There are many people in this world that work hard for our country and they sacrifice so much for us. That’s why we should be so thankful for them. My family went […]
Young Observers: Mid December Edition
An Interview with Newly-Elected District 2 Councilmember Nick Dunlap
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Fullerton Observer (FO): You have received campaign large campaign contributions from property owners groups and persons like California Real Estate PAC, the Apartment […]
An Interview with Newly-Elected District 1 Councilmember Fred Jung
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Fullerton Observer (FO): You stated in your campaign that you were opposed to Measure S, the failed sales tax increase. Given Fullerton’s current […]
Residents Report Inconsistent Trash Pickup in Fullerton
Residential trash collection contracted through the City with Republic Services has been inconsistent for a number of Fullerton residents during the last few months. It’s not just a single house or a […]
The Downtown Report: Mid December Edition
Sparkle Ball Alliteration The famously fun, fantastic Fullerton Sparkle Ball display is finally in full force, and, being invited to check it out via an all-access pass and a street-by-street tour in […]
Fiberoptic Microtrenching Impact on Streets and Infrastructure
Fullerton Observer readers have submitted letters complaining of construction disruptions and the destruction of the roads where fiber optic lines are being installed by micro-trenching in the street. The jack hammers are […]
Fullerton Police Downplay Enforcement of COVID-19 Restrictions
The Fullerton Police Department has announced that it will continue to “take an education-first approach with regard to orders imposed by the State.” This approach is consistent with that taken by the […]
City Allows Outdoor Dining In Defiance of State Health Order
The city of Fullerton has decided to defy at least one provision of California’s strict Regional Stay-At-Home Order, which took effect on December 6. The state order was imposed on December 6 […]
December 15 City Council Meeting to be Held at Fullerton Community Center
Due to the increase in COVID-19 cases resulting in the recent Statewide Stay-at-Home order, as well as to recent Cal OSHA regulations, the December 15 City Council meeting will be moved from […]
Film Reviews: “Mank” and “Ammonite”
Looking to something to watch from home? Observer film critic Joyce Mason takes a look at two films currently streaming online, “Mank” and “Ammonite.” Two Hits: Don’t Miss it! A Hit & […]
Local Education Challenges During COVID-19
For over nine months K-12 education has been turned upside down without a consistent plan to resume life with COVID-19. Schools pivoted with changing State guidelines and little federal support. Families, teachers, […]
Hernandez Killing by FPD Sparks Protest for Justice and Transparency
Friends and family of Hector Hernandez, a Fullerton resident who was shot and killed by a Fullerton police officer in front of his home on May 27, gathered in front of the […]
Fullerton City Facility and Service Updates/Closures
In accordance with Governor Newsom’s “Stay at Home” order to slow the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), effective Wednesday, December 9, Fullerton will implement additional temporary changes to City government functions. The “Stay […]
Fox Theater Restoration Update
Phase 2 Construction at the Fox Paves Way for Certificate of Occupancy/Opening in 2021 Though it was saved from the wrecking ball in 2004, it’s been a lengthy rehabilitation process for Fullerton’s […]
A New Community Garden
Our state produces nearly half of all the fresh fruit and vegetables in this nation and yet according to California Association of Food Banks, 1 in 8 Californians currently struggle with food […]
City Council Campaign Contribution Limits
The city of Fullerton has no campaign contribution limits for City Council candidates. But as of January 1, 2021, the State will begin enforcing Assembly Bill 571, which caps individual contributions at […]
Newly Elected Council Members Sworn In, New Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem Selected
The three newly-elected Fullerton City Council members were sworn in at the December 1 Council meeting. Due to COVID-19 precautions, the meeting was only open to a limited number of family and […]
Ways to Improve Public Participation During COVID-19
The ability for Fullerton residents to participate in local decision-making is becoming more difficult with COVID-19 restrictions. Any issue that dramatically affects someone’s personal or business life, including zoning of a nearby […]
Bicyclist Killed in Traffic Collision
Fullerton Police Officers responded to a traffic collision involving a motor vehicle and a bicyclist in the area of Bastanchury Road and Lancer Way on Monday, November 23. Upon arrival, Officers located […]
Recollections of the Wilshire Theater
Since so many theaters are closing because of the pandemic, I thought it would be interesting to write about one of Fullerton’s most beloved movie houses, the Wilshire Theater, which closed roughly […]
Young Observers: Early December Edition
Sunny Hills High School ranked among the top schools in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). “The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s PISA measures 15-year-olds’ ability to use their […]
Fullerton Bans RV Street Parking: Is This Criminalizing Homelessness?
Fullerton City Council voted unanimously at their November 17 meeting to ban all RV parking on public and private streets citywide unless first obtaining a temporary permit from the police department. This […]
Dramatic Increase in COVID-19 Forces Return of Restrictive Health Measures
Rising Cases of COVID-19 Orange County’s rates of coronavirus transmission are spiking once again, with metrics in most categories steadily rising in recent weeks. Daily reports of new COVID-19 cases are now […]
Homeless Outreach/Enforcement During COVID-19 and Cold Weather Months
For the past couple years, the city of Fullerton has been legally unable to enforce its “anti-camping” ordinance (ticketing people for sleeping outside) due to the court case Martin v. Boise and […]
The Fox Theatre’s Tea Room Windows Restored
If anyone was wondering lately what is going on in the second story of the Fox Theater’s “Tea Room” as you drove or walked down Harbor Blvd, well…more restoration work. Fox Board […]
The Downtown Report: Early December 2020
Kick 2020 to the Curb We can all finally agree on one thing—the end of this year can’t come early enough. So, that makes an early year in review appropriate just as […]
The More Things Change…Orange County a Century Ago
Excerpts from the The Orange County Review (1921) Among the many treasures hidden in the archives of the Fullerton Public Library Local History Room are digital copies of a monthly magazine called […]
Hundreds of Cars Show Up for Thanksgiving Food Drive
Cars lined up for blocks along Commonwealth Ave. in Fullerton on Sunday morning, November 22 to receive a free Thanksgiving turkey and groceries. The Second Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway was part of […]
Council Approves Cannabis Ordinance
Fullerton City Council voted 3-2 at their November 17 meeting, to approve an ordinance that allows and regulates commercial cannabis businesses in the City. Despite the fact that Prop 64 (which legalized […]
A New Outdoor Sculpture at the Muck
The Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton held a socially distant ribbon cutting ceremony on November 12 to celebrate their completed sculpture garden. The sculpture garden was initiated in May to allow for […]
Sylvia Mendez Receives Warrior Award
Sylvia Mendez, whose family was among the five families who won the landmark school desegregation case Mendez v. Westminster, received the 2020 “Warrior Award” at the 16th Annual Women in Leadership Forum […]
Fundraising Events for the Fullerton Museum Center
Pretty sure you’ve been reading this statement (or a variation of it) everywhere: Thanksgiving is looking very different this year. But even in the bleakest of scenarios the spirit of giving and […]
Universal Children’s Day is Nov. 20
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child May Be on Hold in the US Senate but Supporting Children’s Rights Is Not Do you know that one way to support children is […]
Council Saves Bastanchury Tree Farm as a Creekside Park
A 7-acre City-owned park on the northwest corner of Bastanchury and Parks will be retained as a park. The City Council had declared it as “surplus” in August in an attempt to […]
Film Review: “Rebuilding Paradise” Gets Two Hits
Ron Howard won fame as a child star in “Happy Days” and grew up to be one of Hollywood’s most successful filmmakers, both for feature films, winning an Academy Award for “A […]
