Neighbors of Adlena Park were concerned when Fullerton city arborist Roger Cardenas recently marked five of the park’s Chinese Elms for removal. “The City plans on removing these trees which are basically […]
Adlena Park shade trees set for removal
Health Officials urge vaccination as Delta surge worsens
After months of decline, the number of COVID-19 patients in Orange County has spiked. As of the third week of August, Orange County has recorded approximately 650 new positive COVID cases each […]
Changes to Street Sweeping signs, days, and times coming to your area
Photo by Vince Buck The Observer sent to the City Manager’s office an email inquiring about recently installed street sweeping signs and the tickets given to car owners, seemingly without notice. The […]
Certified Farmers Market welcomes a new farmer
Grace Legaspi of Tiny Leaf Farms is the newest certified farmer at the Certified Farmers Market held every Wednesday at the Fullerton Community Center. Legaspi sells micro greens that are highly nutritious […]
Equity Map Shows Social Disparities
Finding solutions to social problems such as poverty, hunger, and health inequities starts with having good data. From there, policy makers and community members can develop effective solutions. This is the goal […]
City Council to decide whether to appoint redistricting commission
Fullerton’s City Council will consider on Tuesday, August 17 whether to decide new boundaries for council districts themselves or instead appoint a commission for that purpose. Council districts are required by law […]
Bar defends itself against accusations at protest
Local bar JP23 Urban Kitchen was the target of another protest on Saturday, August 14 by demonstrators demanding the bar be closed. Police are continuing to investigate allegations of a rape downtown […]
Have Blues, Will Travel: A Trip Worth Taking
Have Blues, Will Travel: Traveling Blues Musicians in the Jim Crow Era Fullerton Museum Center, July 24 – End of August, 2021 Tucked into the back of the Fullerton Museum’s Have Blues, Will […]
Neighborhood fights the destruction of Adlena Park Trees
The City of Fullerton has marked five of the dozen Chinese Elm Trees at Adlena Park in preparation of cutting them down – and neighbors are not happy. The beautiful tall trees with their graceful […]
Attorney, Coalition Dispute District Attorney’s Report about Hector Hernandez Killing
Members of a coalition which was formed to demand justice for a man killed by Fullerton police last year are decrying a decision by Orange County District Attorney not to prosecute the […]
Case against Councilmember Ahmad Zahra dismissed
During the public comments portion of the recent City Council meeting on August 3, Zoom caller, Marlena Carrillo accused City Council of not being transparent and cited two charges against Councilmember […]
Council approves Pacific Drive Park improvements
After many years of waiting, residents of the neighborhood around Pacific Drive Park will finally see their park improved. Fullerton Council voted unanimously at the August 3 meeting to award an $844,845 […]
Protesters demand shut down of Fullerton restaurant
Around 20 demonstrators showed up on August 7th and that number doubled on August 8th in front of JP23 Urban Kitchen on the corner of Commonwealth Ave and Harbor Blvd. “It is a […]
Fullerton’s Community Tree Plan
What: “Fullerton’s Community Forest Management Plan & Intro to Urban Forestry” Community Workshop Series hosted by the City and West Coast Arborists. Why: Your opinion matters. Participate to learn more and help […]
FJUHSD Offers Mental Health Services
For the past four years FJUHSD has increasingly focused on social and emotional health and greater overall mental health care by expanding mental health resources, particularly for extreme mental health emergencies through […]
Police Investigate Rape in Downtown Fullerton
Fullerton police are investigating an alleged rape that happened on August 1, in downtown. Samantha Velasquez said she had been dancing at JP23 Urban Kitchen and accepted a drink from two women […]
District Attorney will not charge Fullerton Police Officer in Hector Hernandez killing
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer has released a report declaring that his office will not charge Fullerton Police Corporal Jonathan Ferrell in the May 27, 2020 shooting death of resident Hector […]
Young Observers: August Edition
In two weeks, Fullerton schools will reopen to regular in-person classes despite the renewed threat from COVID-19 variants and the significant rise in daily new cases. I reached out to a small […]
PFAS Extraction Plant Makes History
The Orange County Water District and the city of Fullerton have begun operation of OC’s first wellhead filtration treatment plant to remove the contaminants Per-and-polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) from local well water. The Kimberly […]
Governor Signs Mobile Home Rent Stabilization Bill
After a two-year journey, Assembly Bill 978 was signed into law by Governor Newsom last month. The bill provides rent gouging protections by prohibiting management of a mobile home park that is […]
The Limits of Desegregation: a Story of Maple School (Part 5)
The following is part of an ongoing series about school desegregation efforts in Fullerton from the 1960s to today. ‘White Flight’ Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the percentage of ethnic minority students […]
The Downtown Report: August Edition
SoCo Evolution Since 1946, the Ellingson family has operated a precision machine shop, and today they produce critically machined parts for the aerospace industry. Leo Fender set up his retail store on […]
Council Selects Developer for Affordable Housing on Commonwealth
The Fullerton City Council has selected National Community Renaissance of California, or CORE, as the developer for City-owned property located at 1600 W. Commonwealth Ave. The Rancho Cucamonga-based non-profit proposes a mini-complex […]
From Whiting Avenue to Whiting Ranch’s Red Rock Canyon
Many Fullerton residents may be familiar with Whiting Avenue, but many may may not know how the street got its name. Once the town of Fullerton had been christened, the Amerige Brothers […]
Museum of Teaching and Learning Receives Grant for Brain Odyssey Exhibit
The Fullerton-based Museum of Teaching and Learning (MOTAL) has received a $500,000 grant in the 2020-2021 California Budget. The money will be used to help fund a mobile exhibit about the importance […]
Fullerton College President Moves on to Citrus College
Over the last six years, thousands of students met President Greg Schulz as he worked his way through the Fullerton College campus during the first week of each semester. He enjoyed dropping […]
State budget provides $28.5 million for additional Coyote Hills open space
California’s 2021-2022 State Budget Bill (AB128), recently signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, includes $28.5 million for acquisition of remaining undeveloped areas of Fullerton’s Coyote Hills. Although a purchase agreement with landowner Chevron […]
My Year to Conquer the Squirrels
This is the year I have vowed to conquer the squirrels for two reasons. One, they decimate avocados. Two, they plant pecan trees all over my yard, even in plant pots, and […]
Hunt Library Receives $ 2.75 Million in State Funding
The Hunt Library has received $ 2.75 million in funding in the 2021/2022 fiscal year budget just signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. This new round of funding will add to a $ […]
Arboretum Reopens
The Fullerton Arboretum at Cal State Fullerton reopened July 7 with summer hours. It has been closed since spring 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the closure, the 26-acre botanical garden’s […]
Man dies in hit-and-run
Fullerton Police Officers responded to an incident involving an unresponsive male with significant injuries on Thursday, July 8, at approximately 3:32am in the area of Harbor Blvd and Orangethorpe Ave. The injuries […]
The Observer Asks
What are your favorite things about Fullerton? How would you improve Fullerton? Would you like to be in the next issue? Send the Observer your photo, name, city, and answer to these […]
Fullerton City Council Notes, July 6, 2021
Matthew Leslie All Council members attending. It was reported that during Closed Session the Council had acted regarding an appeal of attorney fees in the City’s legal dispute with Air Combat U.S.A. […]
California Citizens Redistricting Commission to Host Communities of Interest Virtual Meeting for OC
SACRAMENTO, CA—On Thursday, July 8, 2021, the California Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission) will host a Communities of Interest (COI) virtual hearing to capture community specific data that will help the Commissioners respect […]
A Potential Trail Along Fullerton’s Abandoned Union Pacific Tracks
Back in 2009, Brea community meetings were held to find a way to convert the city’s abandoned rails into trails for walking, running and biking, instead of places where people dumped trash […]
