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PUBLIC MEETINGS 

Fullerton City Hall, 

303 W. Commonwealth 

•DOWNTOWN ISSUES: The City invites 

residents to discuss their thoughts and 

concerns about downtown issues at a 

meeting at 7pm on March 4. Call Lt. Dan 

Hughes at 714-728-6745 with questions. 

•TRANSPORTATION CENTER: An update 

will be held at 7pm, Tues. March 10, on 

the proposed Trans Center Specific Plan 

for the 40-acre area between Harbor & 

Lawrence, and Commonwealth & 

Walnut..Call Jay Eastman at 714-738- 

6549 for info. 

Performing Artists Wanted 

The Muckenthaler will hold an audition 

for local performers who would like 

to appear in upcoming shows and festivals 

at the cultural center. Interested dancers, 

singers, music groups, pianists, circus acts, 

solo acts, film makers and poets can call 

Zoot Velasco at 714-738-3328 or email 

Zoot@TheMuck.org to schedule your 

audition time on Saturday, March 14. The 

Muckenthaler Cultural Center is located 

at 1201 W. Malvern in Fullerton, just 

west of Euclid. www.themuck.org 

Educators March 

On Thursday, March 12 from 4:30 to 

5:30pm, a rally to show support for public 

education will be held on the corner of 

Harbor Blvd. and Wilshire Ave. in 

Downtown Fullerton. 

The Fullerton Elementary Teachers 

Association together with other districts, 

Fullerton School District PTA, classified 

employee members of CSEA, management 

and interested community members 

will gather to support students and fellow 

professionals. “We want to show our 

support for our colleagues who will 

receive lay-off notices as a result of severe 

budget reductions. Please join us,” said 

Andy Montoya, president of the 

Fullerton Elementary Teachers Assoc. 

Amerige Court Builder 

Files for Bankruptcy 

WL Homes (aka John Laing Homes), 

the builder involved with the Amerige 

Court project in downtown Fullerton 

filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy documents 

in US Bankruptcy Court of Delaware on 

Thursday, Feb 19 claiming liabiities of 

$937 million. The company, which was 

purchased for over $1 billion by Dubai 

builder Emaar Properties in 2006, is seeking 

protection from its creditors. The 

company has abandoned several developments 

in N. California and other states to 

focus on its developments in S. California. 

INSIDE 

•Page 8 & 9: Discussion on Gang 

Prevention and Programs 

•Page 10 & 11: Homelessness & 

Hunger Programs in Fullerton 

•Page 16: New Mural in Town 

And Much, Much More! 

www.fullertonobserver.com 

FULLERTON 

OBSERVER 

PO BOX 7051 

FULLERTON CA 92834 

phone: 714-525-6402 

FullertonO 

FULLERTON’S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS • est.1978 (printed on 70% recycled paper) Volume 31 #4 • EARLY-MARCH 2009 

Public Meeting on Stadium Issues 

by Bob Rineer 

The North Orange County 

Community College District has agreed 

to meet with neighbors surrounding 

Fullerton College on Wednesday March 

11 at 6:30pm at the Fullerton Senior 

Center, 340 W. Commonwealth (across 

from City Hall), to present the detailed 

design plans of the new football stadium. 

Over 200 resident signatures have been 

obtained on a petition asking that construction 

of the new football stadium to 

be located on Berkeley, just north of 

Chapman at Fullerton College be stopped 

until concerns are addressed about the 

associated lighting, sound system, and 

traffic. 

As required by law, an Environmental 

Impact Report (EIR) was completed on 

the original proposal in 2003/2004. But 

no new report was prepared showing 

impacts of expanding the original project’s 

scope to that of the current plan. As the 

EIR is designed to protect the environment 

and balance the interest of all parties, 

the residents are simply asking that 

the EIR process be completed before construction 

continues. 

The petition was presented to the 

NOCCCD Board at their Feb. 24 meeting. 

The board has made no commitment 

to halt construction or modify the scope 

of the project as yet. However, board- 

members do seem to be making an effort 

to understand the impact of the project 

on neighbors by visiting and talking to 

residents in the vicinity of the college. 

One resident reported that “the 

Chancellor stopped by as I was in my 

front yard and gave me the opportunity to 

frankly express my opinion about the 

Lemon Street parking structure and my 

concerns about the current project.” 

Current plans call for a stadium with 

seating capacity for 2,000, six 100-foot 

light towers, and a stadium-type sound 

system that will abut Berkeley Ave. Up to 

this time, residents have only been shown 

“artists” renditions of the new facility. 

The drawings do not show any of the 

components accurately. Nor do they provide 

any technical details related to sound 

and lighting that are necessary for residents 

to make an informed judgment 

about the impact the stadium will have on 

their homes. 

Signers of the petition repeatedly asked 

the same question: “Why do we need yet 

another largely idle stadium beyond that 

at Cal State Fullerton and the high school 

field where the college team currently 

plays?” 

If you want to stay in touch with the 

latest happenings on this issue you can 

send an email to fcfootballresidents@hotmail.com 

or call 714-222-6794 or attend 

the public meeting. 

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED 

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IN THE OBSERVER CALL 

714-525-6402 

COMMUNITY 

bserver 

CALENDAR Page 12-15 

Coach Jen takes a celebratory plunge with her team after the final season win. PHOTO BY MCCORMACKPHOTOGRAPHY.COM 

SHHS Water Polo Team Undefeated in League 

by Egan Hernandez 

Coach Jennifer “Jen” Crampton’s young 

Frosh Soph Lady Lancers recently completed 

an impressive 10-0 Freeway League 

season. Even without the help of Sunny 

Hill’s talented freshman Amanda Solis, 

whose skills earned her a spot on the 

Varsity team, the young Lady Lancers 

showed incredible poise and determination 

in the pursuit of their perfect Freeway 

League record. 

The girls worked hard all season and 

learned to work together as a team to 

accomplish their “goals” (pun intended). 

Speedy swimming and highly effective 

shooting, passing, and goal keeping were 

trademarks of the team's successful 

offense, along with an aggressive defensive 

style that frustrated opposing teams. 

Upon the recent season ending win, 

Coach Jen was literally dripping with 

delight (not only because she had just 

been “assisted” into pool by the team in 

celebration). Congratulations young Lady 

Lancers on a fantastic season! 

Amateur Chefs Prepare 

to Cook Up a Feast 

Toward Ending Hunger 

& Homelessness Locally 

by Jackie Brown 

Come and see what amateur chefs are 

cooking up for your enjoyment this year 

as the guys from the community stage the 

third annual Food-Loving Guy Raising 

Funds for Fullerton Interfaith Emergency 

Service. 

The event will be held at the Coyote 

Hills Golf Club, 1440 E. Bastanchury 

Road, in Fullerton Sunday, March 29, 

from 6 to 9pm. Call (714) 680-3691 for 

reservations. 

The chefs are volunteering their culinary 

expertise to help FIES end hunger 

and homelessness in our area. 

As a result, guests will be treated to tasty 

portions of appetizers, soups, salads, side 

dishes, entrees and desserts –all prepared 

by amateur chefs. And guests can participate 

in the judging along with the professional 

chefs. 

A silent auction will be held, and entertainment 

will be provided by Monette 

Velasco, equity actress/singer and understudy 

for the role of Kim in the second 

national tour of “Miss Saigon.” She will 

sing her own special tribute to FIES. 

If you’re an amateur chef and have a 

dish that you’re proud to share, here’s a 

chance for you to showcase your talent 

and help Fullerton Interfaith Emergency 

Service reduce hunger and homelessness 

in North Orange County at the same 

time. 

You can enter your favorite dish in one 

of four categories: Appetizers, Salad/Side 

Dish, Entrée or Dessert. Judges will award 

Continued on page 6 

PRESORTED 

STANDARD U.S. 

POSTAGE PAID 

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FULLERTON CA

Page 2 Fullerton Observer 

Senior Scam Alert 

Jane Holt, newly elected Sr. Club 

President, asked me to alert you if you 

haven't already heard about a scam that 

happened to her friend this week. 

Scammers are targeting senior citizens 

by calling them saying they are their 

grandson and are in big trouble and don't 

want their parents to find out. They ask 

for a large sum of money to be sent to 

them. Jane's friend notified the 

Fullerton Police Department at 714-738- 

6715. 

Because senior citizens are very vulnerable 

and may really believe the scammer, 

Jane asked that I notify you so that you 

could please put a warning about this 

scam in your next issue. We hope you 

can spread the word since your paper 

reaches so many people. We thank you for 

your great community service, 

Mo Kelly Fullerton 

Speed Traps 

Hurt the Economy 

Officers in Fullerton are hurting an 

already ailing economy with their speed 

traps. It is an example of being penny 

wise and pound foolish. As city revenues 

decrease due to budget crisis, Police officers 

are asked to increase city revenues by 

increasing speeding tickets and setting up 

additional speed traps. But if one was to 

actually think this through, they would 

realize that speed traps actually hurt the 

economy. 

When choosing where to go for dinner 

and a movie, why go to Fullerton if you 

are going to get hassled for going 5 miles 

over the speed limit? 

It is a myth that speed causes motor 

vehicle crashes. For the past 10 years, the 

number one cause of crashes is distracted 

drivers, specifically from cell phone usage 

– not speed. Prior to that, the number 

one cause was impaired (mostly from 

alcohol) drivers. I should know as I am 

one the leading experts on vehicle trauma 

in the United States. 

Lance M. Williams, MD, 

MPH Emergency Physician 

Pediatric Trauma Prevention Specialist 

Fullerton 

Stadium Opposition 

The neighborhood surrounding the 

new edifice is virtually unanimous in its 

opposition to this boondoggle. Once 

again, the college has attempted to slip 

another monstrosity of a construction 

project through without public input and 

without even a statement that such a project 

is necessary. 

This proposed new stadium will sit 

between two other under-used football 

venues, 300 yards away from the high 

school stadium and two miles away from 

Cal State Fullerton's. Even in densely 

populated urban areas, including our 

biggest cities, one can't find three football 

stadiums within such close proximity. 

The college agrees that its football 

games and track meets occur in daylight 

hours, yet is going ahead with putting up 

six 100-foot high intensity light towers. 

For what? The college claims there will be 

no net loss of parking, yet a simple look at 

the project reveals that already many, 

many parking places have been removed. 

Those of us who have supported the 

college, especially its bond measures, over 

the years now, I suspect, will refuse to support 

any subsequent ones. If the recently 

passed "Measure X" shows the construction 

of a new football stadium, then it 

must be in the very fine print. Nor is it 

in the EIR, submitted back in 2003. 

College officials must have assumed that 

by calling this stadium structure simply a 

"renovation" they could get away with 

this deception. 

Fred Lentz Fullerton 

COMMUNITY OPINIONS continued on page 5 EARLY-MARCH 2009 

School District Cuts 

Devastate Arts 

Open Letter to the School Board 

During these extremely tough economic 

times, and as you make budgetary decisions, 

please keep the welfare of our children 

first and foremost in your mind. 

Please remember that your job is to keep 

the pain of an extraordinarily dismal 

budget as far away from them as humanly 

possible. You are the stewards of their 

future. The decisions you make will effect 

our children for the rest of their lives. 

It is your responsibility to provide 

them with an education that prepares 

them for life in the 21st century. It is your 

responsibility to prepare them for a world 

in which creativity is an absolutely essential 

and critical component of their success. 

The arts nurture creative thinking in a 

way that no other subjects can. Cutting 

the arts out of a child's education is akin 

to neglecting to teach a child how to read. 

For 19 years you have had the wisdom 

to give Fullerton's children an outstanding 

education through the “All the Arts 

for All the Kids” program. Now more 

than ever our children need that outstanding 

education and the creativity it develops. 

You have accepted the responsibility 

for the well-being of every single child in 

the Fullerton School District. To devastate 

"All the Arts for All the Kids", which 

is the one program in the District that 

reaches more than 10,000 children, is not 

the right thing to do. 

Please honor your responsibility to our 

children, continue in your wisdom and 

continue fully funding “All the Arts for All 

the Kids.” 

Becky Hall Fullerton 

“Everyone needs to share the pain,” said 

Fullerton Elementary School District 

Superintendent Hovey at the community 

meeting on February 26. 

I don’t believe that every program needs 

to feel the painful cut across the board. 

Core programs such as music and art 

should not be up on the chopping block. 

There are alternative cuts that could be 

made instead. 

Programs that cost a lot of money to 

retain and maintain but are beneficial for 

only a small segment of the student population-like 

the 1-1 laptop program, like 

the International Baccalaureate program 

would be better choices for cuts. There 

are already programs in place that meet 

the social and technology needs of all the 

students within all the school sites. Focus 

and build upon the programs that benefit 

all and not just a few. 

Teachers are hired based on the number 

of students there are to teach, but the 

coordinators, directors and district specialists 

have no such limit. It appears that 

the district has a lot of these positions. I 

say let them go. Buck up and do with less 

of these positions. 

Send Teachers On Special Assignment 

(TOSAs –a teacher who is out of the classroom 

but is being paid the same rate and 

goes around to other school sites helping 

out with curriculum development) back 

to the classroom. Cut costly trainings, 

conferences, and consultants selling yet 

another plan to train teachers how to get 

kids’ test scores up. Instead utilize the 

numerous teachers and administrators on 

hand, with the knowledge that they have 

acquired, to provide the trainings at a 

quarter of the cost of some consultant 

guru. 

How about increasing the classroom 

size by one to two students in the classes 

that are twenty to one? As a teacher 

Miss Fullerton 

Not from Fullerton 

I read the report on the Miss Fullerton 

and Miss Teen Fullerton pageant in the 

Mid-Feb Observer. While both of the 

winners are beautiful, talented and deserving 

of recognition, neither are Fullerton 

residents and neither go to school in 

Fullerton. How is that fair to the fifteen 

contestants who do live and/or go to 

school in Fullerton? How were out-oftown 

contestants even allowed into the 

contest? Shouldn’t Miss Fullerton and 

Miss Fullerton Teen come from Fullerton? 

CD Fullerton 

ED: We asked pageant organizer Kathi 

Hikawa those questions. The pageant is 

put on by a franchise. Winners go on to 

the Miss California and Miss America 

contests. “All our marketing is done within 

Fullerton, but this year we had three 

girls from La Mirada who wanted to participate 

since their city does not have a 

pageant. I called the Miss California field 

director and they had no problem with us 

expanding our boundries.” The Fullerton 

pageant has had contestants from Brea 

and Placentia, both cities which also do 

not have pageants. For more information 

on the Miss Fullerton contest go to 

www.missfullerton.com. For more information 

on the Miss California pageant go 

to www.misscalifornia.org. 

Coffee from 

Costa Mesa? 

Hank noticed, in the article about 

Bootleggers' Brewery, (Mid-Feb page 10), 

that it says one of the stouts is made from 

"coffee beans from Costa Mesa". We're 

not aware that Costa Mesa grows coffee. 

Maybe Costa Rica.........................! 

Judy Berg Fullerton 

Alternatives to Cutting Art & Music 

myself I would gladly increase my class 

size to offset the cost of keeping highly 

trained and skilled music and art teachers 

in place to conduct core programs that 

benefit all the students. 

Implement a full day kindergarten program 

across the whole district. This might 

even attract parents to enroll their children. 

Hold off on raises, bonuses, merit 

pay and benefit increases. 

Students at all the elementary schools 

participate in and experience both the 

music and art programs. These programs 

provide the opportunities necessary to all 

our students in all parts of the community 

with disregard to the socio economic 

status. Cutting and/or reducing them 

would be doing a huge disservice to students 

who would otherwise not be able to 

participate. 

Downsized versions of the program 

would result in cutting two music directors. 

The direct impact on the music 

program would carry over to the middle 

schools and high schools. The jazz program 

would be eliminated from Ladera 

Vista. The strings program would suffer 

at Parks. All the schools feed directly into 

the local high schools where students will 

enter into the competitive world of music 

competitions unprepared due to the lack 

of foundation building at the elementary 

level. 

Parents with ways and means will move 

their children to private schools while 

those without means will stay and go 

along with a watered down curriculum. 

Can the district really afford to lose additional 

students? 

Before we all “take one for the team” 

and place a parcel tax on the ballot, let’s 

encourage our school board members to 

exhaust all possibilities and trim off the fat 

first. 

Shawna Adam Fullerton 


Observer 

The Fullerton Observer Community Newspaper, 

founded by Ralph Kennedy and 

a group of friends in 1978, is staffed by local 

citizen volunteers who create, publish, and 

distribute the paper throughout our community. 

This venture is a not-for-profit one with all 

ad and subscription revenues plowed back 

into maintaining and improving 

our independent, 

non-partisan, non-sectarian, 

community newspaper. 

Our purpose is to inform Fullerton residents 

about the institutions and other societal 

forces which most impact their lives, so that they 

may be empowered to participate 

in constructive ways to keep and make these private 

and public entities serve all residents 

in lawful, open, just, and socially-responsible 

ways. Through our extensive local calendar and 

other coverage, we seek to promote 

a sense of community and 

an appreciation for the 

values of diversity with which 

our country is so uniquely blessed. 

__________________________________ 

Published twice per month 

except once in July, August & January 

SEND SUBMISSIONS TO: 

FULLERTON OBSERVER 

PO BOX 7051 

FULLERTON, CA 92834-7051 

• Editor: Sharon Kennedy 

• Office Manager: Carolline Druiff 

• Database Manager: Jane Buck 

Advisor: Tracy Wood 

• Copy Editors: 

Caroline Druiff, Tom Dalton, 

• Special Assignments: Angel Lopez, 

April Shin, & Allison Ritto 

• Advertising: 714-525-6402 

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Kennedy, Tom & Katie Dalton, Marj Kerr 

Photograhy: Eric Chang, Bryan Crowe 

• FEATURES • 

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•Commentary: Jonathan Dobrer 

(JonDobrer@mac.com) 

• Calendar: Volunteer Needed 

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• Grand Jury Reporter: Fritz von Coelln 

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• Movie Review: Joyce Mason 

• Musings: Gene Walsh 

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Diane Nielen (dianenielen@gmail.com) 

• Politics & other stuff: Vince Buck & 

Connie Haddad & Mike Matsuda 

• Roving Reporters: Cherie Lutz Pizarro, 

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•What Are You Reading: Volunteer Needed 

• Webmaster: Cathy Yang 

• Also Tod Imperato, Mike Magoski, Bob 

Rineer, Egan Hernandez, Jackie Brown and 

other contributing Community Members 

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10,000 issues of the Fullerton Observer are distributed 

throughout Fullerton and sent through 

the mail to subscribers every two weeks except 

only once in January, July & August 

www.fullertonobserver.com 

The Mid-March 2009 issue will hit 

the stands on March 16. 

Submissions & Ads 

are due by March 9, 2009.

EARLY-MARCH 2009 

More Bad News 

Picking up where I left off in the Mid- 

February issue (See: www. fullertonobserver.com), 

news is in trouble and newspapers 

in even more trouble. And yes, I 

am aware of the irony that in my first sentence 

I named the problem, the cause of 

our immanent demise, and I thereby exacerbated 

it. I referred you to the Internet! 

Now I am not so old that I hate or fear 

the Internet. I am relatively net and computer 

savvy; but if I am a convert, I am a 

recalcitrant convert and not filled with the 

convert’s traditional zeal. I 

accept the inevitable but do not 

joyously surrender. 

Newspapers are, in fact, 

doomed. We will not be 

spilling ink onto dead trees, 

driving them around town and 

then hurling them onto driveways 

in the future—in the very 

near future. The demise of 

newspapers is ordained but 

they have participated in moving 

the date up. Instead of jogging, 

eating low fat and getting plenty of 

rest, newspapers have feasted on a high 

fat, high sugar diet of empty calories and 

burned both candles and bridges at both 

ends. 

Our city dailies could have prolonged 

their useful lives if they had remained 

family owned. They could have made 

money on their original cost basis. But 

once large groups started buying and consolidating, 

the die was cast. The 

Chandlers would be making money on 

the LA Times. However, when the 

Tribune had to pay the retail purchase 

price, the income of the Times couldn’t 

support the debt. Then Zell bought the 

Tribune, and even after leveraging their 

pension plan, can’t service his debt. Yes, 

profits would have fallen for even original 

owners because of the movement of 

advertising to the net—to Craig’s List and 

eBay. But the papers could have lived 

longer. 

Word is out that Hearst is looking to 

sell or close the San Francisco Chronicle. 

It is already in a semi-partnership with 

MediaNews, out of Denver, which is also 

having debt service problems that threaten 

the existence of a hundred newspapers 

in its shrinking empire. Their individual 

local papers might have thrived had not 

the empire expanded and, like our other 

bubbles and empires, burst. 

So now the large dailies and the smaller 

semi-local chains are cutting back. They 

are reducing pages, letting go their most 

senior writers and editors and taking more 

and more syndicated and news-service 

material. The city dailies, large and small, 

are losing their connection to their communities. 

They are losing talent, content 

and context. 

Out of My Mind 

AUGUST JonDobrer@mac.com 

2008 

by Jonathan Dobrer © 2009 

In a desperate effort to stay technically 

alive, they are (in corporate-speak) “merging 

their synergies” and moving their 

community staff people to central locations. 

No one is left to cover the high 

school play or sports. No one is going to 

PTA meetings or to the city council. One 

paper is trying to cover Pasadena City 

Council meetings by web cam to a 

reporter in Mumbai. No, I’m not making 

this up. 

This is a doomed strategy. LA Times 

raised its street price by 50% while cutting 

back on pages and killing their separate 

local section (named California until 

March 1, but was also Metro, 

Orange, Valley and 

Westside). As you read this, 

it will have been merged in 

front with already merged 

Op-Ed and editorial. The 

biggest decision left to the 

suits in the executive suites at 

the Times is where in the 

world to put their obits? This 

is one still profitable part of 

print. Do you put it in the 

front, in the sports, the business 

or entertainment? There is serious 

executive time being devoted to where the 

obits will go as (and you could see this 

coming, right?) they should be preparing 

their own obit. 

This is sad but unavoidable. There is little 

point in fighting for the preservation of 

the buggy whip manufacturing industry, 

teaching Morse code, or trying to resuscitate 

Generalissimo Franco. Dead is dead. 

This is not a tragedy, just sad in its prematurity. 

I don’t want to sound like the 

last carver of cuneiform, “Those kids. 

What value is ink on papyrus? It is lazy. 

Only carving in stone has lasting value.” 

Well, yes, ink feels better, more permanent 

and real than electrons, but that is a 

generational feeling. The news can be as 

good or better electronically delivered. 

There is no a priori superiority of ink over 

electrons. The deeper issue is content. 

Who will pay reporters to gather information? 

Who will fact check and edit? 

Who will decide what news is important? 

The news needs professionals for the coverage 

of national and international news. 

As for local, well, the local and hyper-local 

papers do just fine. They (we Observers) 

cover the local theatres, school board, city 

council, crimes, water quality and housing 

issues just fine. 

In ten years city dailies will be gone. 

Maybe there will be two printed national 

papers (New York Times and USA 

Today), the weekly national magazines 

will be monthly but local papers with 

local advertisers will still be around. They 

will never make a fortune, but unless they 

are so foolish as to merge, they will be economically 

viable. And that, finally, is 

some good news. 

Who will pay 

reporters 

to gather 

information? 

Who will 

decide 

what news is 

important? 

WAR COSTS in Life & Money: YEAR SIX 

• $600 Billion 

• 90,777 

• 4,250 

• 45,298 

• 660 

IN IRAQ 

Cost of The War in Iraq -rounded down ($341.4 million a day) 

www.costofwar.com (02/12/2009) 

Civilians killed by military in Iraq 

www.iraqbodycount.org (02/25/2009) 

US Soldier Deaths in Iraq: (DoD 02/25/2009) 

US Soldiers wounded 

*(DOD 02/18/09) www.icasualties.org/oif 

IN AFGHANISTAN 

US Soldiers killed (02/26/09) www.icasualties.org/oef/ 

VIGNETTES 

by Natalie Kennedy 

How We Made it 

Through the 

Depression 

One of the earliest memories I have is 

that, Herbert Hoover was not only the 

greatest president ever, but by golly, he 

looked a lot like my Dad. My father 

claimed to be an "Independent." But, as I 

grew up I noticed that all my dad’s choices 

happened to be republicans. I tell you 

this because my fourth year of life was the 

same year Hoover became president. We 

thought this was great. My parents were 

on top of the ladder financially, as my dad 

was treasurer of Massachusetts Fire 

Insurance Co. We had it all. We had 

moved from Rhode Island to 

Massachusetts years before for my dad’s 

great job. 

The next five years were a horror story. 

It was the Great Depression in the US. 

My dad and everyone we knew lost their 

work and all their savings. It took us a 

while to sell our rather spacious home on 

3 acres of land for half what we had paid 

for it. My folks decided we should go 

back to Rhode Island, where at least there 

would be more jobs. 

A dear old friend owned a nice 

Victorian home. His family lived on the 

2nd floor and he offered us the 1st floor as 

guests 'til Dad got a job. The next years 

were job hunting years and we heard very 

little about the president that looked like 

Dad. 

We settled in. Roosevelt became president 

in 1933. Streets were still full of 

bread lines and sadness was here too. But 

for us kids it was O.K. Our parents and 

our good friends made the difference. 

In the mornings my mother would be 

up first, shoveling coal into the furnace. 

Then we all had hot oatmeal cereal (all we 

wanted). Our neighborhood was full of 

fruit trees and we all shared and enjoyed 

peaches, plums, apples, and cherries. We 

planted food. I especially remember our 

wonderful tomatoes, corn, and more. 

My silent suffering mother baked cupcakes 

and doughnuts to sell, which my sister 

Phyllis and I delivered on our bikes to 

neighbors who seemed to love them. Our 

neighbors were mostly older and not quite 

as hard hit as we were. Mother kept 

telling us the good things that the money 

would be used for, plus what great fun it 

was doing it. I remember thinking as 

long as we had our parent’s love, my dolls, 

MUSINGS 

by Gene Walsh 

American Culture? 

Following WWII and through the Cold 

War, the United States, Russia, and China 

have vied for world leadership. We have 

seen the USSR lose some of its role with 

the break up into separate independent 

states but Communism remains strong in 

many parts of the world including China. 

American culture has been expanded by 

US business enterprises and by (not 

always successfully) our use of our superior 

military force to convert the world to 

“democracy.” 

However, the expansion of KFC, 

Starbucks, and hamburger chains is not 

what American culture is all about. 

Should we not be exporting our living 

standards, ideas of freedom, educational 

systems and tolerance as the way to a bet- 

Fullerton Observer Page 3 

and my great metal doll bed, all was well. 

Mother made all our clothes. It seemed 

like when kids at school wore long dresses 

we wore ours a bit shorter and when they 

had short short dresses ours were a bit too 

long. But my mom made sure we had 

nice dresses and we spent most of our 

doughnut money on good oxford laced 

shoes. 

Dad was brought up in Providence and 

his fisherman friends gave him fish every 

night----so we had a good supper right 

before bed. Hood Milk Company delivered 

a huge can of milk to us about every 

3 days (it had a couple of quarts of cream 

settled on top). My dad promised to pay 

everyone back when he could and he 

eventually did just that. 

One of my dad’s first job offers was 

from Narragansett Brewery. He came 

home and at dinner told us we had to vote 

on whether he should take the job because 

he had to accept or reject the offer the 

next morning. Poor Dad who was silently 

hoping that there might be an exception, 

was faced with a “No” vote from the 

family and had to turn the job offer down. 

To explain that no vote, I must go back 

to Nova Scotia, back into MacLean history. 

You see my grandmother was the big 

wheel of the "Womans Christian 

Temperance Union" and had trained her 

family and their offspring that alcohol was 

the root of all evil. Now, we might starve, 

but we all knew that you have to put 

beliefs first. 

The next day Dad went down and 

signed up for W.P.A. and was immediately 

hired as an accountant at the Newport 

Naval Station in South County, R.I. It 

was the beginning of a hard won comeback! 

My dad had to go through bankruptcy 

but in the end he paid all the companies 

back and received many awards for 

it, thereby regaining some of his pride. 

Well, in our house Roosevelt became our 

hero and dad had at last proved he was an 

Independent after all (not to be confused 

with democrat). 

Thank you President Roosevelt for the 

“Works Progress Administration.” The 

WPA not only brought us new infrastructure 

but put people back to work on jobs 

they could do best. There were even jobs 

for music teachers and actors to train children. 

I took piano lessons that I could not 

have afforded while these artists could still 

share their gifts. 

Eventually my dad started a real estate 

company and we bought a home. He 

swore he would never leave Rhode Island 

again...but when I got married and moved 

to California, Mother and Dad decided to 

come also. Then our whole family followed 

and we all ended up here! 

ter more peaceful world? This morning I 

read two stories in the LA Times which 

made me question if the articles reflected 

American culture and what we really consider 

important. 

Number one was headed, “Schools are 

struggling with cuts.” It said “Districts 

across the state face decisions to lay off 

teachers, increase class size and eliminate 

programs.” Our society is in a recession 

and we refuse to sacrifice (by paying taxes) 

to educate the next generation. Does this 

mean Americans will fall behind the rest 

of the world in technology, research and 

our standard of living? 

Number two was in the sports section, 

“Carroll of USC tops salary list.” Football 

coach Pete Carroll “earned $4.4 million in 

total compensation, four times as much as 

USC President Steven B. Sample.” 

Enough said! Our culture apparently 

places more value on a football coach than 

it does on educating its next generation of 

citizens, and we expect to continue to be a 

world leader?

Page 4 Fullerton Observer EARLY-MARCH 2009 

CITY COUNCIL SHORTS w/Kevin Frink 

The Fullerton City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 5pm (closed session) 

and 6:30pm (public session). Contact councilmembers at council@ci.fullerton.ca.us or 714-738-6311. 

Upcoming Agenda info and Streaming Video is available at www.cityoffullerton.com. Council meetings are 

also broadcast live on Cable Channel 3 at 6pm the following Wednesday and Sunday, and at 5pm on Monday. 

City Hall is located at 303 W. Commonwealth at Highland Ave. (parking is on Amerige) 

Feb. 17, 2009 Council Meeting 

5pm: Study Session: The Council discussed the proposed 

redevelopment merger plan. Redevelopment 

Director Rob Zur Schmiede presented the proposal 

which would add properties along Commonwealth up to 

and including the airport. This would allow redevelopment 

funds to be used to rehab substandard buildings. 

Residences are excluded from the plan. Public 

Comments included concerns that mom and pop businesses 

would be pushed out, historic buildings might be 

lost, and that redevelopment funds should be used on 

areas of the city that are truly in blight condition. The 

issue will return to council at the May 5th public hearing. 

6:30pm: Regular Session: The Council voted unanimously 

to pass all 10 items on the evening’s consent 

agenda except item 8 concerning the proposed amendment 

to the Memorial Tree & Bench Policy which was 

continued to the next meeting. February was recognized 

as American Heart Month. Pastor Willie Holmes was 

also recognized for his work helping Fullerton residents 

in times of need. 

•Appointments: Recent changes in the 

commission/committee appointment process allowed for 

nearly 30 direct appointments to 10 commissions and 

committees. “At-large” members will be interviewed at a 

public meeting by council as a whole. Appointments 

were made to the following committees: Bicycle Users 

Sub-Committee, Citizens Infrastructure Review, 

Community Development Citizens Committee, Energy 

and Resource Management, Library Board of Trustees, 

Parks and Recreation, Planning Commission, 

Redevelopment and Design Review, Technology 

Working Group and the Transportation and Circulation 

Commission. 

• High Speed Rail: Regular business for the night 

included council moving to apply for funding as part of 

the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) 

Project T Funding Program. Looking toward the possible 

California High Speed Rail Authority’s plan for a line 

running between San Francisco and Anaheim, Project T 

requires a ten-percent match of public funds, not to 

exceed $100,000. Still in its infancy, the conceptual level 

plans look at 3 possible design types for Fullerton’s station 

on the potential route. First is an at-grade rail platform, 

similar to what is currently in use. Second is an elevated 

platform, at which a high-speed train would rise 

above current rail tracks. Lastly, and a much more complex 

and expensive project would be a subterranean complex. 

A Metrolink representative was on hand to present 

these plans to the council. Passed 5-0 

• Block Grant Funding: Because Community 

You are Invited to the 3rd Annual 

FOOD LOVING GUYS... 

RAISING FUNDS FOR FIES* 

email: info@fies.us 

www.FIES.us 

* 

Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds 

were reduced by 9% for 2009/10 staff invited 

former groups to apply rather than opening the 

process up to the public as has been done in the 

past. Groups that have applied are Meals on 

Wheels, Boys and Girls Club of Fullerton, the 

Fair Housing Council of Orange County, the 

Orange County Council on Aging, Fullerton 

Interfaith Emergency Services and the 

Women’s Transitional Living Center. Council 

asked that the invitation be extended publicly 

as usual. Housing coordinator Linda Morad 

said that staff would place the notice in the 

paper. Interested groups may call 714-738- 

6878 for an application. 

•OC Fair Housing: City Council also voted 

to extend a six-month agreement with the Fair 

Housing Council of Orange County. The current 

agreement expires June, 30, 2009. The 

new contract will cover the second half of the 

2008-09 fiscal year. The group has saved 20 

homes from foreclosure through its HUD certified 

Foreclosure Tenant Program, said new 

CEO Denise Kato. HUD requires the city to 

contract with a fair housing authority in order 

to receive CDBG funds. 

•General Plan Update: A General Plan 

Draft Statement and Focus Area Report was 

produced and submitted to council for review 

and approval. The 15-member General Plan 

Advisory Committee (GPAC) produced a three 

piece vision statement focusing on, 1. Our 

City, 2. Our Vision and 3. Our Guiding 

Principles. In addition, the GPAC established 

extensive focus areas within Fullerton including 

Transportation Center, Downtown and 

West Coyote Hills. 

Public Comment: Both Jane Rands and Matt 

Leslie suggested that “public transit, pedestrian 

and bike ways” be added back into the transportation 

statement. 

Food, Silent Auction 

& Entertainment 

6:00pm to 9:00pm 

Sunday, 

March 29th, 2009 

COYOTE HILLS GOLF COURSE 

(located on Bastanchury between 

State College Blvd. and Brea Blvd) 

TICKETS: 

(714) 680-3691 

RSVP by 

March 19th! 

FULLERTON INTERFAITH EMERGENCY SERVICE 

HELPING TO END HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS FOR OVER 33 YEARS. 

• Lions Field: Joe Felz, director of Parks and 

Recreation, was in attendance to ask council to 

approve a contract for the complete design and construction 

of Lions Field improvements. Initially a maximum 

price of about $14.5 million was estimated for completion 

of the improvements. More recently, that maximum 

price moved near $16 million after planning for synthetic 

turf as opposed to natural sod. Felz noted that though 

more expensive at first, the lower maintenance costs associated 

with a synthetic surface make it more economical 

at year 12 to 14. 

•MG 3-Bin System: Lastly, after continuing the MG 

Disposal Agreement from 

October 2008, to conduct a 

public outreach campaign, 

council approved a new tenyear 

solid waste handling service 

agreement. Much was made 

of the potential of Fullerton 

residents to lose their ”Cadillac 

Observers Around the World 

The Singers at Half of the World Park 

Laurice and Bob Singer just returned from a memorable trip 

to the Galapagos Islands and the Quito area in Ecuador. 

“Our seven day cruise, including visits to the various 

Galapagos islands, was spectacular. We saw, and were right next 

to, a full spectrum of species of animals and plants from iguanas 

to sea turtles and land tortoises, and unique birds mating and 

caring for their eggs and chicks. They well illustrated the elements 

of evolution in an isolated setting. 

Our reading about the history of Charles Darwin and his 

research (and professional competition) was enhanced by 

February 12 being Darwin’s 200th birthday (same as Abraham 

Lincoln’s) and this year being the 150th anniversary of his milestone 

book, “The Origin of Species”. 

Our visit to the Quito environs, which is about 9000 feet high 

in the Andes mountain range, was also fascinating with small villages, 

beautiful volcanoes, native peoples with their unique costumes 

and crafts, and ornate churches in Quito itself. The photo 

shows us with the Fullerton Observer at “Half of the World” Park 

near Quito standing on the Equatorial Line. Jackets were needed 

because of the cool weather at this altitude in their rainy season.” 

of trash services”. After 3 public workshops, with a total 

attendance of 41 concerned citizens, we can be assured 

that “no trash will be left behind”. MG will continue to 

haul away waste bagged along side typical containers at 

pick-up time. Furthermore, the cost of an additional new 

style container ($3.55) will be eliminated, 35-gallon large 

containers will be made available when warranted, and 

bulk item information will be embossed on all containers. 

The new agreement brings the City of Fullerton up 

to speed with other trash collection recycling programs in 

Orange County. 

Public Comment: Mr. Winthers asked why the price 

of the service isn’t going down since we are increasing 

efficiency and diversion and the franchise rate is going 

up? City Revenue Manager Phyllis Garrova said the franchise 

fee is going from 5% to 7% in the new contract and 

that the additional $65,000 raised will go into the 

General Fund for public safety. 

See Agenda for March 3 council meeting on page 14 

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• Large Spacious Rooms • Potty Training • Full Day Programs 

FIRST CHRISTIAN PRE-SCHOOL & INFANT CENTER 

115 E. Wilshire Avenue • Downtown Fullerton 

Pre School Lic. 304270451 • Infant Lic. 304270452


800 Attend Meeting 

on School Budget Cuts 

The Ladera Vista Jr. High gymnasium 

was standing room only at the Feb. 26 

Community Input Meeting held by the 

Fullerton School District. 

The public meeting was held to allow 

parents and community members to 

comment on the upcoming proposed 

cuts to the 2009/10 school district budget. 

The proposed cuts may result in the 

loss of 74 teachers and classified workers, 

loss of the class size reduction, and reduction 

or elimination of All the Arts, 

Music, and 1:1 Laptop programs, and a 

20% reduction in the IB and GATE programs. 

Among the suggestions from the public 

were: earning extra money by lifting 

the ban and allowing campuses to be 

used as cell-phone tower sites; earning 

money through partnerships with grocery 

chains; asking for personal donations; 

and making buildings energy efficient. 

Parent and art education director of 

the Fullerton Museum Center, Aimee 

Aul, brought up the excellent point that 

the district has invested $350,000 in 

musical instruments which would be 

wasted if the music program was eliminated. 

Her brother, music educator and 

composer David Kraus, told how elementary 

music classes had turned his life 

around. In 2004, Kraus was one of five 

music teachers from across the country to 

win an award from the Mr. Holland’s 

Opus Foundation. 

The final decision on cuts 

will take place at the regular 

school board meeting at 

5:30pm, Tuesday March 10th 

at Fullerton School District offices, 1401 

W. Valencia Dr., Fullerton. (714-447- 

7400) 

Superintendent Mitch Hovey said layoff 

notices would be sent out March 15. 

Members of the Fullerton Elementary 

Teachers Assoc, PTA, CSEA and community 

members are joining in a rally 

from 4:30pm to 5:30pm on the corner of 

Harbor and Wilshire in downtown 

Fullerton to show support for teachers 

and classified workers receiving layoff 

notices. 

Important 

Public Meeting 

for Parents 

According to the most recent 

numbers, the District will be 

facing over $6 million in cuts 

from state funding. Final cuts 

for the elementary school disrict 

will be decided by the 

board at this meeting. 

•March 10 at 5:30pm: 

Fullerton School District Board 

meeting at the Fullerton School 

District Offices, 1401 W. 

Valencia Drive, Fullerton. 

www.fsd.k12.ca.us or call 714- 

447-7400 

COMMUNITY OPINIONS continued from page 2 

A Letter from FSD’s Superintendent Dr. Hovey 

As a follow-up to the early February 

2009 Observer School District News article, 

the section entitled “School Budget 

Crisis,” I wanted to clarify that although 

there has been much talk about suspending 

class size reduction monies, we have 

not received any official word that the 

State has suspended all funding of the 

class size reduction program. 

As to the information in the subsection 

under my name, what I shared during 

the Superintendent’s Report at the 

January 20, 2009 Board Meeting were 

segments of the Response to the Special 

Session of Legislature and the Governor’s 

Budget Proposal, which was crafted by 

the Orange County Superintendents. 

The intent of the message was to give 

input as to how our legislators might 

close the ever growing budget deficit. 

More specific to the things I actually 

discussed at the Board Meeting on 

January 20, 2009 were: 

Current Status 

• Currently California School spending 

per student ranks 46th in the nation, 

now 47th. 

• Our State academic standards are 

among the most rigorous in the nation. 

• In light of the fact that the need for a 

well educated population is becoming 

more and more important in solving systematic 

problems for a long term solution, 

continuing to cut our investment in 

public education will only make it more 

difficult to build a quality workforce. 

• Special education encroachments 

into the unrestricted general fund continue 

to increase each and every year. 

• California voters approved 91% of all 

school bonds and 82% of all parcel tax 

initiatives on the November 4th ballot. 

(local control) 

1-3 Years 

• If we are to absorb the nearly $200- 

$300 per student revenue reduction mid 

year, we must have total flexibility over 

the maximum amount of State funded 

categoricals. No categorical program 

funds should be used for salaries and 

benefits. 

• Existing requirements that include 

CSR penalties, unrestricted ending 

reserve balances, deferred maintenance 

reserves, State textbooks purchases and 

other requirements must be waived. 

Long Term 

• We must show the insight and perseverance 

necessary to develop and adopt a 

new school funding formula that is adequate, 

equitable and more transparent to 

the public. Implementation of many of 

the recommendations published in the 

recent adequacy studies will strengthen 

the capacity of public education in our 

State. 

• There must be a viable Statewide 

effort to lobby Washington for full 40$ 

funding of the cost of IDEA. Longer 

term solutions really must fall on the will 

of Sacramento to suspend all State mandates 

for special education. 

• Currently school districts pay a 

California sales tax on all purchases. 

Waiving the sales tax for school districts, 

a current practice in other states, would 

reduce the purchase cost to schools of 

supplies and equipment. 

As I have had several inquiries about 

what was discussed at the Board Meeting 

on January 20, 2009 and what was 

reported in the School District News section 

School Budget Crisis in the 

Observer, my hope is that this brings 

more clarity and focus to those issues that 

I did discuss that revolve around the 

school budget crisis. 

Respectfully, 

Mitch Hovey, Ed.D. 

District Superintendent 

Fullerton School District 

Book Launch Party Honors 26 

A reception honoring the people interviewed 

in the just released book “A 

Different Shade of Orange: Voices of 

Orange County, California, Black 

Pioneers,” by Robert Johnson and 

Charlene Riggins took place on Feb. 28. 

The book is one in Arthur Hansen’s 

series of seven volumes which tell the stories 

left out of history books. Sponsored 

This Orange County Grand Jury report, 

released February 24, endeavors to end the 

political furor over Sheriff Sandra 

Hutchens’ formal written policy to carry a 

concealed weapon (CCW). According to 

the report, Sheriff Hutchens has the 

authority and the jurisdiction to establish 

this policy regardless of County 

Supervisors’ concerns. Controversy 

between the Supervisors and the Sheriff 

over the possibility of rescinding licenses 

has raged in recent months. 

The report recommends that the Sheriff 

be allowed to establish a CCW policy and 

to review current license holders to meet 

the criteria required by the penal code. 

Prior to this policy the Sheriff’s Dept. 

operated in accordance with the California 

Department of Justice “Standard 

Application for License to Carry a 

Concealed Weapon (CCW)” according to 

department spokesman Ryan Burris. 

Marino Mainero, spokesperson for 

Supervisor Moorlach’s office, said he was 

the “legal architect” of Sheriff Hutchens’ 

CCW policy and he was “glad that the 

Grand Jury issued the report” to settle this 

matter. He agreed that the Department of 

Justice standard exists but there was no definition 

of “good cause” for a person to have 

a CCW license. The Sheriff has bigger 

issues to resolve within her department and 

he singled out the “budget crunch caused 

by a decline in revenue from Proposition 

172” as an example. Legal analysis of the 


Grand Jury Report by Fritz von Coelln 

“Let the Sheriff do Her Job!” 

CCW by Mainero may be seen on 

Supervisor Moorlach’s site at 

www.oc.ca.gov. 

According to Kristin Thornton, 

spokesperson for Supervisor Bate’s office, 

the policy is acceptable to implement, 

however, unwarranted public comments 

became “hostile to the process.” 

The Grand Jury report may be seen at 

www.ocgj.org The policy is already in 

effect (the implementation of the CCW 

policy may be seen at the Sheriff’s website 

www.ocsd.org). 

As a result of this report two significant 

issues remain to be resolved by the Grand 

Jury. 

Firstly, there is a leak in the dike of confidentiality! 

The Orange County Register 

received a “confidential copy” of the report 

before being released by the Grand Jury. 

Someone is guilty of purloining a copy of 

the report in conflict with Grand Jury 

rules. In the investigation process, the 

Grand Jury reviews the report with the 

involved parties prior to release: in this case 

the Sheriff’s office and the Board of 

Supervisors. 

Secondly, since the CCW implementation 

is a fact, what significant issues facing 

our county should the Grand Jury investigate? 

According to Brook de Baca, 

spokesperson for CEO Tom Mauk’s office, 

Grand Jury members met with the Sheriff, 

the Supervisors and many county department 

heads during the familiarization 

process. Issues requiring investigation were 

provided to them during these meetings. 

If its Musical, We Have It! 871-1805 

MO’s 


resident Karen 

Owens with her 

daughter accepted 

the honor for her 

mother Mary 

Owens who could 

not attend the 

reception held for 

those interviewed 

in a new book on 

the history and 

experiences of black 

Americans in 

Orange County.. 

by the CSUF Center for 

Oral & Public History, the 

book was inspired by CSUF Professor 

Emeritus Larry de Graaf’s history class. 

Other Fullerton residents honored 

were Adleane and Jerry Hunter, Ruth 

May, Ed Caruthers, Wacira Gethaiga, 

Rev. James Carrington, and Natalie 

Kennedy and her late husband Ralph. 

Look for more photos and excerpts from 

the book in upcoming issues. 

Serving You for over 50 years! 

Fullerton Music 

Centers 

Over 20,000 square feet of Musical Fun! 

Orange County’s Oldest & Most Complete 

Full Line Music Store & Gift Shop 

EVERY KIND OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENT FROM BAGPIPES TO PIANOS 

Ethnic & Unusual Instruments • Instruction: Private & Group Classes 

• Over 2,000 square feet dedicated to Sheet Music! • Rentals 

•School Band Headquarters • Repairs: All Brands - All Instruments 

OPEN: Mon-Thurs 10am-8pm & Fri/Sat 10am-6pm 

121 N. HARBOR BLVD DOWNTOWN FULLERTON 

(just north of Commonwealth-Ample parking at back)

Page 6 Observer EARLY-MARCH 2009 

Amateur Chefs Prepare to 

Cook Up a Feast Toward 

Ending Local Hunger 

& Homelessness 

Continued from frontpage 

1st place and runner-up prizes in each category. 

There will also be prizes for best thematic 

table decorations. 

If you’re ready to show off your culinary 

skills for a good cause, call Barb Jennings at 

714-272-8861. For more information on the 

event call 714-680-3691. 

Several new chefs have already signed up 

this year. Among them are Zoot Velasco, 

executive director of the Muckenthaler 

Cultural Center (his wife Monette will entertain 

during the event). 

Another new chef will 

be Scott Larson, the 

executive director of 

HomeAid Orange 

County. HomeAid is 

the charity arm of the 

Building Industry 

Assoc. The group took 

the lead on building the 

newest home on FIES 

New Vista campus in 

partership with 

Brookfield Homes. As a 

result FIES only had to 

raise about 20% of the 

total value of the new 

home. 

Chefs coming back this 

year include 2008 

People’s Choice Award 

Winners – Jon Sanders, 

Ladd Roberts and Garrett 

Nichols along with professional 

judge favorites 

Capt. Greg Mayes and 

Police Chief Pat 

Monette 

and Zoot 

Velasco are 

participating 

in this 

year’s FIES 

fundrasier. 

Zoot as a 

chef and 

Monette as 

a singer. 

Scott Larson 

will be cooking at 

the FIES benefit. 

New this year is 

Chef Steve 

Huemoller from 

St. Paul Lutheran. 

McKinley of the Fullerton Police 

Department, and Bill Jindra. 

Chefs who have announced their dishes are 

Ron Bambas, double lemon crusted chicken; 

Dennis Bode, smoked tri-tip barbecue; Mike 

Nichols and son Garrett Morgan Nichols, 

smokehouse BBQ; Bill Jennings and Gregg 

Nolan, entrée; Ray Murphy with “SPOT,” 

assorted trifles; Kenny Sackett, beans; 

Shrinidhi Iyegar, chips and salsa; Capt. Mayes 

and Chief McKinley, appetizer; Mike Land, 

meatballs; Bill Jindra, Scandinavian almond 

cake; Tommy Jordan with a scrumptious 

dessert; and Troy High senior Matt Castro 

with an appetizer. Chefs who haven’t decided 

on their dishes include Paul Broden, Ben and 

Mitch Darraacq, Kenny Sackett, George 

Montgomery, and Doug Strom. 

Boys & Girls Youth 

of the Year Awards 

On February 20, the Boys & Girls Clubs of 

Fullerton honored its Youth of the Year. The 

winning members have demonstrated excellence 

in participation, club service, discipline, and 

leadership. Proud family members and friends 

attended the awards ceremony. 

The winners at each the club branches are: 

•Commonwealth School: Noah Sanchez 

•Valencia Park: Vanessa Santos 

•Richman: Sequoia Holiman 

•Commonwealth Main: Gustavo Castro 

These winners will be honored along with 

other youth from Boys 

& Girls Clubs in 3 

Orange County at an 

awards banquet at 

Knotts Berry Farm on 

March 6. 

Gustavo Castro is eligible 

to win the Youth 

of the Year nationwide 

which is for winners of 

the local level who are 

14 and over. 

For more information 

about the Boys & 

Girls Clubs of 

Fullerton, please call 

(714) 871-1391. 

4 

1) Noah Sanchez with Branch Director 

Kevin Pedraza, and other Commonwealth 

School Branch Staff. 

2) Vanessa Santos with Russ Kazmierczak, 

Jr., Valencia Branch Director. 

3) Sequoia Holiman with Elvin Campbell, 

Boys & Girls Club Director of Operations 

and Richman Branch Director Mike 

Lozano. 

4) Gus Castro (2nd from left) with Mr. 

Campbell, and 2007 Youth of the Year 

Award winner Christian Aragon and 

Eddie Hernandez Commonwealth Branch 

Director. 

1 

2 

FIES Director 

Announces Retirement 

Judi Bambas, director of Fullerton 

Interfaith Emergency Services 

announced her retirement. She intends 

to join husband, Ron, who has been 

retired for several years. They plan to 

travel--in fact already have 2 trips in the 

planning stage. “We will miss Judi's 

contagious enthusiasm for FIES. She 

has truly been a blessing these past four 

years as she has passionately shared our 

mission with the greater Fullerton 

community,” said Barbara Jennings. 

The board will begin a search process 

for her replacement this spring. 

FUHS Students to 

Perform at Jazz Fest 

Thirty-eight students from Fullerton 

Union High School will perform at the 

Reno Jazz Festival 2009 in Reno, 

Nevada from April 23 to April 26. 

Supervision will be privided by FUHS 

staff members Jill DeWeese, Vicky 

Nguyen, and parent chaperones Laura 

Dean-Richardson, Steve Richardson, 

Greg Franklin, and James Mohler. We 

hope they will bring home some great 

photos of the group in action! 

Police Seek Other 

Victims of Arrested 

Molestation 

Suspect 

Daniel Hansol Oh, 26, was arrested 

by police on Feb. 25. on charges he sexually 

molested a Fullerton girl weekly 

over a three-year period under the guise 

of giving her violin lessons. Oh was 

arrested in a music class on the campus 

of USC, where he is a student, and 

booked into the Fullerton city jail. He 

is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail 

pending arraignment. 

Fullerton police Sgt. Mike 

MacDonald said officers were made 

aware of the alleged molestation when 

the victim, now 15, came to the police 

to report the incident. “She had told 

her pastor about the molestations and 

he urged her to go to the police,” 

MacDonald said. 

MacDonald said the girl was 11 when 

she began taking violin lessons from Oh 

in 2003. The molestations occurred 

during the weekly lessons, which continued 

until 2006. The girl’s parents 

were in the home at the time of the lessons, 

but the door to the room where 

the instruction took place was kept 

closed during the sessions. 

Police are bringing this case to the 

public’s attention because Oh had other 

students in the same time frame “and 

we are concerned there may be additional 

victims” said Sgt. MacDonald. 

“We are asking anyone who may have 

been victimized by the suspect to contact 

Detective Kathryn Crum of the 

Fullerton Police Department at (714) 

738-5327.” 

COME IN & SEE THE NEW WINTER STYLES 

Shoe Repair Shop Too! 

Custom Handcrafted Shoes for Men & Women since 1963 

CAPRI SHOES 

140 W. Commonwealth • Fullerton • 92832 

www.caprishoes.com (714) 525-5128


OBSERVERS AROUND THE WORLD 

Shirley Berry in 

North Carolina 

Shirley Berry visited her niece in North 

Carolina in December. As everyone knows, 

North Caroline is the place to shop for furniture! 

“We asked the sales person at the first store we 

went into to take the above photo.” 

“When a resident of Fullerton 

leaves our fair city we can not go 

without a copy of our Fullerton 

Observer. How else will we know 

what is going on in the real 

world?” says Shirley. 

Shirley said she got a surprise the 

next morning when she went to 

get the morning paper from the 

sidewalk and discovered, “low and 

behold, the city of Charlotte 

copied us! Just goes to show you 

how far and to what degree some 

cities will go to keep up with us!” 

Above: Shirley (at center) 

with her sister and niece Gerry 

and Alyscia Belden took her 

Observer shopping in 

Charlotte. 

Below: Shirley was surprised 

to find that Charlotte has an 

Observer too! 

SPECIAL 

for Observer 

Readers! 

Bring this Ad in 

& get Free T-Shirt 

with $5 yogurt 

purchase! 

PRACTICAL HEARING 

Practical Solutions for Your Hearing Needs 

• Hearing Testing 

• Hearing Aid Sales & Repairs 

• Noise Protection 

• Musicians Earplugs 

• Assistive Listening Devices 

• Aural Rehabilitation/Lipreading 

(714) 525-6990 

www.practical hearing.com 

Jane F. Steckler, 

MA, CCC-A 

Audiologist 

Hearing Aid Dispenser 

LANDMARK PLAZA 

122 N. Harbor Blvd., suite 208 

In the Heart of Downtown Fullerton 

David Jerome 

& Roastbeef’s 

Promise 

You may have noticed "Roastbeef" 

yard signs around town and wondered 

what was going on? Turns out 

it was just some early marketing for 

life-long Fullerton resident David 

Jerome's new book called 

"Roastbeef's Promise." 

"The book is being marketed and 

distributed nationally, but I wanted as 

many Fullertonians as possible to 

know about it, so I did some local 

marketing myself. It's been really 

fun for me to see curious people trying 

to figure out what the signs mean. 

I had a sign on my lawn and my 

neighbor thought I was selling sandwiches!" 

In this, his first novel, Jerome mixes 

his love of travel and comedy writing 

into a warm and funny travel adventure. 

Prior to this effort he wrote 

jokes for Jay Leno and other comedians, 

and performed his own comedy 

monologue on the ABC late night 

talk show "Into The Night Rick 

Dees." 

In the mid-90s he authored a play 

called "Quick Fix" that debuted at 

Stages Theater. 

"I'd worked on that play for years, 

and opening night turned out to be 

the same night that OJ went on his 

slow-speed freeway chase, and hardly 

anybody showed up until the second 

act." 

Jerome then published a comedy 

newspaper that Fullertonians may 

remember called, "The Irreverent 

Times." 

"We had the paper carried on newsstands 

in five western states, but I was 

wearing too many hats and folded the 

paper to concentrate on my writing." 

Jerome spent the late 90's working 

on two books, one of which was 

"Roastbeef's Promise." The book 

has been getting good reviews including 

endorsements from Rick Dees, a 

best-selling author, a Tonight Show 

staff writer, and a world record-holding 

traveler. 

"I'm so proud of the way this book 

has turned out. Amongst all the 

laughs is an underlying message of 

commitment to family and perseverance, 

which I think people need to be 

reminded of right now." 

Jerome recently appeared on 

KOCE-TV's "Real Orange" and will 

be on a ten city book tour this month 

with stops in New York, Chicago, 

Memphis, Des Moines, Omaha, Las 

Vegas and other cities that play a significant 

roll in the book. 

“Roastbeef's Promise” is available 

wherever books are sold. 


Local Author 

Author David Jerome 

What the Book’s About 

When Jim "Roastbeef" Hume 

embarks on a quest to sprinkle his 

father's ashes in each of the forty-eight 

contiguous states, he has no idea that a 

series of bizarre and ridiculous adventures 

await. But nothing will deter 

him from fulfilling the promise he 

made to his dying father - not a brief 

incarceration in Iowa or a punctured 

lung in South Dakota. As he travels 

across the country, he picks up numerous 

new friends, presides over the ultimate 

frat party, poses as a lesbian's 

boyfriend, and gives away a very pregnant 

bride in a Las Vegas wedding. 

And who could have dreamed that 

somewhere amidst the craziness of 

dropping ashes from a crop duster and 

finding Elvis's toenail, Roastbeef would 

stumble upon a lucrative career? Join 

Roastbeef as he drives, bikes, hitchhikes, 

rides the rails, and mo-peds his 

way around the country. This is one 

laugh-out-loud roadtrip you don't 

want to miss.


Victims, Police, Officials & 

Advocates Discuss Response 

& Gang Prevention 

Important issues were brought up in a 

community meeting on February 18, 

2009 held to discuss the gang attack on 

the Holmes family and Majesty 

Fellowship Church located in an industrial 

area off S. Richman Ave. 

Concerns of the victims of the attack 

and comments from the audience were 

heard by Fullerton Mayor protem Pam 

Keller, Councilmember Sharon Quirk, 

Police Chief Pat McKinley, Captain 

Petropulos of the Gang Task Force, City 

Manager Chris Meyer, Parks & Rec 

Manager Joe Felz and others. The meeting 

was moderated by Rusty Kennedy of the 

OC Human Relations. 

The vicitms described the terror of the 

attack, said the police response was too 

slow, and made the following comments: 

•Kyle Colyar questioned the city’s commitment 

to gang prevention. He said, 

“this is not about FTT (the attackers 

yelled FTT, the name of a local gang, 

during the attack). I went to school with 

these guys. I don’t have a problem with 

them. The issue is that the police should 

have been here. The issue is about different 

treatment given to the upper and 

lower class Fullerton residents. You guys 

go home after this meeting. I shouldn’t 

have to feel unprotected in South 

Fullerton. If the police were out patrolling 

FTT would not be in the street in the 

middle of the night.” 

•Sherese Esquibel said when she 

requested the police report and the 911 

transcripts she was told that she would 

have to get a court order to get them 

because juveniles were involved. “What 

are they trying to hide? The 911 transcripts 

that were finally obtained and 

given to us by Mayor protem Keller are 

incorrect. Five calls were made in all. The 

transcript starts with the 2nd call. We will 

have cell phone records which will show 

when the calls were made. If you are going 

to say the police responded in 5 minutes, 

let us see the whole report. Let’s hear how 

the operator handled it. I don’t understand 

why my request was not approved.” 

•Taylar Haggen, a friend who was with 

the family as they sought protection from 

the attackers by locking themselves in the 

church office, said she made two 911 calls 

and felt “I wasn’t being helped. It was 

upsetting. I don’t feel safe. It made me feel 

that I shouldn’t bother calling the police.” 

•Chloe, who was across the parking lot 

with her mother during the attack, said “I 

feel my family was not protected. We just 

gave the Police Chief the Eagles Award. 

They should have been here. When I go 

to Fullerton High this year, am I really 

protected? Are you really protected?” 

•Willie Holmes Jr., a Fullerton High 

student and ASB president, who was a 

victim of the attack, wanted to know why 

the police didn’t go directly to the scene of 

the attack. “If police had gone directly to 

the church in 5 to 7 minutes as they say, 

the attackers would have been caught in 

the act. They were still there.” 

OC Human Relations Executive 

Director Rusty Kennedy addressed the 

family, “As a neighbor, I wish I could have 

done something. Your concerns with safety 

would also terrify me as a father. I 

appreciated hearing the police apologies 

for not being on the scene faster.” 

Addressing Chloe, Kennedy said “the 

OCHR has a group (Push for Peace) on 

the Fullerton High School campus, which 

will work with you to make it safe for 

you.” He then asked Capt. Petropulos to 

speak to the issues brought up. 

The captain told the family he was so 

sorry that this happened. He said he 

wished officers had been there, that the 

investigation is ongoing and that “we are 

concerned.” He said that he listened to 

the 911 phone calls and that cars were dispatched 

within 2 minutes of the 2nd call. 

He said the first caller indicated that he 

was in a car and being chased by gang 

members on foot. The dispatcher gave it a 

low priority because it was assumed that a 

car could outrun people on foot. 

He explained the way dispatchers gather 

information so that police on their way 

to the scene might capture the suspects 

fleeing. He said it was 7 minutes from the 

1st call to the time that two of the suspects 

were arrested. He said that the police 

have lots of experience with FTT members. 

“They know the neighborhood and 

can disappear fast.” 

Officers Garcia and Ranik 

came to the church with a 

book of suspects to see if 

the family could identify 

anyone. He said that “it is 

distressing when attacks 

happen anywhere but 

especially when it happens 

at a church.” 

He explained that the 

911 dispatcher did not 

know where the church 

was located and that he, 

himself, had worked here 

for 18 years and didn’t 

know until now. He invited 

the family to come to 

the station and listen to 

the 911 tapes. 

“ There needs 

to be an 

alternative 

to a drug 

dealer saying 

“I’ll give you 

a job for 

$1,000 

a week.” 

We need 

to invest in 

these kids 

and if we do 

we can change 

a generation.” 

The floor was opened up to the public. 

•Wendy Leal said that she grew up in a 

gang and was now involved with gang 

prevention through the New Wine 

Church in Fullerton. She said that people 

from the community need to come 

together. All of the churches should get 

together to create a center where ex-gang 

members can counsel the kids. “They will 

listen to us because they know we have 

been there.” 

•LaTonya Dejoie, NAACP OC former 

VP, and church member said she was also 

an ex-gang member. “These children are a 

product of their environment.” She said, 

“we need people who can help find the 

solutions. The city can’t help, churches are 

the solution.” About the attack she said, 

“until you have been in that position you 

can not understand the terror.” She saw 

the response time as a major problem. 

•Maria Rosa Ibarra of the Hermandad 

Mexicana Nacional said, “we need to keep 

working together as one community and 

learn from our experiences. We have hope 

that now is the time to make changes.” 

• Mario Villamil of the Valencia Task 

Force said, “we have worked for years with 

the city departments and have achieved 

many things including the St. Jude Clinic 

and Valencia Community Center at 

Richman Park, and obtaining the signal 

light at Valencia and Highland. We have 

worked with the police. It is about us 

coming together to share ideas and create 

solutions. We meet every 1st Thursday at 

6pm at Valencia Community Center and 

invite anyone to come.” See box below. 

• Len Hubbard, a history teacher, said, 

“we need to better educate ourselves and 

find our common background. We need 

common courtesy. I should be 

able to say “I am sorry,” if I step 

on your foot without getting shot 

over it. In the news there are lots 

of accidental police shootings. 

Why does it always happen to 

people who look like me?” 

•Another NAACP member 

said he worked in the jail and 

with the dads of FTT members. 

“The police apologized. They 

have a tough job, let’s give them a 

break. They are afraid sometimes 

that someone will kill them too. 

We need to be sympathetic. 

Police love action. If something’s 

happening…they want to be 

there. The 911 operator needs to 

be fired. If the operator had done 

her job we would not be here 

tonight. Also where are the kids 

parents? They need to get involved.” 

•June Perez said, “this has been going 

on for 30 years. My answer was to move 

away but my mother would not move. 

When my nephew James was killed I 

screamed and hollered but nobody would 

listen.” 

• Francisco Ortega, a resident of 

Fullerton who works with the LA Human 

Relations Watts Gang Task Force said, “I 

am your neighbor. It is hurtful to me that 

this happened to you. We can do something 

about it. The folks in Watts came 

together and reduced crime by 50%. I 

understand the anger about the response 

time but we should be talking about how 

to reach out to these kids. I didn’t know 

you [Majesty Church] were here. Your 

passion, anger, concern and frustration 

will not be met tonight but we will solve 

these problems.” He invited everyone to 

the gang solution meeting taking place at 

1:30pm Tuesday, March 3rd at the Hunt 

Library (and ongoing every 1st Tuesday). 

See box below for address. 

•Jenny Cordero, whose son James was 

attacked and killed in Fullerton, tearfully 

told the family that she was happy they 

were all ok. 

• Irene Esquibel, a church member, 

said that Majesty’s Hope Outreach works 

with kids and families. The kids want to 

Schedule of On-Going Meetings 

•GANG SOLUTIONS: Meets from 1:30-2:30pm on 1st Tuesday of each month 

(next one is March 3) at Hunt Branch Library, 201 S. Basque Ave., Fullerton. 

(714) 738-3121 

•FULLERTON COLLABORATIVE: Meets from 1:30-2:30pm on 2nd Tuesday of 

eachmonth (next one is March 10) at Hunt Branch Library, 201 S. Basque Ave., 

Fullerton. (714) 738-3121 

•VALENCIA TASK FORCE Meets at 6pm on 1st Thursday of each month (next 

one is March 5) at Valencia Community Center, Richman Park, on Highland and 

Elm in Fullerton. (714) 738-3146 

Would the long boarded-up former Emanual Baptist Church on the corner 

of Patterson and Valencia make a good community center? 

hear positive things. At home they hear 

Dad’s lost his job, the electricity has been 

cut off, etc. The city has built new homes 

in the area but that won’t do it. There 

needs to be an alternative to a drug dealer 

saying “I’ll give you a job for $1,000 a 

week.” We need to invest in these kids and 

if we do we can change a generation.” 

•Pastor LaVell Brown of Majesty said, 

“If you break your leg and go to the doctor, 

and the doctor says he’s so sorry but 

gives no treatment to relieve the problem” 

nothing is accomplished. Let’s really do 

something.” He said the reason the kids 

are in the street is that the parents are out 

working trying to make enough to pay the 

rent. They need help. He suggested that 

the city help the church buy a long-vacant 

building at the end of Valencia at 

Patterson to turn into a 24-hour center for 

kids. 

Mayor protem Pam Keller, who is also 

the executive director of the Fullerton 

Collaborative thanked everyone for coming 

and said, “ we really want to work 

together. The Collaborative is a group of 

many groups which has been working in 

this community for years.” She invited 

everyone to the Fullerton Collaborative 

Meetings on the second Tuesday of each 

month at the Hunt Branch Library from 

1:30-2:30pm. See box below for address.. 

Councilmember Sharon Quirk said, 

“I could teach anywhere but I choose to 

teach at Richman, the school I attended 

growing up. Equity is a huge issue for me. 

We have a long way to go and we can’t do 

it by demonizing each other. We need to 

make connections with each other. The 

people here tonight are here because they 

care, not for a PR reason. We live side by 

side but do we know each other? I think 

that should be the subject of our next 

meeting.” 

Update 

Shocking news about the background 

of Pastor Willie Holmes has 

overshadowed the Feb. 13, 2009 

gang attack on Holmes and his family 

at their Majesty Fellowship 

Church on S. Richman in Fullerton. 

Records show the pastor pled 

guilty August 15, 2007 to a charge of 

lewd conduct in a public place. 

Holmes was caught in a police 

sting on Nov., 30, 2006 at a public 

restroom and charged with 

(647(a)PC). The charge is a legal 

device used to entrap, arrest, and 

prosecute consenting adults seeking 

to have sex in public places. It almost 

exclusively targets gay men. 

Holmes was sentenced to three 

years probation but was brought 

back before the court for violation of 

probation and sentenced on Sept. 

25, 2008 to 60 days in jail and three 

years of probation to run through 

Sept. 24, 2011. He is scheduled to 

report to jail March 6, 2009. 

Church and family members said 

they were unaware of the charges.


Fullerton High’s 

Push for Peace 

Unity Program 

A weeklong event, held February 23 

through the 26th, brought students 

from across Fullerton High together to 

explore issues of identity, culture, and 

unity through a variety of speakers and 

workshops. 

Unity Week is part of the Tribe Unite 

Campaign, a school wide effort organized 

by P.U.S.H. for P.E.A.C.E (P4P) 

and supported by students at Fullerton 

Union High School. P4P is dedicated 

to creating a campus where every student 

is valued, included, and respected. 

The goal is to share experiences, learn 

from each other, and unite students, 

teachers, and staff. Unity Week helps 

develop awareness among students to 

promote understanding and build on 

the strengths of diversity at Fullerton 

Union High School and the community. 

Included in the “Discovering Culture 

and Diversity Speakers Symposium” 

were workshops celebrating the role of 

men and women of many ethnic groups 

in their contributions of the development 

of the United States of America. 

Workshop presenters and speakers 

included: 

• Sylvia Mendez presented 

“Desegregation in the OC; Mendez V. 

Westminster” which discussed the success 

of the 1946 Mendez v. Westminister 

case in Orange County which helped 

end school segregation among Mexican 

Americans (before the historic Brown v. 

Board of Education case). 

•Don Ha, of OC Human Relations 

presented the “Cost of Living” activity 

which allowed students to experience 

the true cost of living in Orange County 

leading to a discussion on the importance 

of education in achieving goals. 

•Jose Perez and Jose Alfaro of the 

Dayle McIntosh Center, presented 

“Students and Disabilities” which 

revealed the challenges of students with 

disabilities in middle and high schools. 

•Eric Lam and Rafael R. Solorzano, 

OC Human Relations presented 

“Beyond Heroes and Holidays”, a workshop 

which shared the history of youth 

organizing in the US including important 

civil rights moments in U.S. history 

and how Martin Luther King Day 

became a national holiday, created and 

started by youth. 

•Alicia Woodard, of OC Human 

Trafficking Task Force and Vanguard 

Live2Free Club presented “What is 

modern day slavery? What can I do 

about it?” 

•Gustavo Arellano, an author and 

OC Weekly writer, shared stories from 

his second book, “Orange County: A 

Personal History.” 

•Eric Lam and Don Ha, of OC 

Human Relations, presented “Asian 

Americans Then and Now – The last 30 

years” which told the history of Asian 

Programs Available to Youth & Teens 

Partnership 

Provides Programs 

After School 

A standing 

room only 

crowd at 


High’s Little 

Theater listen 

to UCI students 

in “The 

Olive Tree 

Initiative” 

speak about 

their trip to 

the Middle 

East and 

the Israeli- 

Palestinian 

conflict. 

A workshop 

explored the 

Asian 

Americans 

contributions 

to the US. 

Another presented 

youth 

contributions 

to the Civil 

Rights 

Movement. 

American contributions in the US and 

how that history directly affects the lives 

of Asian American students today. 

•The Olive Tree Initiative workshop 

“Beyond Stereotypes; Faces and Voices of 

the Israeli Palestinian Conflict” was presented 

by a diverse group of UCI students 

who just returned from the Middle 

East where they heard perspectives from 

Israeli and Palestinian community leaders 

with first hand knowledge of the conflict. 

For more information on Push for Peace 

and the programs presented contact 

Rafael Solórzano at 714-567-7420 or 

rafael@ochumanrelations.org. 

The Fullerton School District in partnership 

with the City, YMCA, and Boys 

& Girls Club provides a free after school 

program to children attending 

Commonwealth, Ladera Vista, Maple, 

Nicolas, Orangethorpe, Pacific Dr., 

Raymond, Richman, Woodcrest and 

Valencia Park Schools. The grant funded 

program is free to participating students. 

But, to attend your child must go to one 

of the schools. 

The Boys & Girls Club administers the 

Valencia Park and Commonwealth programs 

and the City runs the 

Orangethorpe and Maple programs. The 

YMCA administers the program at 

Valencia Community Center in Richman 

Park. 

The program runs Aug. 28 through 

June 11, from end of the school day at 

2:30pm to 6pm, Monday through 

Fridays. The K-8 program offers homework 

help, recreation, visual and performing 

arts, music, health & nutrition promotion. 

Call Ann Scott at 714-447-2858 

for information. 

Gilbert Park Pilot Program 

The City will be starting a pilot program 

at Gilbert Community Center on 

Orangethorpe in partnership with the 

Police Department. This program is 

being designed to identify "at-risk" 

youth and provide alternatives to gang 

involvement through intervention lessons 

and strategies. The program will 

be led by Fullerton Police Officers in 

coordination with Parks and Recreation 

staff, and is designed so participants 

meet and interact with Officers in a 

non-adversarial setting. 

The City of Fullerton offers the following 

programs to youth and teens at 

local parks and community centers at no 

charge: 

•GARNET COMMUNITY CENTER: at 

3012 Garnet Lane. Director Eddie 

Burciaga (714-996-2574). 

After School Program: 65 Kids ages 5- 

13 receive homework help in a safe environment 

from 2-4pm Mon. through Fri. 

Gente Intelligente: 90 kids per year, 

ages 5-13 recieve academic tutoring from 

1-5pm Mon. through Fri. 

Teen Center: 35 kids ages 12-17 are 

provided with a safe location to interact 

with mentors. Mon. through Fri. from 

3pm to 7pm. 

Summer Recreation: 75 kids ages 5-13 

are provided a safe, supervised program 

of recreation and art activities from June- 

Aug., Mon.-Fri. 12pm to 5pm. 

•RICHMAN PARK’S VALENCIA 

COMMUNITY CENTER: 711 S. Highland 

at Elm. Director Rosemary Castro (714- 

738-3146) or Rayda Jaber (714-738- 

2884). 

Youth in Action Teen Leadership: 30 

kids ages 10-18 develop decision making 

skills through group activities, community 

service, leadership camps, special 

events & excursions. Mon & Thurs. 5pm 

to 8pm. 

Arts Enrichment: 30 kids ages 12-18 

participate in a variety of creative activities 

for teens. Wed. & Fri. from 5pm to 

6:30pm. 

Empowerment: 25 kids ages 7-14 and 

their families in a development program 

offering educational workshops, guid- 

Recent publicized gang activity in 

Fullerton has inspired the Boys & Girls 

Clubs of Fullerton to react with gang preventative 

programs especially for grade 

school students. At the Club’s Valencia 

Park Branch after school program, sixth 

grade students participate in a program 

called Club6, designed to instill students 

with a sense of community responsibility. 

“In Club6, kids are assigned a staff 

member to assist every week. Their 

responsibilities include cleaning the Club, 

organizing activities for the younger 

members, and playing games with them,” 

says Branch Director Russ Kazmierczak. 

“Members that demonstrate character 

development get to go on exclusive trips 


Above: The new Gilbert Community Center 

in Gilbert Park on Orangethope. 

City of Fullerton Free Programs for Kids 

ance, and recreation. Kids develop leadership, 

conflict resolution, problem solving 

and goal setting skills with the focus 

on refocusing the child toward more positive 

behaviors. Wed. 4-6pm 

Playgrounds on the Go: 35 to 40 kids 

ages 5-12 participate in organized outdoor 

games, arts & crafts, excursions and 

special events. Mon., Tues, Thurs, Fri. 

from 2:30 to 6pm and Wed. from noon 

to 6pm, during the school year. 

Teen Scene: for ages 11-15, Mon-Fri, 

2:30pm-5pm. A safe, supervised place 

for teens to hang out with friends will 

start soon. There will be a $20 annual 

fee. 

•SUMMER PLAYGROUNDS: 400 kids 

ages 5-12 participate in an 8-week recreational 

program with organized outdoor 

games, arts & crafts, enrichment projects, 

excursions and special events during 

the summer, Fri., noon to 4pm. at 

Chapman, Gilbert, Maple, 

Orangethorpe & Richman Parks. 

Director James Kashiwada (714-773- 

5789). 

•PLAY (PLAYGROUND LEADERS 

ASSISTING YOUTH): 20 kids ages 12-16 

participate in a volunteer program 

designed to develop leadership skills 

needed to become peer leaders and mentors. 

Year-Round at Maple, Richman and 

Orangethorpe Community Centers. 

Summer only at Chapman, Gilbert and 

Hillcrest parks. School year hours are 

Mon-Fri, 2:30pm to 6pm. Summer 

hours are Mon-Fri, 12pm to 6pm. Rayda 

Jaber 714-738-2884. 

Boys & Girls Club6 Offers Alternatives 

to Lazer Quest and Six Flags Magic 

Mountain.” The trips are free of cost for 

the students and their families. 

“By the time these kids are in junior 

high or high school, they’re already in a 

gang, or they’re so exposed to the lifestyle 

that it’s just another part of their lives,” 

Kazmierczak added. “We want to make a 

positive impression first. We want to 

inspire them to be better citizens.” 

The Valencia Park Branch of the Boys 

& Girls Clubs of Fullerton is located on 

the west side of Fullerton, not far from 

where the church was recently vandalized 

and the scenes of other gang activity. 

For more information about the program 

e-mail vpb_bgcf@hotmail.com. 

FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY 

“When You Need Experience” 

Jan M. Flory 

(714) 525-9998 

• Divorce 

• Guardianship 

• Adoption 

• Custody/Visitation 

• Support Modification 

• Real Estate Background 

141 West Wilshire, Ste. C • Fullerton CA 92832


“Homeless in Fullerton” from a photo series by Mike Magoski of the Violet Hour Studio & Gallery, 

225 W. Santa Fe Ave., Fullerton 92832 (near Highland) 714-441-1504 

Helping Fullerton’s Homeless by Tracy Wood 

They’re school teachers and police officers, 

business owners, lawyers, accountants, teens, 

grandparents, college students, corporate 

executives, a professional caterer, a nutritionist 

and four generations of the same family. 

And they have one thing in common: they 

volunteer regularly to help Fullerton’s homeless. 

Dozens of Fullerton residents are parttime 

chefs for the six area churches that serve a 

hot meal almost every day to those in need. 

Other volunteers serve in the temporary 

shelters provided by religious groups for singles 

or couples who are employed or job 

hunting, but have no place to live. 

More help stock food banks, volunteer at 

the National Guard Armory during the winter, 

or make and deliver sandwiches to the 

hot meal centers so the homeless have food 

to take with them when they leave. 

And as the economy worsens, the need is 

growing, according to those who run several 

of the food programs. 

“We’re seeing increases across the board,” 

said Judi Bambas, executive director of 

Fullerton Interfaith Emergency Service 

(FIES). In past years, she said, almost everyone 

served by FIES had very low incomes, 

but in recent months, she said, with layoffs 

and employment cutbacks, formerly middle 

income wage earners have become homeless, 

faced with the choice “do I pay my rent or 

feed my family?” 

Those helped by the services aren’t just the 

fulltime homeless. In the current economy, 

seniors on fixed incomes, the working poor 

and the temporarily unemployed seek help. 

The task of caring for them falls to three 

main groups: Fullerton Interfaith 

Emergency Service (FIES), which helps 

homeless families and individuals find 

homes and jobs and operates a foodbank; 

Mercy House, which runs the National 

Guard Armory on Brookhurst as a winter 

shelter, and the churches that serve regular 

hot meals and sandwiches. 

Funding comes from county, state and federal 

programs, corporate donations, private 

foundations and the core churches and synagogue 

that are part of FIES. 

Orange County homeless statistics for 

2009 won’t be available until late spring, but 

in 2007, according to county estimates, there 

were 35,065 “episodes” of homelessness. The 

term episode is used because a family or individual 

may have been homeless more than 

once during the year. Overwhelmingly, those 

without homes were families with children, 

said Kelly Lupro, Homeless Coordinator for 

the county’s Homeless Prevention Division. 

There are no official statistics for cities, but 

Sgt. Mike MacDonald, spokesman for the 

Fullerton Police Department, said on any 

given day, between 125 and 150 people in 

town are believed to be without a home. 

FIES Foodbank 

Founded by Barbara Johnson and 

Fullerton religious leaders in 1975, FIES 

began as an emergency food bank, according 

to Barbara Jennings, president of its board. 

Located on South Ford Avenue near 

Richman Elementary School, the food bank 

is open six days a week and supplies a family 

of four for two days. Families can use the 

food bank eight times a year. 

A food bank also has been run from First 

Lutheran Church for nearly 30 years. Seven 

years ago members of the church took over 

its operation and food is available every 

Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon. 

Many of those who need the food supplies, 

said volunteer Janet Shellenberger, aren’t 

homeless, but they don’t have enough money 

for food and their numbers are increasing 

“drastically.” In mid-February, she said, 

roughly 140-150 individuals, many from the 

near-by Fullerton City Lights low income 

Religious organizations that support FIES include: 

Brea United Methodist Church, Church of Today, Congregational Church, Emmanuel 

Episcopal Church, First Baptist Church, First Christian Church, First Church of Christ Scientist, 

First Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, Holy Cross 

Melkite-Greek Catholic Church, Mount of Calvary Non-denominational Church, Morningside 

Presbyterian Church, Orangethorpe Christian Church, Orangethorpe United Methodist Church, 

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Temple Beth Tikvah, Unitarian 

Universalist Church 

Corporate sponsors include: 

The Boeing Company, The Children and Families Commission of Orange County, The City 

of Fullerton, The Croul Foundation, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, LA Times 

Family Fund, a McCormick Tribune Foundation Fund, The Pacific Life Foundation, The Phelps 

Foundation, The R.C. Baker Foundation, The Target Foundation, The Wells Fargo Foundation 

housing complex, received enough canned 

goods, produce, milk, eggs and cheese in a 

week to make a total of 500 meals. The food 

bank is in addition to the hot meal served to 

the homeless and needy at First Lutheran 

each Tuesday night. 

A new food bank opened downtown this 

winter. Although not a part of FIES, the 

Wilshire Avenue Community Church began 

distributing food bags in December and 

serves 40 to 80 families each Sunday, said the 

church’s Ministry Manager, Marcela 

Montijo. 

And members of other churches and civic 

groups help build the stocks of food. For 

instance, the Unitarian Universalist Church 

makes food collection for FIES part of the 

regular Sunday service. For more resources, 

including those available in other Orange 

County cities, call 2-1-1 or visit 

http://www.infolinkoc.org. 

Much of the food distributed by Fullerton 

food banks is purchased from Second 

Harvest, an Irvine distribution center created 

by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. 

Second Harvest, according to its web site, 

acquires and distributes food donated by 

grocery stores and supermarket chains, food 

manufacturers and distributors, the government, 

restaurants, trade shows, gleaning 

efforts, food drives and private individuals. It 

buys in bulk staples that are in high demand 

but not usually donated, like pinto beans, 

rice, tuna fish, peanut butter and dry milk. 

But sometimes, supplies from all sources 

run short. Several volunteers mentioned 

periodic shortages of cereal. And sometimes 

there are lots of canned goods, but no produce 

or meat. 

Then there are the bonuses. First 

Lutheran’s food bank had an unusually good 

stock of frozen meat the last week in 

February, so, said Shellenberger, those needing 

help got to choose chicken or hamburger 

and even steak. 

SHELTER 

Ten years after opening its food bank, 

FIES added a shelter program. 

The Interfaith Shelter Network can accept 

eight to 12 residents at a time. Participants 

must be drug and alcohol free, said Bambas, 

the FIES executive director, and adults must 

be able to find employment if they aren’t 

already working. And when they are working, 

they must save 80% of their adjusted 

income to help them get started with a new 

place to live. 

Continued on page 11 

FIES FACTS 

Fullerton Interfaith 

Emergency Services (FIES) 

Web site http://www.fies.us/ 

The Fullerton Interfaith 

Emergency Service, FIES, is a 

non-profit organization that 

provides food, transitional 

housing and support services to 

the hungry, homeless and less 

advantaged in North OC. 

Programs include: 

HOT MEALS 

•Mondays, 6pm-6:30pm: 

Orangethorpe Christian 

Church, 2200 W. 

Orangethorpe Ave., Fullerton 

•Tuesdays, 6pm-6:30pm: 

First Lutheran Church 

215 N. Lemon St. Fullerton 

•Wednesdays, 6pm- 

6:30pm: -First Christian 

Church, 115 E. Wilshire Ave., 


•Thursdays, 6pm-6:30pm: 

Placentia Presbyterian Church, 

849 N. Bradford, Placentia 

•Fridays, 6pm-6:30pm: St. 

Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 

1231 E. Chapman Ave., 


•Saturdays, 10:30am to 

noon: St. Angelea Merici 

Roman Catholic Church, 585 

E. Walnut St., Brea 

FOOD, SHELTER AND 

OTHER EMERGENCY HELP 

•FIES Distribution Center: 

611 S. Ford Ave. (off Highland 

Avenue, next to Richman 

Park), Fullerton, Monday- 

Friday 1pm.-4pm and Saturday 

9am to 11am (food only) 714- 

738-0255 

•Fullerton Police Dept: 237 

W. Commonwealth, weekends 

and weekdays after 4:30pm for 

FIES crisis food and lodging 

vouchers. 714-738-6715 or 

714-738-6800 

•Caring Hands Food 

Pantry: First Lutheran Church, 

215 N. Lemon St., Fullerton, 

Monday 6pm-7pm and 

Wednesday 12 noon - 2pm 

SHORT-TERM LODGING 

(3 DAYS) 

•Salvation Army: 818 3rd 

St., Santa Ana - Lodging for 

single men and women, 

4:30pm line-up. 714-542-9750 

•Orange County Rescue 

Mission: 1901 W. Walnut, 

Santa Ana- Lodging for single 

men - 4:30pm check-in. 714- 

835-5795 

LODGING 

•FIES New Vista 

Transitional Living Center: 

Fullerton-Lodging (up to 90 

days) for qualified homeless 

families with children, 714- 

680-3691 

•Anaheim Interfaith 

Shelter: Lodging for homeless 

families, 714-774-8502 

•H.I.S. House-Lodging for 

homeless families, 714-993- 

5774 

•Interfaith Shelter 

Network: Lodging for 

singles/couples, 714-738-0534


Continued from page 10 

Each homeless adult is assigned a professional 

case worker to help with job and 

other issues. The homeless can remain in 

the program for three to four months and 

they must get a job within 30 days. 

However, said FIES board president 

Jennings, the 30-day requirement can be 

extended “because the economy is so 

rough right now.” 

If the adults in the FIES program have 

no children, they can find shelter at participating 

churches that provide dinner, 

breakfast and a place for the homeless to 

sleep inside their buildings for two to 

three weeks. 

After that, the homeless adults in the 

FIES program move to another church 

that provides the same services. In 

Fullerton, the churches are First 

Christian, St. Paul’s Lutheran, 

Orangethorpe Methodist and First 

Presbyterian. St. Angela Merici Roman 

Catholic church, just across the border in 

Brea, and St. Paul’s Episcopal in Tustin 

and First Presbyterian in Garden Grove 

also are part of the program. Other 

churches and organizations often prepare 

meals and help out with the shelter program, 

organizers said. 

Temple Beth Tikvah housed the homeless 

as well until last year and members 

still are actively involved in helping FIES 

and those in need. One special role the 

Temple took on was providing shelter 

specifically over Christmas to give the 

Christian denominations a break during 

the time of celebration. 

Volunteers at the temple brought in a 

potted Christmas tree that the homeless 

decorated and held a small party. The tree 

later was planted on the temple’s grounds 

where it still grows, said Miriam Van 

Raalte, the temple’s administrator and 

education director. Their volunteers regularly 

take food to the shelter churches and 

work at the armory, continuing the tradition 

of taking the Christmas shifts so that 

Christian volunteers can go to church and 

be with family members. 

“The temple always steps up to the 

plate,” said Jennings. Thus the name, 

“Fullerton Interfaith.” 

The interfaith spirit of cooperation and 

support is what holds FIES together, said 

a number of volunteers. And although the 

organization is faith-based, “we do not 

evangelize,” said Bambas. 

For homeless families with children, 

FIES works with government agencies to 

assign motel vouchers or house up to 12 

families at a time (roughly 48 to 50 people) 

at the New Vista Transitional Living 

Center, where caseworkers help families 

get back on their feet. 

And when money is available, said 

Jennings, FIES offers help with rent and 

utility payments. In the long run, she 

said, it is less expensive to keep a family in 

its home and help the adults find jobs, 

than to let them become homeless, 

bounce children in and out of schools, 

and force them to start all over. 

All of this costs money and the support 

agencies are seeing donations flatten in 

the same way the economy is causing 

individuals to cut back. 

The religious groups continue to support 

FIES, along with some government 

grants, donations from PTAs, staff at the 

Fullerton School District and many other 

organizations. 

The Phelps Foundation has offered a 

$15,000 challenge grant and FIES has a 

year to match it. 

The Armory 

The National Guard Armory can house 

350 and is open from Dec. 5 through at 

least mid-April, said Lawrence G. Haynes 

Jr., executive director of Mercy House, 

which runs the shelter under a contract 

with the county. 

The county began opening the Armory 

to the homeless during bad weather about 

20 years ago, but this is the first year 

Mercy House has held the contract. 

All homeless can come in, get a hot 

meal, sleep on a cot and have a continental-type 

breakfast. “This is open to people 

who are living on the streets,” said 

Haynes. 

Ongoing volunteers helping out with 

the program include members of the 

Unitarian Universalist Church in 

Fullerton. 

Hot Meals 

Monday through Saturday, the homeless 

and others in need can find a hot 

meal at one of six Fullerton-area churches. 

Business is booming at Orangethorpe 

Christian Church where Debbie 

Campbell, co-director of the Hot Meals 

Program estimates the 16-year-old weekly 

dinner program now draws an average of 

200, many of them elderly or low-income 

residents of nearby apartments. 

The numbers are up from the 150 a 

year ago who came on Monday nights for 

turkey pot pie one week, sloppy Joes 

another or maybe enchilada casserole. 

Along with the main course there’s a vegetable, 

salad, bread and butter and 

dessert. 

Four generations of Campbells serve 

those in need, Debbie’s mother Edna 

Skeen, who’s lived in Fullerton 56 years, 

Debbie’s daughter Christina Campbell, 

the co-director of the Hot Meals program 

and Debbie’s granddaughter, 7th grader 

Adena Bentley. 

The congregation at Orangethorpe 

puts on the dinner one week during the 

month and the other weeks are sponsored 

by other churches in the area: Yorba 

Linda Presbyterian, Anaheim Freeform, 

Orangethorpe United Methodist and the 

Korean congregation at Orangethorpe 

Christian. 

Albertson’s and Trader Joe’s frequently 

donate food and Panera on Sunnycrest 

sends bread. Supplies also come from 

Orangethorpe’s sister church, First 

Christian, which offers its weekly hot 

meal on Wednesday nights. 

The hot meal program isn’t a part of 

FIES, but the churches that host the dinners 

generally are members. 

One of the oldest weekly hot meal programs 

began in 1988 when 15-year-old 

Brian Coleman and other members of the 

Youth Group at St. Andrew’s Episcopal 

Church were studying homelessness and 

poverty in the third world. 

After the class, they headed across the 

street toward the Carl’s Jr’s. But, said 

Coleman, now an Episcopal priest in 

Battle Creek, Michigan, as they crossed 

the church parking lot, he noticed “in the 

doorway of the church hall there was a 

homeless man curled up in a ball, sleeping.” 

Coleman bought the man a hamburger. 

“It got us to thinking. There are people 

right here who need help.” 

So Coleman and classmate Cindy 

Freeland organized a hot meal for the 

homeless program at St. Andrew’s. 

Today, it serves about 130 people each 

Friday night, according to volunteer 

director John Mignot. Albertson’s and 

Henry’s provide the bread and desserts 

and the church and its members donate 

the food. “Fullerton is a caring community 

because if you need to, you can eat 

every day,” he said. 

Volunteers for that hot meal program 

also come from Morningside Presbyterian 

Church. Members of First Presbyterian 

Church make up sack lunches—two 

sandwiches and fruit—for the homeless 

and others to take with them to make 

sure they have something to eat later on. 

by Anthony Columbo 

Homelessness could be remedied if 

society increased its togetherness and 

improved its methods of offering support. 

The homeless are fragile not only 

because of their inability to defend themselves, 

but also because they are so easily 

dismissed by society. For the month of 

January I have volunteered with the 

Mercy House working at the Army 

National Guard Armory, 400 S. 

Brookhurst in Fullerton, and my job was 

to fold blankets that the homeless slept 

on during the night. 

The first morning, I left my house at 

4:22am. For breakfast, I had a piece of 

zucchini pound cake. I arrived at the 

dark Armory and it was already swarming 

with homeless people entering, leaving, 

smoking cigarettes, and just sitting 

around. A JFK transportation bus 

arrived and some loaded in. I was greeted 

by two security guards; one was busy 

speaking Spanish to a lady in a wheel 

chair. The Armory consisted of an empty 

grey cement floor, and a roomful of people 

sleeping, getting dressed, or packing 

their belongings for their departure. 

I was immediately introduced to Gino, 

a skinny young man who wore a green 

beanie, and Albert, a middle aged, tall 

man with a thin mustache. They are 

both paid employees that supervise the 

Armory for the winter months. 

Albert directed me to a task of folding 

the sleeping blankets so the laundry service 

could retrieve the blankets, wash 

them, and return them for the next 

morning. Gino and I folded a total of 

140 blankets, stuffed them in duffle bags 

with ten to a bag. The bags would be 

counted and picked up by the laundry 

service. We had 14 duffle bags, and one 

trash bag full of towels. Albert noted 

that 141 people had slept in the Armory 

that night, and one blanket had gone 

missing. As I was folding the cotton 

blankets, I noticed that some of the blankets 

were still warm. 

After I finished the folding task I took 

a broom and swept the cigarette butts 

and trash outside. I begun sweeping cigarettes 

when I heard an older woman’s 

voice, “Are you American?” 

I turned. There was a small lady no 

more than 5’3”, with a huge birth mark 

on her face. 

“Yes, what are you?” I replied. 

“Chinese. Do you know when the 

bus is coming? Does the Armory give 

out bus passes?” She asked. 

“I don’t know, let me find out.” I 

turned and went back inside the Armory. 

I found the security guard and he told 

me that two buses come, one at 5:15am, 

and the other at 5:30am. The current 

time was 5:41am. 

I returned to the lady, “The second bus 

already left, I’m sorry.” 

“Do you know where I could buy a bus 

pass?” She inquired. 

“Yes, 7-11 sells them, Ralphs sells 

them, and I think you could buy them 

from the bus driver if you have two 

bucks.” 

She was staring at me blankly. I felt as 

if I was shouting into an empty cave, but 

not hearing an echo. Was she understanding 

me? I wasn’t sure. 

She then explained her story to me. 

Her parents were immigrants who died 

and left her without a place to go. She’s 

had a few jobs here and there, rented a 

place in Fullerton, but as of recent times 

she is left without a job, and no home. 

She talked a lot about money. One 

thing she distinctly said was, “See when I 

was paying rent, time would go so fast, 

but now, time goes too slow. Tonight,” 


What It’s Like to Be Homeless 

she shook her head, “tonight felt like 

eight days.” 

I just stood and listened to the lady. 

Albert sent me home at 6:36am. When 

I returned home, I fell asleep before I 

could wash my hands. 

The second morning I arrived at the 

mercy house a little late, around 5:21 am, 

and looked for Albert. He was already in 

a busy rush trying to organize the cleaning 

of the coffee area, the folding of the 

blankets, and the organization of the 

sleeping mats. I was assigned to load the 

sleeping mats on a pull cart, and stack 

them in a cargo bin outside, which was 

locked each night. Chris, my spotter, 

helped me lift the mats and move them 

into the cargo bin. 

I asked the manager Albert, “how 

many people did you have spend the 

night last night?” He said, “151”. “About 

what were their age?” I questioned. 

“Most of them were between 22 and 35,” 

he paused, “we had some close to seventy, 

and another that was a junior in High 

school.” 

What causes homelessness? I think the 

Chinese woman was indirectly telling me 

the answer. In fact, I think she had a 

death in the family (both her parents), 

and struggled finding a decent job that 

provided for her needs. She was an immigrant 

that spoke English with a thick 

Chinese accent. She mentioned money, 

“if I had money, I could pay rent...” and 

also she mentioned, “and traveling all the 

time, it is tiring.” Homelessness is 

change of circumstance that takes its 

affect on a person down on their luck. 

People think homelessness only effects 

people who are struggling with no means 

of assistance; some lack proper identification, 

social security cards, or driver’s 

licenses, but statistics from the OC 

Health Care Agency show that a majority 

of the homeless work full time but 

cannot afford to pay rent on what they 

are paid. Others have been laid off and 

with unemployment rising past 7.2 percent 

perhaps the task of “getting a job” is 

much more difficult than imagined. 

The promises of America are to stand 

for justice, equality, and holding close the 

“tired, weak and weary.” But, sadly, there 

is even a debate as to whether helping the 

homeless is a right thing to do; the common 

perception against not providing 

alms to the poor is either because they are 

substance abusers, or they need to 

empower themselves in order to “stand 

on their own two feet” and “get a job”. 

In the month of January, a total of 

3,842 homeless people stayed at the 

Armory. The overall age group of the 

people staying the night ranged from 18 

to 60 years old with the median group 

age between 30 and 40 years old. This 

does not include children who stayed 

with their parent or parents. We can 

change that if each of us does our part. 

If You Want to Help 

the Homeless or Know 

of Someone Who Needs 

Help, Contact: 

• www.mercyhouse.net or contact 

volunteer coordinator Ashleigh 

Camba at 714-836-7188 

•www.fies.us or call 714-871-3032 

• www.211oc.org or dial 2-1-1 

or (888) 600-4357 

• www.officeonaging.ocgov.com 

(714) 567-7418 

•www.ocpartnership.net 

(714) 288-4007

Page 12 Fullerton Observer ART & MUSEUMS EARLY-MARCH 2009 

•FULLERTON MUSEUM 

714-738-6545 Wilshire & Pomona 

(one block from Harbor 

in Downtown Fullerton) 

Exhibit on Women 

in Baseball 

Women have been taking their place on 

the baseball diamond since the post-Civil 

War era, and it is this early side of our 

National Pastime that is explored in the 

exhibit. The rise of women's baseball is 

traced from 1866, when Vassar College 

fielded the first all-female team. Less than 

a decade later, women were paid to play 

baseball, and a surprising number of 

women were included on early 20th century 

men's teams. 

The show documents this forgotten side 

of baseball with 45 images and 10 objects 

selected from one of the nation's largest 

collections of women's baseball memorabilia. 

The exhibit is a program of 

ExhibitsUSA, a national division of Mid- 

America Arts Alliance and the National 

Endowment for the Arts. 

Fullerton Museum Center hours are 

noon-4pm Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat, & Sunday, 

and noon - 8pm on Thursday. 

Admission is free for members. You can 

become a member at the desk. Non-member 

admission is $4/adults, $3/students 

with student ID and seniors, $1/children 

6 to 12, and free to children under 5. On 

the first Thurs. of each month admission 

is $2 from 4-8pm. -thru March 15. 

Line Drives Family Day 

On the last day of the exhibit, Sunday, 

March 15, from noon to 4pm, the 

Museum Center will host a special baseball-themed 

family event with arts and 

crafts, a treasure hunt in the museum 

gallery, prizes and more. 

The event is free with regular admission 

to the show (see Admission info above). 

Call the education office at 714-738-3136 

FULLERTON IDOL? 

Muckenthaler Community Auditions 

Saturday, March 14 

•HIBBLETON GALLERY 

www.hibbleton.com 714-420-8524 

112 W. Wilshire, Downtown Fullerton 

Thursday - Sunday 1pm - 6pm 

OPENING RECEPTION: "Spare 

Change,” Friday, March 6, 2009 from 7- 

11pm features work by Russ Pope, Andy 

Jenkins, Mike Myers, Chris Pastras, and Chris 

Yormick—all legendary figures in the 

Skateboard art and design world. The show 

runs through March 29th. 

Chris Pastras began his career in the 80s 

during the emergence of the New York City 

skate scene. He turned pro for the groundbreaking 

brand 

W orld 

Industries 

in the early 

90s, which 

moved 

him to 

California. 

In 1992, 

P astras 

founded Stereo Skateboards with longtime 

partner Jason Lee. With its unique, retrobased 

aesthetic, Stereo has been credited with 

revolutionizing skateboarding graphics, 

advertising, and videos. (www.stereosoundagency.com), 

Chris is still an active pro skater 

who's current sponsors include: Stereo, 

Dekline Shoes, WeSC Clothing, Ace Trucks, 

Bones Swiss Bearings and HiFi Wheels. 

Pastras' artwork has been displayed in galleries 

and events around the globe, including 

a room size mural at Hotel Des Arts in San 

Francisco. 

Russ Pope has been an artist in the skate 

Industry since his teen years. He started 

Creature Skateboards and Scarecrow 

Skateboards, and 

has worked for 

Black Label and 

DuFFS. Russ’s 

paintings are a 

collision of 

The Muckenthaler will be auditioning community performers for use 

in upcoming shows, festivals, referrals to other theatres and more. 

We are looking for singers, dancers, music groups, pianists, circus 

acts, self-contained acts, solo acts, film makers, poets etc. 

Please call or email Zoot Velasco at 714.738.3328 or 

Zoot@TheMuck.org to schedule your audition. 

1201 West Malvern Avenue, Fullerton, California 92833 

For more information please visit: www.TheMuck.org 

motion and color, containing elements of culture, 

politics, animals and celebration.. Pope 

has shown his work in galleries both domestically 

and internationally, including San Luis 

Obispo, Santa Cruz, LA, San Jose, Portland, 

Newport Beach, Washington DC, Miami, 

Denver, SF, Chicago, New York, Austin, 

London, Paris, and Edinburgh. 

Andy Jenkins has worked in and around 

magazines as editor, writer, illustrator and 

designer with his two 

best friends and partners, 

Mark Lewman 

and Spike Jonze. The 

list of publications 

they invaded include, 

BMX Action, 

Homeboy, TW 

Skateboarding, TW 

S nowboarding, 

Poweredge, 

Snowboarder, Warp, Raygun, Level, Dirt 

(brother to Sassy magazine), Details, Big 

Brother and more. During this time period 

Jenkins also began a skate/punk zine that was 

to eventually become Bend Press, a small 

independent publishing company with a couple 

books under its belt. In 1994 he went to 

work for the Girl Skateboard Company where 

he still resides as art director and member of 

the infamous Art Dump. His personal work 

has made its way into several exhibitions 

across the globe (Japan, England, Australia, 

Holland) and has been featured in several 

books, including "Beautiful Losers" 

"Dysfunctional", and "Blower, Snowboarding 

Inside and Out" in the US, and "Sky-H" in 

Hong Kong, and more. 

Chris Yormick is a self taught artist who 

lives and works in NYC. He has art directed 

for éS Skate 

Shoes and 

Skateboarder 

Magazine, but 

prefers creating 

things away from 

the computer. 

Chris has displayed 

his work 

across the US, Europe and Japan. 

Michael Myers is an artist and designer 

living in Downtown Fullerton. He studied 

graphic design at California Polytechnic State 

University, San Luis Obipso. In 1995 he 

began working professionally as a graphic 

designer in the skateboarding 

industry. 

Today he splits his 

time between painting 

and designing web 

properties from his 

home office/studio. 

The show runs 

through March 29th. 

•MUCKENTHALER 

GALLERY 

1201 W. Malvern, Fullerton 

714-738-6595 www.themuck.org 

By Hand, By Heart 

Progress & Ideals, 

Contemporary Arts and Crafts, 

examines the legacy of the Arts 

and Crafts movement in contemporary 

works of metal, glass, 

ceramic, wood, textiles and other 

materials. Both utilitarian and 

decorative works are included in 

the show. 

Originally begun as a reaction to 

the increasingly mechanized production 

methods of furniture, textiles, 

and other commodities in the 

nineteenth century, the Arts and 

Crafts movement emphasized the 

spiritual advantages of reclaiming 

the artisan’s trade through hand 

made objects. The title Progress 

and Ideals refers to the artists’ 

belief that both society and the 

artisan would benefit from a 

renewed dedication to the vision 

and practice of individually crafted 

works. The exhibit occupies both 

the main floor and lower floor galleries. 

Gallery hours are Wed 

through Sun 12 to 4 pm. -thru 

March 29 

•HUNT BRANCH 

LIBRARY 201 S. Basque (off 

Valencia) Fullerton 714-738-3121 

OPENING RECEPTION March 

10th at 6pm. The Fullerton Senior 

Center artists will be honored to 

have all Fullerton and surrounding 

residents take time to visually 

enjoy their annual exhibit of paintings 

at the Hunt Branch Library 

from March 4th through April 

20th. 

Oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolors, 

color pencil, mixed medias 

will be displayed with a wide array 

of subject matters, from portraits 

of grandchildren and relatives to 

favorite landscapes of travels, beautiful 

scenic settings, historical 

landmarks and memoirs to 

abstracts. Not only are they talented 

artists but also fantastic cooks 

so you will be delighted with all 

the delicious treats at the reception! 

Come and enjoy! 

Gallery Hours are Monday 

through Wednesday 10am-8pm; 

Thursday & Friday 10am-6pm. 

Professor Ketchum’s Paintings Focus 

on Women, Power, Technology & Gender 

Paintings by assistant professor of 

women’s studies at CSUF are on exhibit 

through June in Room 211 of the 

Humanities-Social Science building on 

the Cal State Fullerton campus. 

The four 2x8-foot canvases explore the 

construction of gender ranging from 

Freud and his assertions regarding female 

sexuality to assumptions regarding femin- 

PHOTO BY KELLY LACEFIELD 

Artist Karyl 

Ketchum with 

painting 

“Women’s 

Time, The 

Monumental, 

The Cyclical, 

and Kristeva” 

one of four 

oversize works 

displayed 

through June. 

ity, the body and aging; to vision and masculinity. 

One painting is inspired by feminist 

philosopher Julia Kristeva’s assertion 

that women exist only symbolically. 

The four paintings are part of a series of 

ten which will be shown at a future date. 

(Read article by Mimi Ko Cruz at 

calstate.fullerton.edu/news/Inside/ 

2009/karyl-ketchum-work-on-display.html)


REVIEWED by Joyce Rosenthal 

CALIFORNIA SUITE 

Feeling low? Could use some cheering 

up? Then head on down to STAGES 

where Neil Simon’s California Suite is 

playing; you will be laughing in no time. 

The action takes place in the same hotel 

suite which is visited by four different 

groups during the course of the play. 

The first visitor, a woman from New 

York, came to California to meet her exhusband 

and discuss the future of their 

17-year old daughter. Their daughter left 

New York and now lives with Dad in 

California; Mom wants her back. Hannah 

is a sophisticated, talented, sharp-tongued 

woman; while her husband William has 

become the stereotypical laid-back 

Californian. Their banter is both amusing 

and touching. 

Next is Marvin from Philadelphia, in 

California for his nephew’s Bar Mitzvah. 

He and his wife travel separately in order 

to avoid a double loss for their children if 

the plane goes down. He arrived the previous 

evening and went out celebrating 

with his brother. His brother gave him a 

gift (“Bunny”) and unfortunately the gift 

drank a whole bottle of vodka, is out cold, 

and cannot be moved. Wife Millie is due 

to arrive any minute and how can he 

explain Bunny’s presence in his bed? 

Diana, an actress and Sidney, her husband 

have come from London because she 

THE SHAPE OF THINGS 

How do you define “Art”? Director 

Anthony Galleran states he wanted to 

direct a show that focuses on “the subjective 

nature of art, truth, and love” and 

Neil LaBute’s The Shape of Things certainly 

fits the bill. 

Adam and Evelyn attend the same college. 

He is studying English Literature 

(more or less) while she is a graduate student 

working on her thesis for an MFA 

degree. They are opposites in every way. 

Adam, an overweight nail biter is both shy 

and inept while Evelyn is sophisticated, 

poised and never at a loss for words. 

Under Evelyn’s tutelage, Adam loses 

weight, dresses better, wears contacts and 

even gets his nose fixed. People now 

notice him and he is no longer the nerd he 

once was. 

Adam’s good friends are an engaged 

couple, Philip and Jenny. Jenny arranges 

to meet Adam in a park. They kiss which 

ignites deeper passionate feelings to which 

they succumb. 

Evelyn learns of the encounter from 

Philip and confronts Adam who vehemently 

denies it. She tells him that she 

and Philip did the same thing as payback. 

Adam is devastated and doesn’t want to 

THEATER 

has been nominated for an Oscar and the 

awards show is that evening. Diana can’t 

get her dress, jewelry, or makeup right and 

Sidney has to keep reassuring her that she 

looks terrific. Off they go and when they 

return it’s obvious that Diana didn’t win. 

Both of them are blind drunk and their 

actions and dialog are hilarious. 

The last visitors are two couples from 

Chicago who are best friends (or at least 

they were before this vacation). This is 

the most physical of all the vignettes; the 

action never stops and it is very, very 

funny. 

Directors Brian Kojac and Terry 

McNicol have split the directing duties 

with excellent results. The show is delightful 

and the cast is terrific with outstanding 

performances by Cheryl Pellerin 

(Hannah), Stan Morrow (Marvin), 

Margaret Jensen (Diana), and Brian Kojac 

(Mort). Adding to the entertainment 

between scene changes were Crystal 

Lauture (Maid) and James Johnson (Bell 

Captain). This is definitely one show not 

to be missed. 

STAGES THEATER 

400 E. Commonwealth, Fullerton 

Tickets: 714-525-4484 

www.stagesoc.org 

•“CALIFORNIA SUITE” by Neil 

Simon, directed by Terry McNicol & 

Brian Kojac thru March 21. 

lose Evelyn and so he reluctantly agrees 

with her that it’s best not to see Jenny and 

Philip again. 

The climax of the play is stunning and 

will not be revealed here; it has to be seen 

to be believed. 

Topher Mauerham (Phillip) and 

Kaitlyn Tice (Jenny) do a good job. 

Kristen Yukech (Evelyn) is marvelously 

self-absorbed and cold in her presentation 

and Jeremy Gable (Adam) is outstanding, 

clearly showing the transition from “nerd” 

to “regular guy.” 

The Set Design by Andrew 

Vonderschmitt consists of two large pieces 

which rotate independently of each other. 

They cleverly represent a living room, 

bedroom, park, doctor’s office and school 

auditorium. However, stagehands manually 

move these heavy pieces and also 

bring in extra items (bench, table, chairs), 

all of which requires time and disrupts the 

flow of the play. “The Shape of Things” 

plays without an intermission. 

HUNGER ARTISTS THEATRE 

699-A S. State College Blvd, Fullerton 

Tickets: 714-680-6803 

www.hungerartists.com 

• “THE SHAPE OF THINGS” by 

Neil Labute, directed by Anthony 

Galleran plays thru March 8. • 


Allie Vechil, 

Mike 

Richardson, 

Nate Vestri, 

and Ariana 

Castiglia 

star in 

“Damn 

Yankees” at 

the 

Plummer 

opening 

March 20 

and playing 

through 

March 28. 

FUHS Academy of the Arts presents 

Damn Yankees at the Plummer 

The Fullerton Union High School 

Academy of the Arts presents “Damn 

Yankees,” directed by Michael Despars 

with musical direction by Scott 

Hedgecock, at the Plummer Auditorium 

on the corner of Chapman and Lemon in 

Fullerton. 

Winner of the Tony Award for Best 

Musical, “Damn Yankees” is the story of 

middle-aged baseball fan Joe Boyd who 

trades his soul to the Devil for a chance to 

lead his team to victory against the New 

York Yankees. As young baseball sensation 

Joe Hardy, he transforms the hapless 

Washington Senators into a winning 

team, but there is a price to be paid. 

While the Devil and his seductive assistant 

wait to collect, Joe realizes the true 

worth of the life (and wife) he left behind. 

Music and lyrics by Richard Adler and 

Jerry Ross. Book by George Abbott and 

Douglas Wallop. Based on the novel by 

Douglass Wallop, “The Year the Yankees 

Lost the Pennant”. 

The production opens at 7:30pm on 

Friday, March 20, with shows on March 

21, 27 and 28 and Saturday matinees at 

1:30pm. Admission is $12/general and 

$8/students, seniors and children. 

TICKETS: 714-525-0676 or online at 

www.fullertonhigh.org. 

MAVERICK THEATER 110 E. Walnut, Fullerton 

Tickets: 714-526-7070 www.mavericktheater.com 

• “THE FULL MONTY” plays thru April 18. An R-rated musical by Terrence 

McNally, music & lyrics by David Yazbek, directed by Roy Diaz & John Wirtz . 

Seeing how much their wives enjoy watching male strippers during their "Girls' 

Night Out," unemployed steelworkers in Buffalo, New York come up with a bold 

way to make some quick cash. In the process they find renewed self-esteem. 

Ryan Johnson as Mark and Molly Stilliens as Linny 

in the CSUF production of “Moonburn” by Erick 

Czuleger plays thru March 15. PHOTO BY JIM VOLZ 

CSUF HALLBERG 

THEATRE 

800 N. State College Blvd, 


Tickets: 714-278-3371 

• “MOONBURN” by Eric 

Czuleger plays thru March 

15. March Caulder, son of 

famed author Lucy Caulder, 

returns home to see his dying 

mother after seven years of 

estrangement. Having 

recently published a sensationalist 

exposé of his abusive 

childhood, Mark is desperate 

for atonement. This 

poignant family drama is 

about making mistakes, 

trust, truth and forgiveness. 

Directed by Joseph Arnold. 

$10

Page 14 Fullerton Observer EVENTS 

HITS & 

MISSES 

by Joyce Mason © 2009 

THE CURIOUS CASE OF 

BENJAMIN BUTTON: Two Misses 

Supposedly based on a short story by F. Scott 

Fitzgerald, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” 

borrows only the story’s title and its premise—a 

person born old lives his life backwards into infancy. 

Relocated from Fitzgerald’s Baltimore to New 

Orleans and reset in time from the nineteenth to 

the twentieth century, “Benjamin Button” is a long, 

attenuated series of improbable and random events. 

Screenwriter Eric Roth tells the story of Benjamin 

Button (Brad Pitt) by framing it with the death of 

his true love, Daisy, whose daughter (Julia 

Ormond) is reading to her from Benjamin’s diary. 

As she reads, stormy weather threatens outside the 

hospital window. They are in New Orleans and it 

is late August, 2005. The brewing storm hangs 

heavy over the events depicted in Benjamin’s diary, 

which is a retelling of his life’s story. 

Because filmmakers can now digitalize scenes, it is 

possible to follow the birth in 1919 of Benjamin, an 

infant with the face and body of an old man, 

through his childhood when he looks like a man of 

sixty or seventy, to the fully grown and recognizable 

Brad Pitt. But inherent in this technology is a 

creepiness that manifests itself in such scenes as a 

10-year-old Benjamin having a romantic crush on 

8-year-old Daisy (Elle Fanning), who is fascinated 

by the old man she thinks he is and invites him to 

join her in the middle of the night. Another problem 

with the technology is that frequently we need 

to remind ourselves whether we are watching the 

young Benjamin getting old or the old Benjamin 

getting young. 

Unlike the Fitzgerald story in which the parents 

keep the grotesque child born to them, the film’s 

Benjamin is abandoned by his father, who is distraught 

by the death of his young wife and frightened 

by the little monster she has delivered. 

Benjamin is found by a warm-hearted African- 

American woman, Queenie (Taraji P. Henson), who 

runs a nursing home for the elderly. Queenie 

declares him to be “ugly as an old pot but still a 

child of God” and lovingly takes care of him along 

with her elderly clients. 

At seventeen, Benjamin, looking like a sixty-year 

old, gets a job on a barge, working for its colorful 

Captain Mike (Jared Harris), who introduces 

Benjamin to liquor and women. We next find the 

ship’s crew in Murmansk, Russia, where they seem 

to remain for several weeks, at least long enough for 

Benjamin to meet and have an affair with the 

unhappy wife (Tilda Swinton) of a British diplomat. 

When World War II breaks out, captain and 

crew, now stranded in Europe, join heartily into the 

war effort, leading to adventures and catastrophes. 

Through the years, Benjamin has loved Daisy 

(Cate Blanchett), the child who regularly visited her 

grandmother at Queenie’s retirement home. When 

the war is over and they meet again, Daisy has 

become an accomplished dancer. Although we had 

no hints of her remarkable talents when she was 

younger, Daisy is now studying with George 

Balanchine and soon starring in Broadway shows. 

For about 45 minutes of this almost three-hour 

movie, Benjamin looks like the real Brad Pitt, and 

his affair with Daisy creates a long romantic interlude, 

which is eventually doomed by their disparate 

aging processes. The central conceit of this film— 

that two lives can intersect successfully for a few 

years—might have worked better if the main characters 

were more interesting. Although nominated 

for an Academy Award, Brad Pitt plays Benjamin in 

a mainly passive mode. He reacts to events more 

than he generates action. Also, Cate Blanchett, a 

gifted actress, is never convincing as a world-class 

dancer singled out for her virtuosity. 

Directed by David Fincher (“Fight Club” and 

“Zodiak”), “The Curious Case of Benjamin 

Button” could have benefited from removing many 

unnecessary episodes, such as an early scene that 

tells the story of how a clock that works backwards 

happened to get built, and by allowing its protagonist 

to be more proactive as he moves through his 

unusual life events. 

TUES., MARCH 3 

• 6:30pm - City Council meeting, at 

City Hall, 303 W. Commonwealth, 

Fullerton. Tentative Agenda includes 

Closed Session – Potential Litigation 

• Sewer Lining Project 08/09 • 

Guidelines for Outdoor Patios on Public 

Property in CBD and the Transportation 

Center Specific Plan. 

Go to www.cityoffullerton.com for an 

agenda update . 

WED., MARCH 4 

• 3:30pm-4:30pm: CDBG Meeting 

Non-profit groups interested in 

appyling for Community 

Development Block Grant funding 

are asked to attend the meeting at the 

Hunt Branch Library, 201 S. Basque, 

Fullerton. Call Housing Supervisor 

Linda Morad at 714-738-6878 with 

questions. Applications are due by 

March 18. Final decisions at 6:30pm 

Tues., May 5 Council meeting. 

• 6pm-9pm: SCORE Workshop 

Carl Woodard presents the key tools 

you need to market and promote your 

product or service. Free at the 

Fullerton Public Library, 353 W. 

Commonwealth. 

• 7pm: Author Phil Doran “The 

Reluctant Tuscan” Emmy-award 

winning writer & producer talks 

about his book, a humorous true tale 

of how he moved to Italy with his wife 

and rediscovered himself, his marriage, 

and the importance of getting 

in touch with his inner Italian. Free at 

the Fullerton Public Library, 353 W. 

Commonwealth. 

• 7pm-9pm: Downtown Future 

Meeting designed for residents to 

share views of what’s working and 

what’s not in the downtown area. 

Fullerton City Hall, 303 W. 

Commonwealth. Call Lt. Dan 

Hughes at Police Dept. for more info 

at 714-738-6845 or by email to 

DHughes@FullertonPD.org 

FRI. MARCH 6 

• 12:30pm: “The Kite Runner” A 

free screening of the tale of two childhood 

friends torn apart by circumstances 

of war and strife in 

Afghanistan. Stars Khalid Abdalla. If 

you like come early for a macaroni & 

cheese lunch in the dining room at 

noon for $2.50-$3.50. Fullerton 

Senior Center, 340 W. 

Commonwealth. 714-738-6305. Free 

• 7am-1pm - Yard, Book & Plant 

Sale Friends for a Livable Fullerton 

Fundraiser 400 N. Malden at 

Chapman. For more info. or in case it 

rains and the sale has to be rescheduled 

call 714-607-0380 or go to 

downtownfullerton@earthlink.net. 

Funds raised go to FFLF so the work 

helping to preserve Fullerton’s 

uniqueness and livability can continue. 

If you have donations of items for 

the sale you can drop off at above 

address on Wed., March 4th. (no 

computers or TVs). 

• 6:30pm: Free Film Night 

“Eldorado” directed by Bouli 

Lanners at the Fullerton Public 

Library Osborne Auditorium. "Yvan 

and Elie are two loners who wander 

aimlessly through their lives. Yvan is a 

quick-tempered 40-year-old vintage 

car dealer while Elie is a young burglar 

and ex-junkie." Films are unrated 

and are not recommended for children 

under the age of 17. Original 

language, with English subtitles. 

SAT MARCH 7 

• 7am-1pm - Yard, Book & Plant 

Sale Friends for a Livable Fullerton 

Fundraiser 400 N. Malden at 

Chapman. See above March 6th listing 

for full information. 

• 10-11:30am: Free Home 

Composting Workshop, Patrick 

McNelly & Dr. Bill Roley demonstrate 

how to start your own home 

composting system. Free w/proof of 

residency. Meet at the bleachers at the 

Fullerton Arboretum, 1900 

Associated Rd. Call 714-278-3407 to 

save your space. www.fullertonarboretum.org 

• Noon to 2pm: “We Played 

Baseball” luncheon & panel discussion 

at the Fullerton Museum Center, 

301 N. Pomona at Wilshire, a block 

from downtown. The event features 

Jean Hastings Ardell, author of 

“Breaking into Baseball: Women and 

the National Pastime,” plus All 

American Girls Professional Baseball 

League members Shirley Berkovich 

and Maybelle Blair. $8 includes a box 

lunch and tour of the museum exhibit. 

RSVP 714-738-6575 

• Noon-10pm: CSUF Grand 

Central Art Center Anniversary, 

day-long event features guest speakers, 

demos, music, dance, tours, food 

& drink. 125 N Broadway, Santa 

Ana, 92701. 714-567-7233 

• 5pm-9pm: Western Hoedown & 

BBQ, Food, refreshments, entertainment 

and dancing in support of the 

Arboretum. Tickets are $70 each. 


Associated Rd. 714-278-3407 

www.fullertonarboretum.org 

MON., MARCH 9 

• 7pm: Moody Bible Institute 

Symphonic Band a 50-member 

group will be in concert at Wilshire 

Ave Community Church, 212 E. 

Wilshire (one block east of Harbor 

Blvd. in Fullerton). Band & orchestral 

concert music as well as hymn 

and gospel song arrangements in both 

traditional and contemporary styles. 

Call 714-526-2265 for more info. 

Free 

TUES. MARCH 10 

• 10:30am: OCTA Presentation on 

Bus Riding for Seniors The bus gives 

millions of older adults the freedom 

to do the things they want to do. 

Fullerton Senior Center, 340 W. 


• 7pm: “Recession-proof Your Job 

Search” featuring Dr. Patty Malone, 

DINNER: 7 days a week! 5-10pm • Fri. & Sat. to 11pm 

LUNCH: Mon-Sat 11am to 3pm 

February, March & April • Sun., Mon. & Tues. Nights 

BRING YOUR OWN WINE • NO CORKAGE CHARGE! 

RESERVATIONS • 714.525.1056 

KARAOKE Every Saturday Night 10pm 

114 W. Wilshire Ave • Downtown Fullerton 


Jelly Howie Stars 

Born and raised in Fullerton, 

Jelly Howie is starring in the latest 

Josh Schwartz (“Chuck”, “Gossip 

Girl”, “The OC”) project 

“Rockville, CA” premiering on 

TheWB.com on March 17th. 

A scripted, music-centric story, 

Rockville follows a group of young 

20-somethings who hang out at a 

fictional club “Rockville”. Indie 

bands perform in each 4-6 minute 

episode, including The Kooks, The 

Broken West and Anya Marina. 

Having guest-starred in such 

series as “CSI Miami” and 

“90210”, Jelly is now a regular as 

the beautiful, unobtainable waitress 

on Rockville. -Annie Chen 

professor of communication studies at 

CSUF. Fullerton Public Library 

Osborne Auditorium, 353 W. 

Commonwealth. Free. 714-738-6326 

• 7:30pm - Star Wars, directed by 

George Lucas, starring Mark Hamill, 

Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher at 

Hibbleton. Bring chair/blanket. 

Come early space is limited. 112 W. 

Wilshire Ave. 714-441-2857 hibbleton.com 

WED. MARCH 11 

7pm: Planning Commission at 

City Hall, 303 W. Commonwealth. 

Items to discuss include: 1) Lim 

request for CUP to modify shared 

parking at 1701-1895 N. Euclid & 

Rosecrans; 2) Ochoa/ Bushala request 

for CUP to operate a restaurant and 

nightclub at 205 N. Harbor; 3) 

Safawi/Smith request to modify CUP 

to operate hookah café at 741 N. 

Placentia Ave. 

THURS., MARCH 12 

• 10:30am: Arriving in Afghanistan 

Cultural Reception serves up a taste of 

the food and music of Afghanistan 

plus a documentary showing the culture 

and countryside. Fullerton 

Senior Center, 340 W. 


• 7:30pm: Costa Rica at Sierra Club 

Meeting Vern and Verna Steger will 

present photos of Costa Rica, including 

national parks and birding areas. 

Meet at Banco Popular in north 

Fullerton on the SW corner of Euclid 

and Rosecrans (near CVS). Free 

SAT. MARCH 14 

• 8am: Coyote Hills Nature Hike, 

Naturalists will interpret the scene. 

Join us as we walk in one of the last 

open spaces in North Orange 

County. Meet at the equestrian gate 

to Laguna Lake Park at Lakeview, 

just east of Euclid in Fullerton. Bring 

water to drink and wear comfortable 

shoes. Public is welcome. Cancelled 

if it rains. Free. 

• 9am: Fullerton Pony Baseball, for 

kids ages 3 to 14. Amerige Park, 340 

W. Commonwealth, Fullerton 

(across from City Hall). fullertonponybaseball.com 

or phone 714- 

773-4215 for more info. 

Continued on next page


Maestro Dean Anderson 

Fullerton College 

Symphony in Concert 

The Fullerton College Symphony will 

be performing its third concert of the season 

on Sunday, March 29 at 4pm at the 

Fullerton College Campus Theater at 321 

E. Champan Ave. The orchestra’s music 

director, Dean Anderson, will be joined 

by guest soloist Steve Charpie who will 

perform the popular Trumpet Concerto 

by Franz Joseph Haydn. 

Mr. Charpie was for four years a member 

of The United States Navy Band, 

Washington, DC, where he served as 1st 

trumpet and occasional soloist. He was 

also a member of the Louisville Orchestra 

in Louisville, Kentucky for several seasons. 

Currently, Steve is a member of the 

Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, the 

Mozart Chamber Orchestra, and a freelance 

orchestral player in the Los Angeles 

area. Mr. Charpie is active as a soloist 

nationwide, often performing on the cornet. 

This is Steve’s first performance with 

the Fullerton College Symphony and 

Maestro Anderson. 

Also on this program will be the 

Overture to the Meistersingers by Richard 

Wagner, which will be conducted by guest 

conductor and bass trombonist, Jeremy 

DelaCuadra. The program will close with 

the Symphony No. 2 by Jean Sibelius. So 

far this season, the orchestra has achieved 

great success in its last two concerts, performing 

the Mahler Symphony No. 4 in 

January and the Brahms Symphony No. 2 

last October. 

Tickets prices are $15/General; 

$9/Seniors; $5/Students; Children under 

12 are free. Please visit www.fullertoncollegesymphony.com 

for more information 

or call (714) 992-7150 to order tickets. 

SAT. MARCH 14 continued 

• 9am-Noon: Arbor Day Tree Planting, 

The City and Fullerton Beautiful are 

sponsoring a tree planting at the West 

Coyote Hill Park. Volunteers are asked to 

bring shovels and buckets, as well as wear 

gloves and sturdy shoes. If it rains the 

event will be moved to Sat., March 21. 

West Coyote Hills Park is located at 2100 

N. Gilbert St. Call city landscape superintendent 

Dennis Quinlivan at 714-738- 

6897 with questions. 

• All Day: Audition at the Muck, for 

performing artists who would like to 

appear in upcoming shows & festivals. 

Zoot Velasco 714-738-3328. 

Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. 

Malvern. www.themuck.org 

SUN. MARCH 15 

• noon to 4pm: Line Drives Family 

Day: at the Fullerton Museum Center, 

301 N. Pomona at Wilshire, a block from 

downtown. Event includes a tour of the 

museum’s baseball exhibit, arts & crafts 

and a treasure hunt in the gallery for 

prizes. Free with Museum admission. 

$4/adults; $3/students & seniors; $1/kids 

6-12; free for 5 and under. 714-738-3136. 

TUES. MARCH 17 

• 11am: St. Patrick’s Day event features 

music of the Fullerton Kitchen Band and 

a tasty traditional Irish corned beef and 

cabbage meal. $3.50/under 60; $2.50 

over 60. Fullerton Senior Center, 340 W. 


• 5pm: City Council Study Session & 

6:30pm Regular Session •Public 

Hearing: Increase in Parking Ticket Fees 

& Zone Amendment for Personal Services 

Definition •Urban Interface Brush 

Clearance •Downtown pipeline improvements 

•January Financials 

• 7:30pm - Snatch, directed by Guy 

Richie, starring Jason Statham, Benicio 

Del Toro, Brad Pitt at Hibbleton. Bring 

chair/blanket. Come early space is limited. 

112 W. Wilshire Ave. 714-441-2857 

hibbleton.com 

WED MARCH 18 

• 3pm: Arboretum Commission 

Meeting, Public invited. Oak Hall classroom, 


Associated Rd. 714-278-3407 

www.fullertonarboretum.org 

THURS., MARCH 19 

• 10am-4pm: Monster Tomato & 

Pepper Sale, thru March 22, this is the 

largest tomato & pepper sale in the west 

with over 180 varieties of tomatoes and 80 

varieities of peppers. Admission is free. 

Fullerton Arboretum, 1900 Associated 

Rd. 714-278-3407 www.fullertonarboretum.org 

• 7pm: Native American Institute, presents 

Nicolas Magalousis, professor of 

Anthropology and Archaeology at 

Santiago Canyon College speaking on “A 

Quarter Century of Conservation Work 

at Mission San Juan Capistrano.” 1465 

N. Batavia St, Orange. RSVP to Dr. John 

Collins at runningbear001@yahoo.com 

or 714-879-1337. Free 

FRI., MARCH 20 

• 10am-4:30pm: Spring Book Sale, 

sponsored by Friends of the La Habra 

Library Used Book Store, located in the 

La Habra Library at 221 E. La Habra 

Blvd. All books on sale for 25¢ each on 

both Friday and Saturday. Select from 

children’s books, fiction, travel, biographies, 

cookbooks, reference, crafts, CDs, 

videos and much more. All proceeds benefit 

the library children’s programs. 

•6pm - Dancing the Decades Benefit 

for Crittenton Services at Angelo’s & 

Vinci’s Ristorante, 550 N. Harbor Blvd. 

Fullerton. Cocktails, Dinner, Auction followed 

by Magic of Brian Gillis, DJ 

Dancing & games. Best Dressed Award 

(represent a decade of music from Zoot 

suits, tie-dyed shirts or felt poodle skirts). 

Call 714-680-8218 for tickets. $45 

EVENTS Fullerton Observer Page 15 

St. Jude Medical Center Board of Trustees, Executive Management Team and family 

members volunteering at West Fullerton Food Distribution. 

Community Reaches Out In West Fullerton 

by Carol van Ahlers 

Early on Saturday mornings, once a 

month for the past six years, volunteers 

from throughout the Fullerton community 

have gathered in West Fullerton to distribute 

food to families in need. The 

effort is a partnership between the 

Orangethorpe United Methodist Church 

(OUMC), the West Fullerton 

Improvement Committee, Orangethorpe 

Learning Center, St. Jude Medical Center 

and the Second Harvest Food Bank. The 

tradition continues in 2009 beginning in 

January with a special effort by the members 

of the Board of Trustees and executives 

from St. Jude Medical Center who 

provided their donation as a holiday gift 

to the community. 

This event is usually held on the first 

Saturday of the month at 9am in the 

OUMC back parking lot. Over the 

years, the medical center staff and management 

have provided support to pay for 

the delivery of the food by Second 

Harvest. Retail food suppliers from 

throughout the Southland donate the 

food to Second Harvest. Over the years 

many groups have provided volunteers to 

distribute the food to the over 200 families 

that attend including OUMC church 

members, Fullerton Boy Scout Troop 

1201, Girl Scout troops, other local youth 

organizations and other churches 

throughout the area. The program is 

administered by the OUMC Latino 

Ministry. 

As the economy worsens, the demand 

for these services in the community is 

increasing. Eastside Christian Church, 

located in Fullerton, has recently offered 

to sponsor an additional distribution on 

the third Saturday of the month for the 

next six months, doubling the service provided 

to those in need. 

This community support truly makes a 

difference in the lives of thousands of 

families each year. For more information, 

refer on the web to 92833.org/2h. Those 

interested in volunteering for the distribution 

may call the OUMC office at 

714.526.8317.


The New Mural in Town 

text & photo by Tod Imperato 

Fullerton is enjoying pleasant, warm 

winter days, which means residents can 

take to the streets to enjoy the sunshine 

and check out the city’s array of public 

art. Located principally in the downtown 

area, these works of art not only add a 

splash of color to a stroll, but they also 

offer snapshots of Fullerton’s history and 

offer insights into the lives of those who 

have called Fullerton home. 

The most recent addition to Fullerton’s 

collection of public art is Jun Blanco’s 

“Fullerton: A City Rich in History”, on 

the south wall of Capri Shoes at 

Commonwealth and Malden avenues. 

Blanco completed the mural in January. 

The official unveiling will take place at the 

WELCOME from FULLERTON’S RELIGIOUS CONGREGATIONS 

ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH 

111 W. Las Palmas Drive • Fullerton 

(corner of Harbor & Las Palmas) 

(714) 879-8290 or www.stpaulfullerton.org 

Pastors: Thomas Goellrich and Judith Miller 

8AM & 11AM: TRADITIONAL WORSHIP 

9:15AM: CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP 

ADULT & SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES AT 9:15AM 

WELCOME HOME • LOVE GROWS HERE! 

FREE NOTICES 

If you were born, engaged, married, 

or die in Fullerton there is 

no charge to put a notice of that 

occassion in the Observer. 

Unitarian 

Universalist 

Church in 


1600 N. Acacia Ave 

Welcome 10:15am 

Service: 10:30am 

CHILDCARE 

(infant & toddlers) 

& Programs for Pre-K thru Teen 

MARCH 8: PRINCIPLED 

UNCERTAINTY -Rev Jon Dobrer 

MARCH 15: BLESSINGS & 

CURSES -Rev Jon Dobrer 

MARCH 22: JUSTICE SUNDAY 

-Lay Led Service 

Rev. Jon Dobrer 

www.uufullerton.org 

714-871-7150 

site on March 3rd at 4 p.m. 

Public art has a long history in 

Fullerton. The city’s oldest mural is 

“Pastoral California”, commissioned during 

the Great Depression by the Works 

Project Administration (WPA) and painted 

in 1934 by Charles Kassler on 

Fullerton Union High School’s Plummer 

Auditorium. In 1939, education authorities 

deemed the mural “inappropriate” 

and “vulgar” and it was painted over. 

The proliferation of public art in the 

last decade has its roots in a 1995 survey 

undertaken at the Transportation Center, 

which revealed community interest in 

public art. That interest solidified into 

action in 1997, when community volunteers 

restored Kassler’s fresco at Plummer 

Auditorium. In 1998, Fullerton’s Public 

Art Committee formed in cooperation 

with the Parks and Recreation 

Commission. That committee, which 

meets periodically to discuss new projects, 

now includes representatives from the 

Fullerton Museum Center, the city’s 

Redevelopment committees and the 

Downtown Business Association. 

According to Aimee Aul, the Fullerton 

Museum Center’s liaison to the Public Art 

Committee, the committee has met its 

goal of one new project per year; in 2008, 

the city dedicated three new projects. 

Funding for public art comes from 

grants, community organization and business 

donations, and city redevelopment 

funds. Nine projects from 1994-2004 

were financed by the grant-funded 

Citizens United for Fullerton Safety 

Do You Have Items You Would Like to Donate? 

•FIES: Food Distribution Center (714-738-0255) www.fies.us 

• New Vista Homeless Family Shelter: (714-680-3691) 

• Interfaith Shelter Network (714-738-0534) 

•ASSISTANCE LEAGUE Bargain Box Thrift Store: (714-525-1041) 233 

W. Amerige Ave. Fullerton 92832. Open Tues-Fri 10am-3pm & Sat. 10am-1pm. 

Donations are tax-deductible! 

DISCIPLES 

OF CHRIST 

Church School: 9am 

Worship: 10:15 am 

714-871-3400 

2200 W. Orangethorpe 


Serving the 

North Orange County 

Jewish Community 

since 1964 


TWO WORSHIP 

SERVICES 

9am and 

10:30am 

in the Sanctuary 

SAINT ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 

A warm, progressive, inclusive community 

based on tradition, open to innovation. Come as you are. 

Children and Visitors Always Welcome! 

• THURSDAYS: 10am 

• SUNDAYS: 8am & 10am 

(Nursery & Church School) 

(CUFFS), a collaboration between several 

city agencies, schools and other community 

organizations that aimed to provide 

alternatives to gang membership and drug 

use to Fullerton youth. When the CUFFS 

grant expired, Project Safe picked up 

where it left off, sponsoring public art 

works such as “Fullerton Gold” at State 

College and Yorba Linda boulevards and 

providing art classes for students in 

Opportunity School. 

A stroll through downtown and beyond 

offers residents an open-air opportunity to 

explore its past and present and also celebrate 

a community dedicated to bettering 

itself through art and education. 

A map of Fullerton’s public art can be 

found on the City of Fullerton’s website 

www.cityoffullerton.com. 

“CASINO NIGHT” 

Saturday, March 28, 2009, 6pm 

Dinner • Gaming • Prizes 

RESERVATIONS: (714) 871-3535 

A reform Jewish congregation with a warm approach 

to tradition, community and education since 1964. 

Interfaith families always welcome Worship services on our website 

1600 N. Acacia Ave, Fullerton, CA 92831 • (714) 871-3535 

www.templebethtikvah.com 

1231 E. CHAPMAN AVE, FULLERTON • 714.870.4350 www.saintandrewsfullerton.org


Orange Empire 

Barbershop Chorus 

Singing Valentine’s 

Raise $9,000 

About 250 singing Valentines were 

delivered by quartets of the Orange 

Empire Barbershop Chorus in this 

year’s event. After expenses of the price 

of cards, roses, commemorative photos, 

traveling, and lunch expenses during 

the five-day event were subtracted, 

the net was over $9,000. 

Funds raised from the annual 

Singing Valentine event go to support 

music education in local schools. “We 

think music is an important part of a 

good education,” said organizer Art 

Clayton. 

Last year the group gave $3,000 

towards the new All the Arts for All the 

Kids Music Bus. 

Rest in Peace We Remember You 

Robert Stephens 

On Monday Feb 9th 2009, Robert 

Stephens passed from this life to the eternal. 

Born September 12, 1920 in Rantoul, 

Ill, Bob lived in Rantoul until he turned 

21. He joined the Army in 1941 and 

served in the South Pacific 4 years. In 

1945 he enrolled in the Univ of Ill, graduating 

with a BA in Fine Art. He moved 

with his family to California in 1956 settling 

in Fullerton. Bob was a devoted 

family man, artist, outdoorsman and 

poet. His friends and Family will cherish 

his memory always. Bob is survived by 

his loving wife Terri, 3 children, 7 grandchildren 

and 3 great grandchildren. 

Services were held February 21st, 2009 at 

Yorba Linda Friends Church, 5211 

Lakeview Ave. Yorba Linda, CA. 

Betty Ann Sandorff 

Betty Ann Sandorff, 89, passed away 

February 18, 2009. She is survived by 

husband, Paul; son and daughter in law, 

Daniel V and Sandee Drake; and grandchildren, 

Daniel VI Drake and Gina- 

Marie Henslee. Private services to be held 

by family. 

Robert Pigman 

Robert "Bob" Pigman, 77, passed away 

February 20, 2009. He is survived by loving 

wife, Shirley; son, Bob Jr. (Linda), 

grandchildren, Jessica and Kenny, and a 

host of family and friends. A Memorial 

Service was held Feb.27 at McAulay & 

Wallace Mortuary, Fullerton. In lieu of 

flowers, family would like donations to be 

made to the American Cancer Society. 

Planning Ahead 

Simply Makes Sense: 

• Spares your family and friends 

unnecessary financial and emotional burden 

• Can lock in the costs using today’s prices 

• Prevents the tendency of overspending 

• Advanced funeral plans are transferable 

Family Owned & Operated since 1911 

McAulay & Wallace Mortuaries 

902 N. Harbor Blvd 

Fullerton CA 92832 

(714) 525-4721 

With the Help of 

Readers Adena Has 

Earned $4,900 Towards 

Her Trip to China! 

Ladera Vista Jr. High honors student 

Adena Bentley has an opportunity to travel 

to China this summer as a US Student 

Ambassador. The trip costs $6,439. She 

has earned $4,900. If you have donations 

of bottles or cans Adena’s parents would be 

happy to come pick them up. Leave a message 

at 714-349-2966. 

You can also donate money online at the 

People to People secure website at 

http://payment.peopletopeople.com. 

“Once there just reference my last name 

Bentley and my delegate ID number 

10003816,” says Adena, who wants to 

once again thank all the readers who have 

responded. 

18311 Lemon Drive 

Yorba Linda CA 92886 

(714) 777-2692 

For Free Information at no obligation Clip & Send to address above. 

Please Send Information on: 

____Funeral Service Plans ____Cremation 

____Social Security ____VA Benefits 

Name _______________________________________________ 

Phone___________________Best time to call_______________ 

Address______________________________________________ 

City_______________State____________Zip Code______ 

William H. McAulay FD #289 License #190 & #1304 


DAILY CRIME LOG compiled by Jeanne Hoffa 

Dodgers/Angels Rivalry 

Turns Bloody at Local Bar 

Tension sliced through the jovial atmosphere 

at Two J’s Cocktail Lounge Tuesday, 

when an encounter between a couple of 

baseball fans turned into a bloody brawl. 

A Dodger’s fan and another man sporting 

the red garb of the Angels, began to share 

the lounge’s main interior space on 

Houston Avenue peacefully enough on 

Feb. 17th. But the friendly rivalry turned 

ugly when both men headed for the close 

quarters of the bar’s restroom. 

“The Angel’s fan made a comment 

about having to share the bathroom with 

a Dodger’s fan,” said Fullerton Police 

Sergeant Mike MacDonald. “Then they 

got in a fist fight.” 

Not to be vanquished by a silly fist 

fight, the Dodger’s fan produced a knife, 

and plunged it into the Angel’s fan’s ear, 

neck and arm. The Dodger’s fan then fled 

the scene. 

MacDonald said the Angel fan’s wounds 

were not life threatening. The knifeweilding 

man is still at large, and the 

police say they would appreciate any 

information from patrons of the lounge, 

or anyone who lives with a Dodger fanatic 

who came home covered in blood 

Tuesday. 

Call the Fullerton Police front desk at 

714-738-6715 if you have information on 

this crime. 

Pizza Delivery Robbery 

An armed thug and his female companion 

shook down a pizza delivery man on 

the 1600 block of Euclid Street Feb. 17. 

The Papa Johns delivery man was driving 

down the alley when a short, chubby 

Hispanic man approached him and pointed 

a gun at his chest. 

The gunman and his dark-haired side 

kick demanded the pizza and all his cash. 

The suspect is a clean shaven male, 5’7”, 

220 pounds, and wore a gray jacket. 

Both suspects wore baseball caps. 

It appears the same dynamic duo snuck 

up on a Domino’s Pizza Delivery man on 

the same block on Feb. 12. The driver was 

headed down the same alley when a man 

and a woman with a similar description 

demanded his cash, about $51, and the 

pizza. 

In both cases the drivers complied, and 

left the scene in one piece. 

“If they get robbed, they gotta give 

them the pizza,” said Papa John’s Director 

of Operations Fred Tarazi. “We train 

them that safety is number one.” Tarazi 

says the young man continues to work for 

Papa Johns. 

The duo have yet to be caught. In the 

early 1990s there was a police sting operation 

aimed at stopping a spree of calls for 

pizza delivery that ended in armed robberies. 

Call the Fullerton Police front desk at 

714-738-6715 if you have information on 

this crime. 

CRIMES IN SCHOOLS 

Nicolas Jr. High School: Principal 

Matthew Barnett said vandals spray painted 

graffiti on the south wall near the athletic 

fields Feb. 9. That same day 6 males 

were found smoking drugs on the bleechers 

near the softball fields. On Feb. 11 

school officials reported a former student 

tresspassing who has been warned many 

times not to return. On Feb. 20 the school 

asked police to look for a Hispanic former 

student last seen wearing a gray sweat shirt 

and black Dickies. The student is 5’ tall 

and 95 pounds. 

Fisler School: Four kids shot bb guns 

in the playground. 

Valencia Park School: Police were 

asked to join social service workers to 

investigate a report of sexual assault on 2 

female students Feb. 20th. On Feb. 17th 

the school’s custodian noticed an enormous 

amount of grafitti on campus. 

St. Phillips School: An employee said 

the School’s Church was robbed. 

United Methodist Preschool: 

Someone robbed room #4. 

Seventh Day Adventist Church 

School: The school was burglarized Feb. 

18th 

Sunset Lane School: Sound of breaking 

glass heard, Feb. 20th. 

Maple Elementary: Minors were 

arrested for possession of alcohol Feb. 

18th. 

Troy High School: Grand theft, Feb. 

18th. 

Maple Elementary: The principal 

wants police to speak with some students 

about all the theft and gang activity on 

campus Feb. 20th. 

CRIME STATS 

Feb. 8 through Feb. 21 

54 Auto Burlaries 

20 Hit and Run 

17 Auto Thefts 

16 Cases of Vandalism 

15 Residential and 

Commercial Burglaries 

1 Indecent Exposure 

ARREST REPORT: 

Five of the arrests were female, the rest 

male. The youngest arrested was 17-yearsold, 

the oldest was 50-years-old. 

10 Driving under the influence 

7 Drunk in public 

6 Under the influence of a controlled 

substance 

4 Possession of marijuana, controlled 

substance and/or drug paraphernalia 

2 Bench warrants 

2 Outstanding warrants 

2 Assault with a deadly weapon 

1 each of the following: Probation violation, 

Public fighting, Using the ID of 

another to obtain credit, Grand theft, 

Burglary, Resisting arrest, Minor in possession 

of alcohol, Petty theft with a prior 

conviction, Assault, Parole Violation


Senior 

Spotlight 

by Mo Kelly 

Eleanor (Ellie) 

Honeycutt 

Senor Club Sunshine Chair 

Watch out folks—we’ve got a live one! 

Ellie lights up a room and spreads “sunshine” 

wherever she goes—she’s like a 

pixie—animated, effervescent, and cute as 

a button. She fits her Senior Club title to 

a “T” and is definitely suited to be our 

super Sunshine Chairperson. 

This small bundle of joy was born 

November 25 (Sagittarius) in Orange, 

California. Brothers Dan, Ray, Ralph, 

and younger sisters, Mary Lou and 

Barbara, all live in California. Her oldest 

brother, Bob, lives in Colorado. 

Ellie was raised in Placentia and graduated 

from Valencia High School. She met 

Lou Lamas (now deceased) at a high 

school dance and married him in 1955. 

Ellie was a stay-at-home mom to her children: 

Monica (married to Jeff) is mom to 

Alisha and Jessica and lives in Anaheim. 

Eric is single and lives in La Habra. 

Audrey (married to Mark) is mom to 

Elliott and Garrett and lives in 

Carlsbad. Wayne (single) lives 

at home. 

Ellie went to night school at 

Fullerton College and received 

an Early Childhood Education 

Bilingual Certificate and 

worked part-time as a Teacher’s 

Aide for many years in the 

Placentia School District. 

In 1979 she started full-time 

at Pfizer in Irvine (from assembler 

to telephone receptionist) 

and was there for 15 years. She 

also worked part-time as a 

Maintenance Lead at Angel 

Stadium for 30 years and then 

transferred to the Anaheim 

Convention Center in 1994— 

she’s still there—besides that, 

she also works Thursday nights 

as an usher at the Orange 

County Performing Arts 

Center in Costa Mesa! She has 

no plans to retire. There’s not 

a lazy bone in her body. 

Ellie and a girlfriend went to 

a dance at the Anaheim 

Sheraton Inn on Ball Rd. in 

1979. She was literally swept 

off her feet by a handsome gentleman 

with lots of personality 

named Ron Honeycutt (of 

French/English descent). Ellie 

and Ron clicked, started dating, 

became great friends, 

eventually got married and 

have been dancing happily ever 

since. I asked Ellie about her 

“sweet” last name. She loves to 

tell people that it’s spelled just 

like a spoonful of “honey” and 

you “cut” it with “2 tt’s.” Her 

“honey” of a husband was a 

metal salesman and retired 

three years ago. 

Hobbies: travel, crafts and 

gardening 

Family Hero: Her dad was 

her “Rock of Gibraltar.” He 

always kept the family together, 

taught his children to grow 

up to be good citizens and to 

always give to others. She took 

his advice and that’s why her 

joy throughout life has been to 

“give.” 

Awards: Fullerton Eastside 

Club (founded by Dr. Rich, a 

local dentist) Mother of the 

Year in the 60s and Angel 

Stadium Employee of the Year 

in the 70s. 

Collection: Ever since Ellie 

was a little girl, she was given 

lots of presents of all kinds of 

beautiful jewelry. It made her 

feel very feminine. In the 40s, 

her brother in the Navy would 

send her a “hat” from every 

Local Author 

Jon Dobrer 

Jon Dobrer’s 

third collection 

of essays 

“Memory, 

Morals, & 

Mortality 

Mamaloschen, 

Mitzvot & 

Mishigas” 

Order directly by email to 

JonDobrer@mac.com or by 

going to Outofmymind.org. 

$16 includes tax & postage. 

port his ship traveled to, so she 

soon had quite a colorful, varied 

collection—she loved wearing 

these hats to church. To 

this day, elegant Ellie says she 

feels naked if she doesn’t have 

her earrings, necklace, decorative 

pin, wrist and anklet 

bracelets, rings and watch on 

and, of course, last, but not 

least, her fashionable matching 

hat. 

Words of Wisdom: Live life 

one day at a time and live it to 

the fullest. 

Senior Club: In 1994 Ellie 

joined the Walking Group. 

John Clements was the Senior 

Multi-Service Center 

Supervisor then. He impressed 

her with his friendliness and 

management style which 

included being a strong motivator. 

She is grateful that John 

told her about the open position 

for a Fullerton Market 

Senior Citizen Liaison at 

Woodcrest Park. Ellie jumped 

at the chance to serve her community. 

She manned a “pickup 

table” representing the city giving 

out information, answering 

questions and holding buyer 

purchases until their transportation 

arrived. Ellie 

enjoyed reporting to Mona 

Amoon and Kay Thomas. 

Ellie worked at Woodcrest 

until the market moved to 

Independence Park. 

Enthusiastic Ellie has been 

our trustworthy Sunshine 

Chairperson since 2004, making 

sure seriously ill members 

know they are remembered by 

sending them uplifting greeting 

cards. She also mails 

bereavement cards to the families 

of our deceased members. 

We salute her for her empathy 

and caring, giving efforts. 

Remember the old saying—if 

you need something done, give 

it to a busy person—that certainly 

describes energetic Ellie. 

The Fullerton Senior Center 

is located at 340 W. 

Commonwealth. Everyone is 

welcome. There are all kinds of 

great free activities, classes & 

inexpensive lunch. Something 

for everyone! Don’t stay home 

alone, come visit! 714-738- 

6305 

Balance & Change 

I was watching a movie last night where a 

couple broke up. The break up occurred 

after the man had hurt the woman. The 

woman walked out and refused any communication 

for six months. After that, they fell 

into each other’s arms and lived happily ever 

after. 

I realize that this is just a movie, and its 

goal is to entertain people and not teach 

healthy communication, but it really 

annoyed me. I began to think of how many 

other couples, real ones, get mad and walk 

out with no attempt at communication or 

reconciliation. 

I completely support the idea of a cooling 

off period after a fight, but that should last a 

few hours not six months. If you have a fight 

or have been hurt by your partner, do not 

start talking until you are calm enough to be 

rational. Throwing hurtful words at each 

other only inflames the situation. 

Once you are calm, sit down with your 

partner and calmly explain why the situa- 


Monster Tomato & Pepper 

Sale at the Arboretum 

by Warren Bowen 

For a score of years the 

Friends of the Fullerton 

Arboretum have been growing 

and selling plants for 

public sale, the receipts 

going for growth and support 

of the Arboretum. This is 

the time of year we start 

thinking seriously about 

vegetables, spurred on by the 

prices of produce in the grocery 

stores. Now comes the 

annual “Monster Tomato and 

Pepper Sale.” It is not just a 

few racks with 7 kinds of 

tomatoes and 3 peppers. 

There will be over 200 tomato 

varieties and lots of peppers, 

both sweet and chili 

available, an amazing selection. 

The sale is set for 

March 19-22, from 10:am to 

4:pm at the Arboretum, off 

Yorba Linda Blvd and the 57 

freeway on the edge of the Cal 

State University campus. 

Parking is free but may be 

scarce at peak times. 

Epecially popular is the 

selection of 90 some peppers. 

This year there will be 

what may be the hottest of 

chili peppers, Bhut Jolokia, 

Red Savina and the ever 

popular Anaheim among others 

varieties. “The Potters,” 

the volunteer group which 

works diligently to start and 

care for the plants, will help 

you make the right choice for 

your garden. There will be 

yellow, white, pink and of 

course red tomato varieties; 

some for expansive home gar- 

dens, some for pots on the 

apartment balcony and every 

kind of garden in between. 

There will be grape sized, 

baseball sized, and saucer 

sized fruit. Featured will be 

Sunset Red, Earl of 

Edgecomb, the always popular 

"early girl "and "better 

boy," many beefsteak and 

many heirloom varieties. 

Before you go check out 

your space for staking or 

trailing varieties, bush varieties 

and the like. It's not 

too late to prepare soil in 

advance with compost. 

Don't let lack of advance 

preparation keep you away. 

Many gardeners prefer to let 

the plants grow in their plastic 

pots a few days in their 

home environment. 

One of the best things to do 

while you are at the sale is to 

become a member of the 

Friends of the Fullerton 

Arboretum. This entitles 

you to a nice discount on purchases 

at this sale and through 

the year at the many plant 

events, reduced admission to 

garden education programs, 

the opportunity to volunteer 

at the Arb as your time 

allows, invitations to garden 

social events, early admission 

to the famous Green 

Scene Garden show and a 

feeling of pride at being a part 

of Orange County's largest 

botannical garden. 

www.fullerton arboretum.org 

or 714-278-3579 for more 

information. 

Know Where Your Food Comes From! 

Buy directly from Certified Small Farmers at 

Wednesday Farmers’ Market 

8 am to1:30 pm every Wednesday 

Rain or Shine Year Round! 

INDEPENDENCE PARK 

801 W. Valencia, Fullerton, 

(between S. Euclid & Highland Ave.) 

FRESH FRUIT & VEGETABLES, EGGS, FISH, 

BAKED GOODS, FLOWERS, PLANTS, 

& MORE. Call 714-871-5304 for more information 

tion was so hurtful for you. 

Allow your partner to explain, 

ask forgiveness or express why he or she is 

angry with you. Talk out the problem. 

Understand your part in the conflict. Yes, 

you have part of the responsibility, too. 

If you can’t do this calmly, then seek out a 

therapist who can help mediate the conversation. 

Work on the issues in the relationship. 

See if the partnership can be fixed, or 

even made better. You may find that by 

being able to talk things through, that your 

connection is stronger and healthier after 

the conflict. Being hurt does not, necessarily, 

have to mean the end of the relationship 

if you resolve things thoroughly. 

Michelle Gottlieb Psy.D., MFT 

305 N. Harbor Blvd., Ste 202, 

Fullerton, CA 92832 

714-879-5868 ext. 5 

www.michellegottlieb.com


LOCAL ONLY CLASSIFIEDS 

The Observer provides space for 

NEIGHBORS to advertise. To participate 

you must have a local phone number 

and be offering an item for sale, garage 

sales, reunions, home-based businesses or 

services, place to rent or buy, or help 

wanted, etc. 

Editor reserves right to reject any ad. 

Sorry we do not accept date ads, get rich 

schemes or financial ads of any sort. Call 

714-525-6402 for details. $10 for 50 

words or less per issue. Checks only. 

Items to give away for free and lost and 

found item listings and non-profits are 

printed for free as space allows. 

The Observer assumes no liability for 

ads placed here. However, if you have a 

complaint or compliment about a service, 

please let us know at 714-525-6402. 

Call City Hall at 738-6531 to inquire 

about City of Fullerton business licenses. 

For contractor license verification go to 

www.cslb.ca.gov. 

Thank You! 

For Advertising Information 

Call 714-525-6402 

HELP WANTED 

IN-HOME CAREGIVERS 

Comfort Keepers is seeking kind, caring, 

personable individuals to provide non-medical 

in-home care to the elderly. (Companionship, 

meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation 

to appointments, shopping, etc). 

Flexible schedules - full-time, part-time. We 

provide training. Must have valid driving 

license, car insurance, reliable transportation. 

We do background checks. Call 714-851- 

8895 

WARMHEARTED CAREGIVERS 

Needed to provide in-home companion 

care for seniors in Fullerton and nearby areas. 

Hourly or live-in. Provide light housekeeping, 

cooking, personal assistance, transportation 

service, errand running, and friendship. Valid 

license, insured transportation, good driving 

record required. CNAs/HHAs welcome. 

Independent Living Partners, 714-257-1435. 

EXPERIENCED CAREGIVERS 

Visiting Angels is seeking experienced 

Caregivers for non-medical day or night livein 

or out care. Servicing Fullerton and nearby 

communities. Flexible, full and part-time 

shifts. Must have reliable transportation and 

a background check is required. Call 714- 

628-6225. 

TUTOR 

CREDENTIALED TUTOR 

Don’t let your children forget important 

skills over the summer! I am a credentialed 

teacher available for tutoring. Does your child 

need help with math, reading or writing? 

Would you like to see them get ahead for next 

year? Call Wendy Kelly at 714-296-2926 or 

send email to californiakellys@gmail.com 

POSITION SOUGHT 

HOUSE/YARDWORK/COMPANY 

Woman, 59, looking for a quiet room to 

live in - in exchange for duties around the 

house/yard and friendship to someone who 

may just need the company. Prefer Fullerton 

area where my family lived for 40 years. Call 

Diane 714-388-4313 

APT FOR RENT 

55+ APT FOR RENT 

Senior Living 55+ in the Fountains of 

Fullerton beautiful senior complex. Studio 

apartment two blocks from the library, three 

blocks from the Senior Center. Gated parking, 

full kitchen, appliances included. TV Room, 

Laundry, security access. Patio with poolside 

view. $750. Please call Jack at 714-525-5567 

SUNNY HILLS APT 

We got deals in Sunny Hills!! Move-In 

Special...1 bedroom, 1 bath, single-story garden-style 

apartment, approx 750 square feet, 

great Sunny Hills neighborhood. Apartment 

comes with front patio, shared garage with 

automatic door opener, pool & laundry. 

Available for immediate move-in. Please call 

(714) 738-7077 or www.ValMesaApts.com 

WANT TO BUY 

SERVICES 

ASSISTANCE/PET CARE 

Do you need assistance or pet care? 

Shopping/Cooking/Driving to appointments. 

I care for pets in my home on a limited basis. 

Excellent references. Contact Jan at (714) 

522-8837 

FREE/ GIVE-AWAY 

Vendors Sought for Downtown 

Weekly Fullerton Market 

Applications for booth rentals are 

available for local farmers, artisans, 

merchants and community organizations 

wishing to participate in the 

weekly outdoor “Fullerton Market” 

opening Thursday, April 2. 

The market is held in the Downtown 

Plaza next to the Fullerton Museum 

Center and along Wilshire, between 

Harbor and Pomona. The street is 

closed during market hours from 4pm 

to 8:30pm. Admission and parking is 

free to the public. 

Now into its 18th year, the market 

will feature imported and handmade 

crafts and apparel, food booths, live 

entertainment, activities for young peo- 

ENGINEERING & TECH 

BOOKS 

Older Engineering & Technical Books; 

Engineering, physics, mathematics, electronics, 

aeronautics, welding, woodworking, 

HVAC, metalworking, plumbing, and other 

types of technical books purchased. Large collections 

preferred (15+ books). I do not buy 

computer books, encyclopedia sets or Time 

Life books. Call Deborah at 714-528-8297 

TEACHER GAME FILES 

& BOOKS 

Wishing to find a teacher interested in 

looking at some game files and books. 

Ideas that might be useful to you. I just 

cannot seem to throw them out. Level 

about second to sixth grade. Call Nat 

714-525-7225 

ple, and the freshest in farm produce. 

“The atmosphere is that of an open 

air market where shoppers meet their 

neighbors and get to know their community 

a little better, as well as find lots 

of bargains,” said Ashley Glass, special 

events coordinator for the city. The 

Market is sponsored by the Fullerton 

Parks and Recreation Department. 

Applications must be completed at 

least seven days prior to the desired 

date of participation in the market. 

For applications and more information 

call the Fullerton Museum Center 

at (714) 738-6545. After April 2, applications 

will also be available at the market 

info booth. 


ON-GOING SERVICE LISTING 

HOME REPAIR 

REMODLING 

LOCAL ELECTRICIAN 

Skilled electrician and Fullerton native for 

40 years. Service truck ready. Inspection perfect 

with owner/builder permits. Wiring for 

small additions, shops, appliances, 

motion/photocell lighting. GFCI’s, problem 

repairs. Not licensed over $500, using 

Fullerton business license #556307. No 

charge if I must decline your project. Call 

Roger www.NoFixNoPay.info or (714) 803- 

2849 

Water Gardens, Night Lighting 

Is your patio too hot and uncomfortable? We 

can install a Fogco high pressure, 1000 psi system 

that keeps it up to 30 degrees cooler. 

Water Gardens installed - complete with 

streams, waterfalls, plants and night lighting 

or a “Pondless” waterfall. Is your yard dark and 

uninviting? Let a skilled night lighting artist 

paint your yard with light to highlight those 

specimen trees or artwork. Call Leon a 

Certified Aquascape Contractor at the Natural 

Touch Landscaping at 714-624-0961 or naturalponds.net. 

License #778355 

GOT REPAIRS? 

We do it all - Handyman services, 

kitchen/bath remodel, carpentry, interior & 

exterior jobs, drywall, painting, plumbing, 

vinyl, ceramic & wood laminate flooring, 

formica installation, wallpaper removal, windows, 

fencing and more. Very dependable! 20 

years experience! “Werner General Repairs & 

Remodeling” Thomas Werner 714-812-6603. 

1519 E. Chapman Ave #175, Fullerton 

92831. City License #127977 

HOME & OFFICE REPAIRS 

Quality work since 1977 - All your remodeling, 

replacement and repairing needs met. 

Specializing in all interior and exterior woodwork, 

new windows, doors, patios, decks, 

kitchen and bath accessories, electrical fixtures, 

finish hardware, cabinets, drywall, stucco, 

tenant improvements, and roller shades. 

Please call: Floyd 714-257-9912 License 

#358103 

PAINTING & MORE 

Mosley’s Painting and Texture offers residential, 

commercial, interior, exterior painting; 

stucco repair; drywall repair; texture; water 

damage repair. We do most major and minor 

repairs. Small jobs to big jobs. Senior discounts. 

Licenced, Bonded, Insured. State 

#750294. City #134498. Call us at 714-270- 

3232 (James Mosley) 

CARPENTER/CONTRACTOR 

Hands-on Carpenter/Contractor does residential 

projects in small to medium range, 

including renovations, additions, remodeling, 

and new construction. Also specializes in 

door-hanging and finish carpentry. 30 years 

experience in Orange County. James K. 

Higgins Construction. CA State License 

#B405546. Call (714) 491-9503 

Scams, Frauds, 

& Recalled 

Products 

For the latest information on 

scams, frauds and recalled products 

go to www.pueblo.gsa.gov or 

www.fda.gov 

BEAUTY & HEALTH 

AMWAY, ARTISTRY, NUTRILITE 

To buy Amway, Artistry, or Nutrilite 

products please call Jean 526-2460 

COMPUTER HELP 

DOWNTOWN COMPUTER 

SOLUTIONS 

Need help setting up that wireless home network? 

Viruses and spyware slowing your business 

down? If you need assistance with this or 

any other computing needs call Downtown 

Computer Solutions today for onsite services. 

Specializing in Home and Small Business 

computing services. Call (714) 524-6120 or 

email me at scottj@downtown-computers.net 

COUNSELING 

COUNSELING MINISTRY 

Clifton King, N.D.,D.D., with over 35 

years as a counselor, is offering short term 

counseling to help you discover creative possibilities 

in freeing yourself from many emotional 

situations faced in everyday living. 

Home office in Fullerton. Call for appointment 

(714) 278-9221 

PET CARE 

ANGELA’S PET CARE SERVICE 

25-year-old college student, horse and dog 

owner, born and raised in Fullerton, will help 

you with your pet’s needs. Vacation house sitting, 

exercising and daily needs are my specialty 

for dogs. Horse care will be considered for 

vacations or emergency needs. References. 

Angela 714-313-9467 

CLEANING 

WINDOW WASHING 

All windows in your residence washed without 

streaks inside and out. All sills and tracks vacuumed 

and cleaned. Screens hand-washed. I 

use drop cloths and shoe covers to keep your 

house clean. References available upon 

request. Fullerton City License #554171. Call 

Patrick (714) 398-2692 for a Free Estimate. 

ORGANIZING 

CLUTTER CONTROL 

Clutter Control Organizing Services and 

Personal Assistance. Overwhelmed by paperwork, 

clutter, and confusion? We offer 18 

years of experience transforming Fullerton 

homes, offices, and garages with gentle, effective 

solutions. Licensed and insured. 

Specialists in paperwork and severe clutter. No 

situation is hopeless! Call for a free consultation. 

(714) 525-3678 or 1-800-CLUTTER 

SUICIDE HOTLINE 

In its first year, more than 22,000 veterans 

have sought help from the National 

Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Lifeline 

is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-273- 

TALK (8255). Vets should press “1” after 

being connected. For more info go to 

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ 

LOST & FOUND 

Items in the Free/Give Away and Lost 

& Found categories are free of charge to 

locals. Send to: 

Fullerton Observer, PO Box 7051 

Fullerton CA 92834


FLY-BYS AND SLEEP-OVERS 

By Diane Nielen © 2009 

What’s this shadow on the driveway? 

It’s a bird . . . it’s a plane . . . Oh, no, 

goody: it’s a flutter-by! But what kind? If 

you’re a butterfly aficionado, as I am, you 

can get pretty sharp at identifying a skyborne 

lepidoptera without even looking at 

it. Some species have radically different 

styles in the air and their shadows will 

reflect that. The butterfly I was seeing 

and am planning to clue you in about, the 

Cloudless Sulphur, is the most jittery of 

the lot. Always in a hurry, never able to 

settle down for even a second. If you look 

up to confirm the accuracy of your guess 

and spy this monochromatic rich-yellow 

beauty, you might conclude that this is 

who put the “butter” in “butterfly.” For 

contrast, let’s say you notice a shadow 

which is lazy, graceful and swooping. You 

can bet on it being the noble Monarch. 

After all, it is royalty and should behave 

like it. 

Back in 2001 I wrote a primer for you 

on how to recognize the most common 

butterflies here in Fullerton. And, you 

know what? The Cloudless Sulphur didn’t 

even make the Top Ten. He simply 

wasn’t around town then. But a lot has 

changed on my homestead in the intervening 

eight years. I know why. 

Absolutely sure. The answer is cassia, a 

plant which is also called senna. I never 

planted it. Perhaps the Baumans, the 

builders of this house, had. Or maybe it 

planted itself. 

I moved to my current home in 1999. 

At some point I noticed a senna plant on 

the back slope beyond the patio. This 

shrub is commendable for an unusual leaf 

structure - each is divided into dozens of 

narrow leaflets – and its splurges of golden-yellow 

flowers. But those are its only 

redeeming features. It grows spindly and 

its limbs wantonly die off. The black seed 

pods propel scads of fertile missiles so you 

will find the plants popping up all over 

your yard. Sunset Western Garden Book 

proclaims that senna “often escapes” and 

describes its growth as vigorous, rank and 

rangy. They tell it as it is. 

Senna is a plant with grand ambitions. 

It wants to take over the world. I was 

motivated to let it have its way because I 

knew who its friends were. This plant is 

the larval-food-plant-of-choice of the 

Cloudless Sulphur butterfly. I let the 

upstarts go wild, and all because of betting 

on a long-shot. Verrrry long. Maybe 

5,000 to one odds? Maybe worse than 

that. But there was hope. The years skidded 

by. No arrivals. I was getting impatient. 

But, truly, all things DO come to 

she who waits. Finally I began sighting an 

occasional visitor. And each year there 

were more . . . . more plants and more of 

the Sulphur butterflies. And now it is, 

believe it or not, the most common kind 

of free-range lepidoptera in my yard, even 

more so than the gaudy Gulf Fritillaries 

that I cater to with a passion vine. 

Not being satisfied with the delight of 

viewing the adults, I now yearned to raise 

one. Toward that goal I allowed the volunteer 

senna that had popped up in the 

planter right outside my kitchen window 

to remain, even though I knew its aspirations 

were inappropriate to the location. 

It wanted to surpass the roof. But I wanted 

it to thrive at my eye level, so I had to 

keep lopping it back. The spying opportunities 

were irresistible. As I did the 

dishes I was able to watch and monitor an 

indecisive lady butterfly checking out all 

the foliage, assessing which leaflet groups 

were worthy of her entrusting her precious 

eggs to. As I mentioned before, 

these Cloudless Sulphurs are Nervous 

Nellies. The female never seemed to 

touch down long enough to make a 

deposit. I’d go out and retrace her route 

in search of the miniscule eggs to no avail. 

Also I regularly searched for growing 

caterpillars, but probably because their 

predominantly green coloration was such 

perfect camouflage I wasn’t successful. 

Then one day I was routinely chopping 

off the rampant growth when there smack 

dab in front of me was a lettuce-green 

full-grown caterpillar that had “assumed 

the position.” That means it had affixed 

its posterior to a branch, spun a silken belt 

to lean back into and hung down in the 

characteristic “J” shape as it prepared to 

shed its final skin-exoskeleton in route to 

becoming a chrysalis! That made my day. 

Actually, that made my whole month. 

I’ve raised three of these Sulphurs now 

and learned when the butterflies emerged 

that there are subtle differences in the delicate 

markings on the wings between the 

males and females. You would never 

know that as they whiz by in flight. And 

I’ll happily share that the Cloudless is the 

fourteenth different kind of butterfly I’ve 

been able to hatch. 

But I was still to have another experience 

with one of these sun-bright butterflies. 

On a late afternoon I spotted a 

Cloudless Sulphur while I was out gardening. 

It was fluttering around a Catalina 

cherry shrub. This made no sense. 

Butterflies have only two reasons to be 

interested in a plant – either as a source of 

nectar or as a future nursery for their offspring. 

This shrub didn’t qualify on either 

count. It was nearly 6:00 P.M. when the 

butterfly disappeared, darting under a low 

leafy branch. As quietly as I could (not 

very on a carpet of crunchy dried leaves) I 

got down on my knees and peeked up 

under the foliage. Sure enough, there she 

was, wings folded back. In these scores of 

years that I’ve been attuned to the butterflies’ 

world, this is a sight I’ve never been 

privileged to view. A revelation. 

Butterflies are truly creatures of the 

midday, requiring an appreciable level of 

warmth before they can fly. And those 

garden beds are a dang lot colder than the 

one you sleep in. They need a safe 

sequestered spot to wait out the chilly 

hours. Would this butterfly be overnighting 

in my backyard? I hoped so. Next 

morning I came down while it was still 

cool and crawled back under the shrub. 

Yep, there she still was, in exactly the same 

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place. She had slept over. 

This past month it was surprising 

to be frequently visited 

by a Monarch butterfly. I didn’t 

deserve it because the milkweed 

(which is the only plant 

to which the Monarchs will 

consign their eggs) that I had 

planted didn’t survive. Finally I 

figured out why I was being so 

honored. In my front yard is a 

marvelous vintage lantana that 

covers over 150 square feet and 

had become far taller than me, 

way beyond what the Sunset 

gardening resource says is its 

destiny. In the fall I trimmed it 

back radically and now it’s 

nearly blanketed with miniblossom 

clusters that are a mixture 

of orange, gold and pink. 

It seems an unlikely nectar 

plant because the rounded 

composite flower heads disguise 

the fact that they are 

made up of individual tiny 

tubes. Butterflies do love it and 

I’ve now sighted a Monarch 

feasting there more than once. 

Late Breaking News 

Bulletin: Yesterday morning a 

tiny bird announced musically 

its intention to take possession 

of the birdhouse outside my 

study. This is the house that 

brought me seven fledglings 

last year. Hope I’ll be as lucky 

again. 

With Spring on the horizon 

if you’re thinking butterflies, 

think “Vegetation, vegetation, 

vegetation.” Milkweed plants 

should be available at the 

Arboretum’s Potting Shed. 

There’s no problem finding 

lantana at local nurseries. Plus 

I certainly have sennas to spare. 

And if you’re not thinking of 

butterflies, why not? 

1) Cloudless 

Sulphur caterpillar 

with a string of silk. 

2) The Cloudless 

Sulphur Chrysalis 

looks just like a leaf! 

3) The rich-yellow 

Cloudless Sulphur 

butterfly perched on 

my hand. 

4) Senna, also 

called cassia, is the 

larval food plant of 

choice for the 

Cloudless Sulphur.

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