Aug - Fullerton Observer

AUGUST 2010
LOCAL NEWS
Michelle’s new bike rests against the memorial bench of her brother Alex Buck
located at the top of Hillcrest Park. His death at a young age inspired her to compete in
marathons to raise money for cancer research.
TRIATHLON ATHLETE IN TRAINING
All I Have To Do Is Complete It
by Michelle Buck
This is a story for women that have
said or thought, “I am too heavy or over
weight” to do something.
My parents always encouraged me to
enjoy the outdoors and to play any sport I
wanted. In fact, at Fullerton High School,
I was on the Soccer and the Track and
Cross Country Teams. I also walked up
Lemon Hill from school everyday.
Although the hill was only a half mile
long, it felt more like 10 miles!
I was an active kid, however, as a young
adult, my life changed. My life became
more about work and about having a
sociable night life. So those nice weekend
afternoons were more about napping and
not about enjoying the great outdoors!
While I was nearing my 30’s, I lost my
brother to cancer. This made me stop and
take a serious look at my life. I knew
things had to change; that I had to
Michelle running the Rock ‘n Roll
Marathon
change. I began by joining a wonderful
program called Team in Training (TNT).
While I was running in memory of my
brother, I started to “find myself” with
TNT. Since 2007, I have raised thousands
of dollars to fight cancer.
So far, I have completed two full
marathons and six half marathons. Yes the
word is completed. From day one, I simply
told myself, “This is a race against yourself
and not anyone else.” It did not matter
that it took me 6.5 hours to cross the 26.2
mile finish line; the whole point was that
I crossed it!
This year I have once again set high
goals for myself and I am planning to
complete three Triathlons which will
involve running, biking and swimming.
Many people might look at me and say,
“no way,” because at 35-years-old, 5-feet
tall, and about 40 pounds overweight, I
don’t fit the typical description of a
triathlon athlete. But, that does not matter.
This is a race for myself, not others.
A few months ago, my father and I went
to Banning’s Bikes in Downtown
Fullerton and I got fitted with, and purchased,
my first race bike!
Twice a week, I now leave my car
behind to ride my bike to work. Riding
down the riverbed and up PCH is about
22 miles to my workplace. I average about
13 miles an hour, which is not very fast, as
most experienced riders go about 18 to 19
miles per hour. As I see it, all of those fast
riders are missing out on a lot! There’s no
rush. It’s about seizing the moment.
Furthermore, I have started swimming
for a half an hour, two times a week. This
is a great start and these baby steps are
already beginning to work for me.
In September, I plan on doing my first
Triathlon in Long Beach. I will not start
the race in the third wave with my age
group. I will start in the last wave. This is
the category for women 145 lbs and over.
I am looking forward to starting at the
end, because all I have to do to win is to
complete it.
This is my message to all big women;
discover your own challenges, make your
own goals, and please remember it’s not
about how fast you do it, it’s all about the
fact that you try and that you can complete
it!
FULLERTON OBSERVER Page 7
Are “Dynamic” Signs Right for
Fullerton? by J. A. Kaluzny
Rules for electronic reader boards, digital
display and “dynamic” display signs are
being written for Fullerton by
Development Director Al Zelinka, his
staff and consultant Ron Pflugrath of
Hogle-Ireland, Inc. On August 25 at
7pm, an ordinance for such signs will be
on the planning commission agenda.
“If there’s an identity we (Fullerton)
want to project,” said Mary Ann Clark, a
resident attending an informational meeting,
“We should start building it.”
“Does the city have a vision?” asked
Terri Prado, A-A Auto Service, Inc. She
said she was representing auto dealers in
Fullerton and a Rotary Club.
“We have a great team,” said Mr.
Zelinka, referring to city staff. “More collaboration
than I’ve seen in any other city.
We are informed by the community. We
have professional opinions, but this is not
a staff-driven city hall.”
Zelinka cited the general plan as a great
framework for building a unified system
and specific plans in particular, such as in
neighborhoods and industrial areas.
Three sign meetings attracted three
business people at the first, two sign professionals
at the second, and half a dozen
citizens at the third. Four sign industry
people attended the first session, along
with the representatives of Winkelman
Realty, the Chamber of Commerce and a
mediator-lawyer (this writer).
Senior Planner Heather Allen presented
slides including images provided by two
sign companies showing the potential
types of “dynamic” signs as electronic
reader boards, digital displays and dynamic
displays –“close to a TV screen.” Signs
can be on building walls, “monuments,”
or poles, and are judged by area, height,
quantity and separations.
Flashing signs are prohibited under the
current ordinance. Those are “any lighted
sign that flashes, animates, scintillates,
consists of running lights or of illuminated
changing information.”
One resident expressed concern that
small blinking signs “are popping up
everywhere. They look bad,” said Jane
Rands. I’m concerned about the (sign)
industry, that they believe anything goes
in Fullerton. Are we opening up to these
things everywhere?”
“There are gradations of permissions,”
said Zelinka. He also said, “much of our
zoning code is a problem. It’s been
tweaked over 20 years, band aids put on.
The reality of this moment in time is that
we are having many inquiries for dynamic
signs. What we’ve heard regarding
conditional use permits include five topics:
proliferation, distraction, aesthetics,
quality of physical sign structure and adjacency
with residential.”
“But we should have a ceiling, a limit,”
said Rands. “Not a floor, but a top limit.”
William Clark said “We need to
improve public signs, bring a certain aesthetic
to downtown.”
Enforcement of any standards that
might be adopted was a concern addressed
by all.
Sign professionals suggested the posting
of a bond could be used to assure compliance
with restrictions.
The Clarks who live across the street
from a digital sign that was supposed to
replace a proliferation of unsightly banners
at St. Juliana’s said, “They still have
the banners plus the digital lighted sign.”
Edward Wasserman, Daktronics, a
Calabasas commercial sign company, said
“You need to have aesthetically pleasing
signs. LED saves power and electricity
and has the feel of the 20's and 30's. Staff
has already heard from me.”
“We don’t want to see downtown
become a Las Vegas strip,” said both
Winkelman and Teresa Harvey, director
of the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce.
Electronic Sign
Ordinance
The Fullerton Planning Commission
will decide on a final draft of the ordinance
to regulate “Dynamic Signs” within
the city at its meeting at 7pm Wed.
Aug. 25th 7pm at City Hall, 303 W.
Commonwealth Ave. Fullerton 92832.
Dynamic signs include electronic message
boards which change messages, and
full-color digital video displays.
Call Heather Allen at 714-738-6884
or email to HeatherA@ci.fullerton.ca.us
for more information.