Vince Buck is CSUF Professor Emeritus, Political Science Fullerton City Councilmembers have all been elected by district only since December 2020. The districts were first created in 2016, but now that the […]
City Redistricting: the politics behind the process
Korean War Memorial Unveiled
Hundreds of residents, veterans, families, visitors from Korea, and local leaders dedicated the new Orange County Korean War Memorial, located at Hillcrest Park in Fullerton on Veteran’s Day, November 11. “Today we […]
Council seeks alternatives for proposed south Fullerton trail
A proposed trail in south Fullerton along an abandoned railroad right-of-way became the focus of heated discussion and raised questions of conflicts of interest during the November 2 Council meeting. Back in […]
Fullerton Heritage Presents: Local Landmark – Russell House
Constructed in 1903, the impressive Colonial Revival home at 516 West Amerige Avenue was originally situated in the 100 block of West Commonwealth Avenue and then moved to its current location in […]
Gertie and Ernst
My father grew up in Germany in the Nazi time; our family is Jewish. My grandparents brought their family to the United States in 1935. However, many family members were left behind […]
As Fullerton Prepares Housing Plan, Affordability a Challenge and Opportunity
It’s no secret that housing is expensive in California. For long-time homeowners, rising home values have been a boon. But for the millions in California and the thousands in Fullerton who don’t […]
Fullerton’s 34th annual Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony November 11
Brigadier General Christopher Barra, Commander, 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command, will be the patriotic speaker at Fullerton’s 34th Annual Veterans Day observance Thursday, November 11. The event, hosted by Fullerton American Legion Post […]
Fullerton: A “Preserve America Community”
Entering Fullerton city limits on Chapman Avenue, one sees a sign that says Fullerton is a “Preserve America Community.” It turns out that the Preserve America Program, a federal initiative developed to […]
Downtown Report: Early November Edition
Save the Ocean You may not have noticed storm drains around town, but anyone in Southern California knows just how much toxic waste we pour into our life-giving Pacific Ocean. In addition […]
Movement in the Garden
I love the contrasting foliage colors, the drought tolerance, and year-round dependability of succulents. But with their rigid water-filled stems and leaves, a succulent garden can appear somewhat static. California native wildflowers […]
Wednesday Farmers Market has a new vendor
Meet Mohammed Alkodmani of Nailed it Foods. He is a new vendor at Wednesday Certified Farmers Market. Mohammed says, “Our snack bites are delicious and nutritious. They will curb your sweet tooth […]
City Manager Recruitment Reopened
The City has re-opened its recruitment for a permanent City Manager. Following the termination of Fullerton’s previous City Manager Ken Domer in April, the City retained Steve Danley to serve as acting […]
Young Observers: Early November Edition
It is a major school event that seems to count among the great high school memories. But last year, my freshman self struggled to figure out how homecoming (HoCo) works. Due to […]
City Council to decide on two large housing developments
Hub Fullerton: 420 units on 3.55 acres (118 dwelling units per acre, no affordable units). City Council will decide on this project at Chapman and Commonwealth at its November 2 meeting at […]
Whitaker, Dunlap, and Jung appointees vote as a majority to select at-large members to Redistricting Advisory Commission
The Fullerton Redistricting Advisory Commission met for the first time on October 27 in City Council Chambers. The five members directly appointed by City Council were tasked with selecting a chair and […]
City and Foundation move homeless from shelter
Due to a lack of funding, residents at Fullerton’s Navigation Center (homeless shelter) are being moved to other shelters in the area. “The city of Fullerton allocated $440,000 of [Federal] funds for […]
FJUHSD Dual Pathway Programs
La Habra High School Principal Matt Eeles mentioned the Golden Bell award-winning Heritage Humanities dual pathway program during his school report at the September 14 FJUHSD Board meeting. Dual pathway programs offer […]
From the Killing Fields to Orange County: a Refugee Story
Fullerton resident Susan Ellis Ouleween is a successful businesswoman. She owns an audiovisual company, works as an HR consultant for major corporations, is a mother of two, and a proud member of […]
Tree of the Month: Coast Live Oak at Fullerton College
The Heritage Trees Committee (HTC) presents the Coast Live Oak at 434 E. Chapman Avenue as November’s Tree of the Month. It was chosen to recognize its historic, cultural, and ecological values […]
Council remains deadlocked over relief funds and budget cuts
City Council was again unable to come to a consensus at their October 19 meeting about whether to make budget cuts and how to allocate the $32.7 million the City received from […]
Juvenile arrested in murder case
A 17-year-old male was arrested on Oct 21 in connection to a murder that happened on May 28. The suspect fired a gun into a vehicle around 8pm on the 3500 block […]
Public safety concerning City parking structures
The public parking structures and downtown area surveillance cameras have been out of order for nearly two years. The City Council unanimously approved $1.4 million for a new camera system at the […]
Planning Commission Notes
High-Density Housing Proposed for Orangethorpe and Lemon Put on Brief Hold Below are recent and upcoming housing developments discussed by the Fullerton Planning Commission: Street Lights Fullerton: 329 units on 4.77 acres […]
Monte Alban keeps Mexican culture and tradition alive through folkloric dance
Early on a Saturday morning in a parking lot behind the family-run business of El Pachuco, shouts and spirited cries were exchanged between folkloric dancers and their families in the audience as […]
Fullerton to Release Housing Plan
City Planning Manager Heather Allen hosted a virtual community workshop on October 7 to preview Fullerton’s upcoming draft Housing Element, which is set to be released on October 25. A Housing Element […]
The Downtown Report: Mid October Edition
Human Library You may think this is about the many “Little free libraries” you read about in the last issue of The Observer. I have one in my neighborhood, and what a […]
Two new bars proposed for downtown despite current alcohol-related problems
Over the years the city of Fullerton has approved 58 alcohol licenses in the 12-block downtown Restaurant Overlay District (ROD). Recent police records show numerous incidences of assaults, rapes, DUIs, and vandalism […]
Young Observers: Mid October Issue
It’s Club Rush season. Have you picked your club? Our school principal recently announced a “record-setting Club Rush” with a combined new and existing 91 clubs participating in the week-long exhibit and […]
Council deadlocked over budget cuts and use of federal relief funds
City Council was unable to reach consensus at their October 5 meeting on whether to make budget cuts and how to allocate the $32.7 million in federal aid the City received from […]
OC Human Relations report shows rise in hate crimes
The Orange County Human Relations Commission has released its 2020 hate crimes report. Orange County experienced 112 reported hate crimes in 2020, a 35% increase from 2019. In the last five years, […]
‘Land as Kin’ explores Southern California through native eyes
The latest exhibit at the Fullerton Museum Center “Land as Kin” features work by native American artists living and working in Southern California. The exhibit recontextualizes the modern landscape through native perspectives. […]
Sexual assault facts in Fullerton
Over 30 rapes have been reported in Fullerton since January 2021 according to police records. The most recent FBI records for our city show 80 reported rapes in 2019, 58 in 2020, […]
Mexican art and furniture store could be replaced by another restaurant/bar
Blanquel Popular Art, a long-established Mexican custom furniture and art store in downtown Fullerton, along with the neighboring Plant Store, may be replaced by an establishment called World of Beer. The item […]
Observing History at Orange County’s Oldest Public Cemetery
On a hazy morning in late September, a thin layer of mist lingered over the gravestones at the Anaheim Cemetery, the oldest of Orange County’s three public graveyards. Sitting in the middle […]
As Afghan refugees arrive in California, many remain trapped and in danger back home
Fatima is an Afghan American woman living in Orange County who is afraid for her family who are still in Afghanistan. She is not alone. As Afghan refugees begin to arrive in […]
