kiwanis Club of Citrus Heights
❤️ Local youth, school programs, and community projects

We have:
✨ Family Packs
✨ Sparklers
✨ Fountains
✨ 500 Gram Cakes
✨ Novelties
✨ And so much more!

Come see our amazing volunteers and let us help you celebrate safely!