Author Archive
Loan Modifications
BY DBARBER | September 5, 2010Loan Modifications In this week’s Real Estate Reality Check, Cristal Drake offers guidance to homeowners that maybe in need of a loan modification. Call Cristal directly for more information at 714-423-7525.
Heart Art
BY DBARBER |Hearts_TL
Local Artist Denise Marshall left her heart in Fullerton, but it’s a good thing. Nineteen other artists did the same thing. This week kicks off the annual fundraising drive for the All the Arts Foundation in Fullerton, which brings arts programs to the schools. The hearts will be auctioned off at the October Pin Auction held in the Downtown Plaza. All proceeds go to support the foundation. For more information about the program, visit http://www.alltheartsforallthekids.org/ Video by Davis Barber/FullertonStories.com.
Fullerton Shorts
BY DBARBER | August 27, 2010Record Breaker – That satisfied grin gracing the classic Irish mug of former Fullerton cop Ed Dahms is certainly justified. Using the investigative skills he honed as a detective for the Fullerton P.D., Ed has determined that he is the current holder of national records in at least two events of the Police Olympics, an annual athletic event for serving and former police officers.
A fitness devotee, Ed has been participating for years in the shot put and javelin at the Police Olympics. The police athletes participate in events according to the age bracket they are in. Having reached 75 (and he doesn’t look a day over 55), Ed discovered that he usually is the only ex-cop of that vintage. So when he picks up the shot or the javelin, he finds that he usually is competing against himself.
And every one of his winning marks becomes an instant entry in the record book! Unless some more Police Olympians decide to keep competing after becoming 75, it looks as though Ed’s achievements will stand for many years.
Don’t Shoot the Messenger – City Council candidate Doug Chaffee may have hit upon a strategy for never losing a political argument. To carry his message to local voters, Doug enlisted the assistance of members of the Fullerton Union High School speech and debate team to walk the precincts, knock on doors and generally inform people of his candidacy and views.
The genius of his recruitment ploy is that the FUHS Speech and Debate squad members are not just good debaters and speakers. They are ranked No. 1 in the nation. Who’s gonna argue with these kids?
First Environmentalist? – When a lot of Bob Ward’s old friends got together recently to reminisce with him before he and wife Betty move to Northern California, the conversation turned frequently to the former mayor’s interest in environmental issues. Fullerton’s one and only nature preserve is named for him. It’s a spread of undeveloped land in the West Coyote Hills, not far from Euclid Ave. The city acquired the land from Chevron years ago when the oil company’s real estate division first began negotiating with City Hall over plans for a residential development there.
Bob was instrumental in awakening public sentiment for plans that would keep large portions of the tract in their natural state so native plants and wildlife would be preserved.
A worker in Bob’s 1976 City Council reelection campaign recalled that
Bob showed his environmental colors back then by designing lawn signs that used two shades of brown instead of the traditional red, white and blue. ‘Yeah,” the former mayor mused, “I was trying to show our connection to the earth.”
Compiled by Jerry Brown/FullertonStories.com
August 27, 2010
Return From Haiti
BY DBARBER | August 11, 2010Fullerton resident Josh Pardy returned from a week-long trip to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. After visiting the orphanage Maison des Enfants de Dieu, he shares about living with and without hope in the desperate conditions there.
To learn more about the orphanage and their adoption program, visit www.forhisgloryoutreach.org
Video by Davis Barber/FullertonStories.com.
Cafe Hidalgo
BY DBARBER | August 5, 2010Cafe Hidalgo
Set in the beautiful courtyard of downtown Fullerton’s historic Villa Del Sol, Cafe Hidalgo hosts weddings and special events in addition to its’ exceptional modern southwestern food. Call 714-447-3202 and ask for Mike or Dena. They’ll help you impress your guests and clients.
Fullerton Teen Shot, Killed
BY DBARBER | July 30, 2010
Friends of Jessee Rodriguez gather at a roadside memorial at the corner of West Hill Avenue and Malden Avenue where the Fullerton teen was shot and killed.
Jesse Rodriguez was on his way to his girlfriend’s house the night of July 29th when unknown suspects in a dark sedan drove by and shot him dead, according to Fullerton Police Sgt. Andrew Goodrich.
A neighbor said she heard five shots just before 10 p.m., then looked out her window and saw Rodriguez lying on the sidewalk at the northwest corner of Malden Avenue and Hill Avenue. “I seen everybody running right here,” said the neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous. “It sounded like a shotgun, but it would have tore him up if it had been a shotgun,” she said.
The 17-year-old was taken to St. Jude Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Goodrich said.
“I had just got off the phone with him at 9:33 p.m.,” said his girlfriend Daliella Sanelias. “He spent the day with me, talking at my house.”
Police speculate Rodriguez was riding the bicycle that was found lying nearby. His girlfriend said he was coming to see her from his parent’s home on Highland Avenue near Richmond Park.
Police are investigating the murder as possibly being gang-related, although they are not saying Rodriguez was a gang member. Rodriguez was wearing a plaid Pendleton jacket when he was targeted, Goodrich said. Police are actively investigating the case and ask anyone with information to call Detective Jose Arana of the Fullerton Police Department at 714-738-3396 or the Fullerton Police Department at 714-738-6715.
Story and Photo by Jeanne Hoffa/FullertonStories.com
Fullerton Man to Help Haiti Earthquake Victims
BY DBARBER | July 23, 2010JoshPardy_Haiti2
Fullerton resident Josh Pardy leaves on Sunday, July 25, for a week-long trip to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He will be traveling with other volunteers from The Oak Project, a non-profit that has partnered with the orphanage Maison des Enfants de Dieu, which still bears the scars and strain from a devastating earthquake. Pardy talks about the group’s mission and his hopes for the trip.
To learn more about Josh’s trip, visit his website at joshpardygoestohaiti.weebly.com. To donate to the orphanage, visit www.theoakproject.com. To learn more about the orphanage and their adoption program, visit www.forhisgloryoutreach.org
Video by Kiera Faye/FullertonStories.com. Photos in the video are by Maison des Enfants de Dieu,
IFRC/Eric Quintero; United Nations Development Programme; IFRC/Olav Saltbones/Norwegian Red Cross; Tech Sgt. Bryan Gatewood
Fraud Alert!
BY DBARBER | July 21, 2010Real Estate Fraud Warning In this week’s Real Estate Reality Check, Cristal Drake shows us two examples of recent mailings offering services that may be too good to be true. Don’t take the bait! Call Cristal Directly for more information at 714-423-7525.
Need to find a realtor?
BY DBARBER | July 16, 2010This week Cristal Drake gives us tips on how to find a realtor For some, selling your own home is smart, but there are many things to consider first. Watch this video to make sure it’s a good fit for you. For more information you can call Cristal directly at 714-423-7525. California Department of Real Estate. FS
Lions Field update
BY DBARBER |
Lions Field renovations are on schedule and should be finished August 2, according to Fullerton Parks and Recreation Director Joe Felz. ”Almost every citizen that has seen the project has been very impressed,” said Felz. “The Parks and Recreation Commission toured the project [Monday] and were all very impressed with the work that has been done to date.”